Brabins Endowed School Review 2026: Outstanding Church of England village primary with exceptionally strong Key Stage 2 outcomes

Small schools can feel limited; this one feels purposeful. Brabins Endowed School combines a traditional Church of England foundation (dating back to 1684) with modern curriculum ambition and very high attainment at the end of Year 6.

The most recent inspection (11 June 2024) judged the school Outstanding across all areas, including early years. Academic outcomes back up that external judgement. In 2024, 96.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, far above the England average of 62%.

For families wanting a high-performing rural primary with strong pastoral routines, a clear values-led culture, and wraparound provision on site, Brabins is a serious contender.

This is a voluntary controlled Church of England primary with a long-standing local identity and an explicit commitment to serving its community in a Christian context. The school’s own ethos statement references its historic foundation in 1684 and its ongoing relationship with local churches.

Day-to-day culture is structured and positive. Pupils are described in official reporting as secure, happy, and proud of their school, with behaviour and attitudes consistently strong. The school’s shared expectations are framed through a simple set of rules and routines (referred to as the Brabin’s Promise), which helps keep classroom time focused and consistent across year groups.

Size shapes the feel. With capacity listed as 105 and current pupil numbers in the low-to-mid 80s depending on reporting date, children tend to be known well by staff and leadership, and parents often find communication direct and personal.

Brabins’ latest published Key Stage 2 picture is exceptional. In 2024:

• 96.33% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%.

• 40.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%.

• Average scaled scores were 111 in reading, 109 in mathematics, and 111 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

These figures indicate not only strong “secure pass” outcomes but also a very high proportion pushing beyond expected levels.

Rankings provide additional context for families comparing nearby options. Brabins is ranked 308th in England and 4th in Preston for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). That position equates to roughly the top 2% of primaries by rank, and it clearly sits well above the England average overall.

Parents weighing school choice locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub Comparison Tool to see how these results sit alongside other Preston and Lancashire primaries, using the same underlying official measures.

The academic story here is not just “high results”; it is a clear approach to curriculum design and classroom practice. The curriculum is described as carefully sequenced, with explicit attention to the knowledge, skills, and vocabulary pupils should master over time, plus planned revisiting to strengthen long-term learning. Teaching is characterised as expert and responsive, with misconceptions identified and addressed quickly.

Reading is treated as a core driver of wider achievement. Early years provision is described as language-rich, with regular stories, songs, and rhymes, and phonics delivered with consistency. Pupils read books that match what they already know, while those who find reading harder receive timely support.

Curriculum enrichment is positioned as part of learning rather than an optional extra. The school frames this through its entitlement approach, aiming for every pupil to access a planned set of experiences that build knowledge and aspiration beyond the village context.

As a Lancashire primary, the main transition point is Year 7. The school’s work with local partners includes practical curriculum links with Longridge High School, such as visiting specialist staff for science activities, which helps pupils become comfortable with secondary-style teaching and equipment.

For many families in Chipping, Longridge High School is the natural non-selective route, and Lancashire’s published admissions arrangements list the parish of Chipping within Longridge High School’s geographical priority area.

Beyond that, secondary choice will depend on exact home address, faith preferences, and the wider Lancashire admissions framework. The practical takeaway is to begin Year 6 with a clear shortlist, then use Lancashire’s admissions guidance and mapping tools to understand priority areas and how distance interacts with oversubscription for your preferred secondary.

Reception entry is coordinated by Lancashire County Council, with the school operating within the local authority’s published admissions timetable. For September 2026 entry, applications open on 01 September 2025 and the national closing date is 15 January 2026. Offers for primary places are issued on 16 April 2026, with related waiting list and appeal timings set out in Lancashire’s official parent guidance for 2026 to 2027 admissions.

The school publishes an intake number of 15, which matters because small planned admission numbers can make the school feel instantly competitive in years with higher birth-rate pressure. Oversubscription criteria follow a familiar Lancashire pattern: priority for looked-after and previously looked-after children, then exceptional medical or welfare grounds, then siblings, then remaining places by straight-line distance from home to school.

Demand data in the most recent published admissions snapshot indicates an oversubscribed picture, with 34 applications and 14 offers, which equates to around 2.43 applications per place.

Because last-distance-offered data is not available here, families who are distance-sensitive should treat proximity as a risk factor to be managed rather than assumed. FindMySchool’s Map Search is useful for checking your precise measurement to the school against any locally published distance indicators, and for sense-checking alternatives if you are outside comfortable range.

Pastoral strength at Brabins is tied to consistency, routines, and close knowledge of pupils. Staff explicitly link behaviour and attitudes to shared expectations, with a calm learning culture where pupils stay focused and learning time is protected.

Personal development is also practical. Pupils take on real responsibilities through roles such as Tech Team, Eco Committee, and School Council, and the school’s programme includes structured support for mental and physical health, such as sessions designed to help older pupils understand emotions and wellbeing.

Inclusion is clearly part of the operating model. The school describes itself as a mainstream setting with an inclusive ethos, supported by early identification processes and links to external professional services where appropriate. The physical environment is a mix of older and newer spaces, and accessibility details are published, including step access to some areas and an alternate route to the rear entrance.

The second and final explicit inspection attribution: the June 2024 inspection confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

The school makes enrichment visible through both formal leadership roles and a steady drumbeat of clubs, competitions, and community projects.

Clubs and activities show a blend of academic curiosity and practical skill. Recent examples include a Key Stage 1 Science Club session exploring gas-producing reactions through bubble art and mini “volcano” experiments, and classroom computing work using ScratchJr to build early programming logic through block-based coding. Music is hands-on too, with pupils using tuned instruments such as boomwhackers to perform collaboratively.

Sport is not treated as an afterthought. Rugby lessons for Key Stage 2 have included coaching input from a Preston North End community coach, which tends to bring sharper technique and a higher-energy training model than generalist delivery alone.

Community connections broaden horizons in a rural setting. Pupils have worked with the local historical society on projects tied to village heritage, and outdoor opportunities, including residential experiences and local nature walks, are used to build independence and confidence.

School opening hours are published as 8:55am to 3:25pm, Monday to Friday. Wraparound provision is available on site: breakfast club runs 7:30am to 8:45am, and after-school provision runs 3:25pm to 5:45pm, with drinks and light food included in sessions as described by the school.

The school sits in Chipping, a rural village setting near Preston and within the Forest of Bowland context, so many families will find car journeys the most predictable option, particularly for wraparound pick-ups. For families relying on public transport, it is worth planning routes and contingencies early, especially in winter months.

• Competition for places. With a published intake number of 15 and an oversubscribed demand picture, admissions can feel tight. Families should understand the oversubscription order and make realistic contingency choices.

• Faith context is real. As a Church of England voluntary controlled school, Christian values and local church links are integral. This suits many families; those wanting a strictly secular environment should read the ethos information carefully.

• Older building constraints. The site includes parts originally built in 1880. While newer areas are described as wheelchair-friendly, some parts involve steps or indirect access routes, which may matter for mobility needs.

• Pre-school does not remove the Reception admissions process. The on-site pre-school supports transition into early years, but Reception allocation still follows Lancashire’s coordinated admissions timetable and criteria.

Brabins Endowed School is a small rural primary delivering outcomes that compare with the strongest schools in England, supported by clear curriculum thinking, a disciplined learning culture, and a broad personal development offer. It suits families who want high academic standards without losing the feel of a close-knit village school, and who are comfortable with a Church of England context. The main challenge is securing a place in a small intake year.