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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Requires improvementURN 142856

West Craven High School

Academy converter · Barnoldswick · BB18 5TB

Ages 11–16 · 528 pupils · Lancashire

School website

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Attainment 8

33.7

Overall absence

11.7%

Admissions demand

0.97 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2024-07-02

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.99
−20+2
Attainment 833.7
English & maths grade 5+28%
English & maths grade 4+48%
EBacc entry18%

EBacc APS: 2.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence11.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)37.9%
Unauthorised3.4%
Authorised absence
8.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.5%
Enrolments in measure
652

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.97 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

100

Places offered

105

1st-preference offers

100

Total preferences (any rank)
191
Preferred offers (top 3)
103
Applications from outside LA
3
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill62%

528 pupils · 845 places

Pupils on roll
528
Boys / girls
282 / 246
School capacity
845
Capacity fill
528 / 845 (62%)
Free school meals
28.9%
FSM pupils
152
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: PENDLE EDUCATION TRUST
Academy trust
PENDLE EDUCATION TRUST
Sponsor
Pendle Education Trust
Headteacher
Mr John Bates

Location

Address
Kelbrook Road
Postcode
BB18 5TB
Town
Barnoldswick
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Lancashire
District
Pendle
Constituency
Pendle and Clitheroe
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, 528 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 28.9%.

Open schools in Barnoldswick
8
Secondary schools in Barnoldswick
1
Academies among open schools in Barnoldswick
25% (2)
Open schools in BB18
8
Secondary in BB18
1
Open schools in Lancashire LA
709
Secondary in Lancashire LA
81

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BarnoldswickNear BB18

  • Gisburn Road Community Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Primary

    Barnoldswick · BB18 5LS · Lancashire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS252%
    • Absence5.0%
    • FSM16.2%
    • Demand1.70

    0.6 miles away

  • Salterforth Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Barnoldswick · BB18 5UD · Lancashire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS250%
    • Absence5.2%
    • FSM14.7%
    • Demand0.93

    0.6 miles away

  • Coates Lane Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Primary

    BARNOLDSWICK · BB18 6EZ · Lancashire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS241%
    • Absence5.2%
    • FSM24.8%
    • Demand0.74

    0.6 miles away

  • Kelbrook Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Barnoldswick · BB18 6UD · Lancashire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS271%
    • Absence4.8%
    • FSM11.5%
    • Demand0.87

    1.6 miles away

  • Earby Springfield Primary School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Community school · Primary

    Barnoldswick · BB18 6SJ · Lancashire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS275%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM58.7%
    • Demand1.00

    1.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr John Bates
Telephone
01282812292
Website
http://www.westcraven.co.uk

Official links