Bosley St Mary's CofE Primary School

About Bosley St Mary's CofE Primary School

Bosley St Mary's CofE Primary School is a small Church of England primary in Cheshire East, a local authority where just 13 of 123 primary schools hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school itself sits comfortably within the Good category, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement. Among its local peers, it is outranked by three top-performing schools: Peover Superior Endowed Primary School, Bexton Primary School, and Ashdene Primary School. But Bosley St Mary's has its own distinct character. With only 59 pupils on roll against a capacity of 56, it is genuinely intimate — every child is known. The school offers nursery provision for three-year-olds and caters for mixed-gender pupils from age 3 to 11. Headteacher Rebecca Hadfield leads a setting that, despite its size, provides a surprisingly broad range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, chapel, music rooms, and an ICT suite.

Academically, the school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection took place in 2011, when it was rated Good overall with Good leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in March 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The early years provision was also rated Good. While the data does not include specific Key Stage 2 SATs results or a Progress 8 score for this school, the local authority average for KS2 attainment sits at 64, giving a useful benchmark for parents comparing schools in Cheshire East. The school's small size means cohorts are tiny, so individual results can fluctuate year to year. What the Ofsted report does confirm is that behaviour, attitudes, and personal development are not flagged as concerns — the inspection found the school to be effective in these areas. The previous inspection in 2009 had rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, so the trajectory has been positive.

For families considering Bosley St Mary's, the practical picture is one of high demand and specialist support. The school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 19 applications for 10 places and all 10 first-preference applicants receiving offers — an oversubscription ratio of 1.9. This suggests a strong local reputation. The school offers a range of clubs including gardening, coding, science, drama, art, and choir, plus sports such as athletics, swimming, cross country, and netball. Its SEND provisions are notably comprehensive for a small school, covering social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a viable option for families whose children require targeted support within a mainstream, faith-based setting. The facilities — a sensory room, forest school, and chapel — reinforce a pastoral, inclusive ethos that suits families seeking a close-knit village school with strong community ties.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bosley St Mary's CofE Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents