Rufford CofE School

West Lancashire · L40 1SN

General information Primary School · 4-11 years Who goes here 114 pupils, 4.4% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 7% on SEN support Behaviour 2.6% absence rate Staff 15.2% turnover Financials £7,675 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Rufford CofE School

General Information

Address: Flash Lane, Rufford, Ormskirk, L40 1SN – View on map
Phone: 01704821300
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Sarah Cookson
Age range: 4-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 16 families put it first for 16 places – 10 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 11 · 2024 10 · 2025 9 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

114 pupils out of 140 places

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 5
% eligible for free school meals: 4.4%
Pupil mix: 1 in 10 (less mixed than the West Lancashire average)
English as an additional language: 2% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 15.2% a year (West Lancashire 13.3%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 42% moved to another school, 58% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. This is a small staff, so one or two teachers leaving moves the figure a lot.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Lancashire: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 9 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 3
Suspensions for bullying: 18 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 7 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Lancashire (the council area this school is in), not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 2.6%
Persistently absent pupils: 2.8%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 7.0%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 1.8%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Specific learning difficulty: 3 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 3 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 1 pupil
Vision impairment: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Severe learning difficulty: 1 pupil
Social, emotional and mental health: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2024 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 79% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 11% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 14 percentage points above the West Lancashire average (65%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: As expected (3-year average 72% against an expected 70%)
3-year average (expected standard): 72%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 95% · Writing 84% · Maths 89% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 79%
Average test scores: reading 110, maths 105
Based on: 19 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolWest Lancashire averageEngland↗ Improving Up 21 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 14 percentage points above the West Lancashire average (65%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 10th of 52 junior and primary schools in the area

#9Tarleton Holy Trinity CofE Primary School81%
=10Halsall St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School79%
=10Rufford CofE School79%
=12Ormskirk St Anne's Catholic Primary School78%
=12St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale78%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1Our Lady and All Saints Roman Catholic Primary School, Parbold100%
=2Crawford Village Primary School92%
=2Crow Orchard Primary School92%
=2Newburgh Church of England Primary School92%
#5Burscough Bridge Methodist School90%
#6Aughton Christ Church Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School87%
#7St Teresa's Catholic Primary School85%
#8Burscough Village Primary School83%
#9Tarleton Holy Trinity CofE Primary School81%
=10Halsall St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School79%
=10Rufford CofE School79%
=12Ormskirk St Anne's Catholic Primary School78%
=12St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale78%
=14Brookfield Park Primary School76%
=14St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School76%
=16Cobbs Brow School74%
=16Holland Moor Primary School74%
#18Delph Side Community Primary School73%
#19St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale72%
=20Aughton St Michael's Church of England Primary School71%
=20Parbold Douglas Church of England Academy71%
=22Tarleton Community Primary School69%
=22Woodland Community Primary School69%
=24Ormskirk Church of England Primary School67%
=24Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School67%
=26Aughton Town Green Primary School65%
=26Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School65%
=26St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington65%
=29Appley Bridge All Saints Church of England Primary Academy63%
=29Burscough Lordsgate Township Church of England Primary School63%
#31Scarisbrick St Mark's Church of England Primary School60%
#32Moorside Community Primary Academy School59%
#33St John's Catholic Primary School, Burscough58%
=34Banks St Stephen's CofE School55%
=34Trinity Church of England/Methodist School55%
#36St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale54%
#37St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick53%
#38Hillside Community Primary School52%
=39Maharishi Free School50%
=39Ormskirk Lathom Park Church of England Primary School50%
=39Richard Durning's Endowed Primary School50%
=39Westhead Lathom St James' Church of England Primary School50%
#43Burscough Bridge St John's Church of England Primary School45%
=44Banks Methodist School43%
=44Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery43%
=46Ormskirk Asmall Primary School38%
=46St Edmund's Catholic Primary School38%
#48Hesketh-With-Becconsall All Saints CofE School35%
#49Little Digmoor Primary School32%
#50Holmeswood Methodist School29%
#51Ormskirk West End School18%
#52St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School7%

View full Ofsted inspection report

26th of 41 primary schools in West Lancashire for Ofsted rating

#24Ormskirk West End SchoolGood
#25Richard Durning's Endowed Primary SchoolGood
#26Rufford CofE SchoolGood
#27Scarisbrick St Mark's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#28St Edmund's Catholic Primary SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Aughton Christ Church Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Crawford Village Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Newburgh Church of England Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Our Lady and All Saints Roman Catholic Primary School, ParboldOutstanding
#5Parbold Douglas Church of England AcademyOutstanding
#6Appley Bridge All Saints Church of England Primary AcademyGood
#7Aughton St Michael's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#8Aughton Town Green Primary SchoolGood
#9Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and NurseryGood
#10Burscough Bridge St John's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#11Burscough Lordsgate Township Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#12Burscough Village Primary SchoolGood
#13Crow Orchard Primary SchoolGood
#14Dalton St Michael's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#15Delph Side Community Primary SchoolGood
#16Downholland-Haskayne Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#17Hillside Community Primary SchoolGood
#18Holland Moor Primary SchoolGood
#19Little Digmoor Primary SchoolGood
#20Moorside Community Primary Academy SchoolGood
#21Ormskirk Asmall Primary SchoolGood
#22Ormskirk Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#23Ormskirk St Anne's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#24Ormskirk West End SchoolGood
#25Richard Durning's Endowed Primary SchoolGood
#26Rufford CofE SchoolGood
#27Scarisbrick St Mark's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#28St Edmund's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#29St James' Catholic Primary School, SkelmersdaleGood
#30St John's Catholic Primary School, BurscoughGood
#31St John's Catholic Primary School, SkelmersdaleGood
#32St Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#33St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#34Tarleton Community Primary SchoolGood
#35Tarleton Holy Trinity CofE Primary SchoolGood
#36Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#37Trinity Church of England/Methodist SchoolGood
#38Upholland Roby Mill CofE Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#39Wrightington Mossy Lea Primary SchoolGood
#40Woodland Community Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#41Hesketh-With-Becconsall All Saints CofE SchoolInadequate

Financials

Spending per pupil: £7,675 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

30th of 55 primary schools in West Lancashire for spending per pupil

#28Newburgh Church of England Primary School£7,793
#29Our Lady and All Saints Roman Catholic Primary School, Parbold£7,721
#30Rufford CofE School£7,675
#31Little Digmoor Primary School£7,613
#32Richard Durning's Endowed Primary School£7,477

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Downholland-Haskayne Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School£29,392
#2Upholland Roby Mill CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School£16,375
#3Wrightington Mossy Lea Primary School£13,808
#4Holmeswood Methodist School£11,071
#5St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick£10,450
#6Burscough Bridge Methodist School£10,215
#7St Edmund's Catholic Primary School£10,098
#8Dalton St Michael's Church of England Primary School£9,684
#9Parbold Douglas Church of England Academy£9,594
#10St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School£9,569
#11Ormskirk Lathom Park Church of England Primary School£9,441
#12Hillside Community Primary School£9,365
#13Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery£9,104
#14Banks Methodist School£8,867
#15Delph Side Community Primary School£8,857
#16Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School£8,841
#17Ormskirk West End School£8,724
#18Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School£8,717
#19St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington£8,594
#20Brookfield Park Primary School£8,502
#21Scarisbrick St Mark's Church of England Primary School£8,451
#22St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale£8,398
#23St John's Catholic Primary School, Burscough£8,389
#24Crawford Village Primary School£8,042
#25Crow Orchard Primary School£8,040
#26Woodland Community Primary School£7,926
#27Trinity Church of England/Methodist School£7,795
#28Newburgh Church of England Primary School£7,793
#29Our Lady and All Saints Roman Catholic Primary School, Parbold£7,721
#30Rufford CofE School£7,675
#31Little Digmoor Primary School£7,613
#32Richard Durning's Endowed Primary School£7,477
#33Moorside Community Primary Academy School£7,392
#34Ormskirk Church of England Primary School£7,332
#35Ormskirk Asmall Primary School£7,236
#36Burscough Bridge St John's Church of England Primary School£7,169
#37Appley Bridge All Saints Church of England Primary Academy£7,112
#38St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale£6,986
#39Burscough Village Primary School£6,787
#40Holland Moor Primary School£6,774
#41Westhead Lathom St James' Church of England Primary School£6,767
#42St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School£6,705
#43Banks St Stephen's CofE School£6,580
#44Ormskirk St Anne's Catholic Primary School£6,468
#45Cobbs Brow School£6,378
#46Aughton St Michael's Church of England Primary School£6,372
#47St Teresa's Catholic Primary School£6,350
#48Tarleton Community Primary School£6,232
#49Tarleton Holy Trinity CofE Primary School£6,217
#50Burscough Lordsgate Township Church of England Primary School£6,208
#51Halsall St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School£6,194
#52Hesketh-With-Becconsall All Saints CofE School£6,124
#53St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale£6,078
#54Aughton Town Green Primary School£5,851
#55Aughton Christ Church Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£5,662

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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