Voluntary aided school · Lancashire

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall

5–11Ages
211Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
119665URN

Unity Way, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, BB4 8SU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodMar 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.4per place

0.8 above Lancashire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Lancashire

98 applications for 29 places · 54th of 366 in Lancashire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

81%met the expected standard

Lancashire 63% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodMar 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

Inspection history

19 January 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
6 March 2013
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.4applications per place, Reception

0.8 above Lancashire median (2.6) 1.2 above England median (2.2)

98 applications · 29 places offered · 34 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
2025 3.0; Lancashire median median 2.7
2024 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
2023 2.9; Lancashire median median 2.6
2022 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.5
2021 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
2020 3.6; Lancashire median median 2.7
2019 3.6; Lancashire median median 2.6
2018 3.6; Lancashire median median 2.7
2017 2.9; Lancashire median median 2.5
2016 2.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
2015 3.0; Lancashire median median 2.5
2014 2.0; Lancashire median median 2.4

This school
Lancashire median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	29	98	3.4	34	1.17
Sep 2025	30	90	3.0	25	0.83
Sep 2024	30	92	3.1	32	1.07
Sep 2023	29	85	2.9	34	1.17
Sep 2022	28	88	3.1	24	0.86
Sep 2021	30	94	3.1	27	0.90
Sep 2020	30	107	3.6	41	1.37
Sep 2019	30	109	3.6	46	1.53
Sep 2018	30	109	3.6	39	1.30
Sep 2017	30	88	2.9	31	1.03
Sep 2016	31	74	2.4	35	1.13
Sep 2015	30	91	3.0	35	1.17
Sep 2014	28	55	2.0	22	0.79

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 81% · Writing 88% · Maths 88% → all three 81% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard81%36th of 444 in Lancashire

Lancashire 63% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard81%

Lancashire 77% England 78%

Higher standard31%

Lancashire 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard88%

Lancashire 74% England 75%

Greater depth28%

Lancashire 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard88%

Lancashire 76% England 77%

Higher standard38%

Lancashire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Lancashire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	81%	19%	106	107
2023/24	73%	7%	104	104
2022/23	87%	13%	107	108

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, RawtenstallThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

3.4applications per place 81%met the SATs standard
St Mary's CofE Primary School Rawtenstall
0.1 km · Lancashire

Standards maintained2025

2.9applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Rawtenstall St Paul's Church of England Primary School
0.6 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School
1.3 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Haslingden
1.6 km · Lancashire

Outstanding2024

3.6applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Haslingden Primary School
2.2 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2024

1.8applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Haslingden Broadway Primary School
2.3 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.7applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Newchurch
2.4 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2024

4.2applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School
2.4 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.0applications per place 20%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 119665 · 888/3776
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 210 pupils · 211 on roll
Free school meals: 11.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Unity Way, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, BB4 8SU
Local authority: Lancashire · Rossendale

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources