A child’s primary school days are blessedly free of the potentially life-altering exams and qualifications that mark their time in secondary school.
But the key academic skills they begin building in these early school days lay the foundation for what comes next. That is why it’s so important that families choose a primary school that is a good fit for their family and their child alike, encouraging and supporting them to surpass even their own expectations.
We’ve created a league table of state-funded primary schools across the Preston City Council area, based on the proportion of each school’s pupils who completed Year 6 in the 2022-23 school year (the most up-to-date data available, until finalised data for the 2024 school year is published in December or January) who met the government’s expected standards in three essential school skills: reading, writing and maths. All schools included on the list had exceeded both the national and local authority area’s averages, with some of the highest scores in the city.
Each school included also had an overall Ofsted rating of ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ - or for those inspected since this measure was dropped in September - those found to be at least good across the board. This means that the quality of education provided, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management and student safeguarding were all found to meet or exceed government standards last time the school was inspected.
Here were the 14 Preston schools that came out on top:
9. Longsands Community Primary School
Longsands is a primary school in the Fulwood area, north Preston. It was formerly rated ‘good’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2022/23 school year, 72% of its pupils met the government’s expected standards in reading, writing, and maths - compared to averages of 59% locally, and 60% nationally. | Google
10. Catforth Primary School
This is a village primary school in Catforth, near Woodplumpton, northwest of the city. It was formerly rated ‘good’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2022/23 school year, 70% of its pupils met the government’s expected standards in reading, writing, and maths - compared to averages of 59% locally, and 60% nationally. | Google
11. Lea Neeld's Endowed Church of England Primary School
Lea Neeld’s is an Anglican primary school in the Lea and Cottam area just west of the city. It was just last month inspected again by Ofsted, which rated it ‘good’ across the board. In the 2022/23 school year, 70% of its pupils also met the government’s expected standards in reading, writing, and maths - compared to averages of 59% locally, and 60% nationally. | Google
12. Queen's Drive Primary School
Queen’s Drive is a primary school in Fulwood, north Preston. It was formerly rated ‘outstanding’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2022/23 school year, 70% of its pupils once again met the government’s expected standards in reading, writing, and maths - compared to averages of 59% locally, and 60% nationally. | Google