Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School, Burnley

Ofsted's report card from its 22 September 2026 inspection grades Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically acquire the knowledge and skills set out in the school's curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have established robust systems to promote regular attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have set out an interesting and ambitious curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a welcoming and nurturing start to children's education."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "A notable feature of leaders' work is their focus on ensuring that pupils from all backgrounds are helped to feel welcome."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including members of the local governing body and trust leaders, provide clear strategic direction rooted in the school's values."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have set out an ambitious vision to support pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently use their knowledge of pupils' prior learning to design activities that deepen understanding, enabling a greater proportion of pupils to attain the higher standard by the end of Year 6"; "Leaders should continue to improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils and reduce rates of persistent absence so that these pupils attend school regularly and benefit fully from learning opportunities"; "Leaders should ensure that, in the early years, communication and language and mark-making opportunities are consistently embedded across the areas of provision, enabling children to develop and apply their knowledge effectively".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our school aims to provide a nurturing environment where all children are celebrated as being unique, created in the image of God, and are stimulated to achieve their full potential. We want our children to build on the skills they bring to us and we encourage them to be active, independent learners."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School as their first choice and 70 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School are Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); Pendle Primary Academy (1.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 73% maths); Higham St John's Church of England Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 76% reading, 82% maths); and Lomeshaye Junior School (1.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 95% maths).

Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School is one of 11 schools run by Epworth Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

6.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Asian (7%).

In 2026, 37 pupils (17.9%) received SEN support and 4 (1.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Brierfield Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Old Laund Street (by), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often drug offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.