Acresfield Academy
106%
Capacity
250
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Acresfield Academy
Acresfield Academy is a primary school that parents in Cheshire West and Chester clearly want for their children. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 85 applications for just 28 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.04. Of those 85 applicants, 36 put the school as their first preference, and all 28 places went to first-preference families. That level of demand is a strong signal from the local community. The school itself is a state primary for mixed genders, aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is a relatively small school, with 250 pupils against a capacity of 236, meaning it is slightly over its official number. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 8.9%, below the national average, and the school has no religious character.
Acresfield Academy’s academic record is exceptional. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, it received Outstanding in every single category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a clean sweep of top grades. The previous inspection, back in 2014, also rated the school Outstanding overall, so this is a sustained track record. At Key Stage 2, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 6th out of 110 primary schools in Cheshire West and Chester, placing it in the top 5% locally, and 528th nationally out of 13,686 schools. Average scores in reading (112) and maths (110) are strong, and 74% of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading.
The school offers a range of facilities including a music room, sensory room, gymnasium, sports hall and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cricket and tennis, and there are clubs for coding, choir, drama, book club and art club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school has a resourced provision and supports a broad spectrum of SEND, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, visual impairment and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its oversubscription, families should apply early and be prepared for a competitive process. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes, a broad enrichment offer and a proven track record of outstanding teaching and behaviour.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Acres Lane, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH2 1LJ |
| Headteacher | Mike Dixon |
| Local Authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Number of Pupils | 250 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.9% |
| School Capacity | 250 / 236 (106% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (87%)
528th of 13,686
Nationally
77th of 2,065
In North West
6th of 110
In Cheshire West and Chester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
87%
Expected Standard
19%
Higher Standard
'22/23
78%
'23/24
87%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed28
85
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
36 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:10
Breakfast club
07:50-08:40
After-school care
15:20-18:00
Source: acresfield.cheshire.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.0%
- Mixed6.0%
- Asian4.0%
- White (other)2.8%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acresfield Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Acres Lane, Chester
Cheshire West and Chester, CH2 1LJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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