Parbold Douglas Church of England Academy Review 2026, high-performing primary with a distinctive Church school culture

A one-form entry primary that combines unusually strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with a clearly articulated Church of England identity. The school’s own language focuses on purpose, service, and action, anchored by the motto Let your light shine (Matthew 5:16).

Academic performance is a standout. In 2024, 92% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. Scaled scores were also high, with 111 in reading and 108 in maths.

Daily practicalities are well-covered too. Classroom doors open at 08:45, pupils should arrive by 08:55, and the day ends at 15:20 for Reception and Key Stage 1, and 15:25 for Key Stage 2. Breakfast and after-school provision runs from 07:30 to 18:00 via the school’s wraparound care.

The school’s Church character is not a bolt-on. Collective worship is presented as the central rhythm of the day, with a stated aim of being inclusive, invitational, and inspiring, and with explicit references to prayer, stillness, reflection, and scripture.

That faith focus shows up in pupil leadership structures too. Rather than relying only on a traditional school council, the school describes a Year 6 Young Leaders model with multiple teams and defined responsibilities. These include Climate Emergency Team, Community Team, Digital Ambassadors, Reading Champions, and Kingdom Builders Leaders, alongside a curriculum review function that involves pupils in reflecting on learning across subjects. The implication for families is a school that gives older pupils genuine roles, and expects them to contribute to how the community operates.

Relationships between adults and pupils are described as exceptionally strong in the most recent inspection evidence, with an emphasis on pupils feeling happy and supported to succeed across the curriculum. Pupils are also described as curious, committed learners, and the same source links the school’s ambition to consistent high achievement, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Leadership is currently under Mr Chris Lawson, who is listed as headteacher on the school’s staffing information.

This is a state school, so the most meaningful academic indicators for parents are the published Key Stage 2 outcomes and how they compare to England averages.

In 2024, 92% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 38% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 8%. Reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling were particularly strong, with 100% meeting the expected standard in reading and 96% in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Scaled scores reinforce that picture. Reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling were both 111, and maths was 108.

Rankings add context for families comparing nearby options. Ranked 472nd in England and 2nd in West Lancashire for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), results exceed those of most schools locally and place the school well above the England average (top 10%). Parents comparing local performance can use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages to view these outcomes side-by-side using the Comparison Tool.

The curriculum is presented as tightly linked to the school’s wider purpose and ethos, with repeated emphasis on building knowledge over time through revisiting and embedding prior content. This approach matters because it tends to benefit both high attainers, who gain depth through structured retrieval, and pupils who need more repetition to secure fundamentals.

Reading is a defined priority in the inspection evidence, with staff training and structured support for pupils who need additional help to keep up in early reading. The inspection also references the deliberate choice of books at each stage, and the use of recognition systems that encourage habitual reading.

Languages appear to be treated as meaningful enrichment rather than a minimal weekly slot. Spanish is a stated part of the offer, and inspection evidence also references opportunities to learn Mandarin.

As a primary, the key transition is into Year 7 elsewhere. The school does not present a single guaranteed pathway because Lancashire families typically choose from several secondary options depending on admissions criteria, faith preference, and travel patterns.

What can be said with confidence is that the Year 6 experience includes structured leadership responsibility and a residential element, both of which tend to support the move to secondary by building independence, routines, and confidence in unfamiliar settings. The school describes a four-night residential for Year 6 at Patterdale Hall, and a three-day residential for Year 5 at Winmarleigh Hall.

Families who want to plan ahead should review the Lancashire coordinated admissions information early, and use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand how travel time and geography may shape practical secondary choices.

Reception entry is coordinated through the home local authority’s common application process. For September 2026 entry, applications are made between 01 September 2025 and 15 January 2026. Offers are released by the local authority on 16 April 2026.

As a Church of England school, faith criteria can matter when the school is oversubscribed. The determined admission arrangements for September 2026 state that parents who wish to be considered under faith criteria should complete a supplementary information form and return it to the school by 15 January 2026. The document also sets out an ecclesiastical parish criterion linked to Christ Church in Parbold, and a wider criterion for families worshipping within churches in full membership of Churches Together in England or the Evangelical Alliance, with worship attendance defined in the arrangements.

Demand is meaningful even on a small intake. In the most recent admissions data available here, there were 64 applications for 30 offers, which equates to 2.13 applications per place. The school is described as oversubscribed.

In-year admissions are handled by the academy’s governing arrangements rather than the standard annual cycle. The school explains that in-year admissions are administered by the governing board, with a response typically provided within five working days once an application is made.

Safeguarding is a foundational check for any parent shortlisting schools. The latest Ofsted inspection confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Pastoral care, in the broader sense, is closely tied to the school’s ethos. The worship and vision pages explicitly discuss respect, inclusion, and learning about other faiths and worldviews as part of the wider spiritual and moral development programme.

Pupil voice is structured rather than informal. With Young Leaders teams spanning curriculum review, digital strategy input, reading leadership, and community action, older pupils are given defined routes to raise issues, propose improvements, and contribute to culture. The implication is a school where personal development is integrated into day-to-day routines, not reserved for occasional theme weeks.

Clubs are presented as a core part of the enrichment offer, with places booked on a half-termly basis and an end time of 16:30 for after-school clubs.

For 2025/26 (Autumn 1), the school lists Football (Years 5 to 6), Calm and Create (Years 1 to 2), Chess Club (Years 4 to 6), and Multi-sports (Years 5 to 6). This matters because the programme is not one-size-fits-all, it differentiates by age and offers both sport and creative, quieter options.

The inspection evidence adds further texture, referencing clubs such as free-style frisbee and clay-modelling, and pointing to a personal development programme that includes languages beyond the usual minimum. For families, that suggests breadth without requiring parents to source every activity externally.

Residential visits in Years 5 and 6 are a practical extension of this enrichment. The stated model, Winmarleigh Hall for Year 5 and Patterdale Hall for Year 6, provides a structured build-up in independence.

The school day runs from an 08:55 start (with classroom doors open from 08:45) to 15:20 for Reception and Key Stage 1, and 15:25 for Key Stage 2. Breaks are set out clearly, including a morning break (10:30 to 10:45) and lunch (12:00 to 13:00).

Wraparound care is available on weekdays from 07:30 to 18:00 via Duggies, with session options that cover before school and multiple after-school time blocks. Fees are provided by the school on request.

For travel, Parbold railway station is a nearby option for families coming from along the line; parents should still factor in the last-mile journey and parking at drop-off, as Lancaster Lane can be busy at peak times.

• Competition for places. With 64 applications for 30 offers in the latest available admissions figures, entry can be competitive, particularly for Reception. Families should plan early and understand how the oversubscription criteria apply to them.

• Faith criteria can matter. This is a Church of England school with clear admissions criteria that can include parish and worship-based priority when oversubscribed. Families who want faith criteria considered should be prepared to complete the supplementary form on time.

• A strong culture of leadership. The Year 6 Young Leaders model is unusually structured. Many children will thrive on the responsibility; a small minority may prefer a quieter primary experience with fewer public-facing roles.

• Consistency expectations. Strong outcomes usually come with clear routines and high expectations for habits like reading and attendance. Families should expect a purposeful culture and support it at home.

Parbold Douglas Church of England Academy is a high-performing primary with a distinctive ethos that shows up in worship, pupil leadership, and a strong emphasis on service and action. Results place it well above the England average, and daily practicalities such as wraparound care are clearly organised. Best suited to families who want ambitious academics alongside a faith-inflected culture of responsibility and community contribution, and who are prepared to engage early with admissions in an oversubscribed context.