Abbey Hey Primary Academy

About Abbey Hey Primary Academy

If you're a parent considering Abbey Hey Primary Academy, the feedback from other families is strikingly positive. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, every single respondent said they would recommend the school to another parent. That's a 100% recommend rate, based on 24 responses. The detail backs that up: 96% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, and every respondent felt their child is safe. Behaviour is another strong point, with all parents agreeing the school ensures pupils are well behaved. The school is clearly popular locally too. For the 2025/26 intake, Abbey Hey received 155 applications for just 63 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.46. All 63 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but with more than two children competing for every spot, getting in is far from guaranteed.

Academically, Abbey Hey performs well above the local average. At Key Stage 2, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Manchester local authority average of just 57%. That places the school 17th out of 122 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 14% locally. Results are particularly strong in reading, where the average scaled score was 108 and half of all pupils achieved the higher standard. Maths also performed well, with an average score of 107 and 40% reaching the higher threshold. Writing is the relative weak spot, with only 3% hitting the higher standard, though 74% did meet the expected level. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2019, rated it Good across the board, and an ungraded inspection in November 2024 found that the school had improved significantly since then, with all areas still judged Good.

Abbey Hey is a large primary, with 675 pupils on roll against a capacity of 502, so it's running well over its official number. It has a nursery provision for three-year-olds and caters for children from age 3 to 11. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, with 59.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals. Facilities are generous for a state primary, including a sports hall, gymnasium, ICT suite, art studios, music rooms, playing fields and even a forest school and a chapel. There's a good range of sports on offer, from football and cricket to swimming and athletics, plus clubs including gardening, science and drama. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for seven different SEND categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social and emotional mental health difficulties. With strong academic results, very happy parents and high demand for places, this is a school that clearly works well for its community, though securing a place will require a first-preference application.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Abbey Hey Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents