Schools by area › Lancashire › St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall
St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall
Primary · Mixed · Ages 5–11 · Voluntary aided
Unity Way, Rawtenstall, Rossendale BB4 8SU · stjamesthelessschool.co.uk · 01706 216190
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 81%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Lancashire 60%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 211
- 1 over 210 places · 100%
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Free school meals
- 11.4%
- First language not English
- 1.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 34 families put the school first and 29 places were offered; 82% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 29 | 34 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 30 | 25 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 30 | 32 | 1.1▲ | 94% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 29 | 34 | 1.2▲ | 85% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 28 | 24 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 81% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 19% the higher standard. Across Lancashire it was 60%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲81% | 62% | ||
| ▲19% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●106 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ▲110 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 19 January 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 18 Jan 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Sept 2017Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Mar 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Oct 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
87% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (79 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 87%
- Replies
- 79
- 37% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 72% who raised concerns
based on the 27% who had a child bullied