Brookside Primary School

About Brookside Primary School

Brookside Primary School’s Key Stage 2 results sit slightly below the local authority average for Cheshire West and Chester, with 53% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 61%. That places the school in the bottom half of primary schools in the borough, ranked 76th out of 110. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. Reading scores are a relative strength: 73% of pupils met the expected standard and 30% achieved a higher standard, well above the national average. Maths tells a different story, with 67% reaching the expected level and only 7% hitting the higher threshold. Writing sits in between, with 70% at the expected standard but no pupils reaching the higher mark. The school’s overall ranking score of 53 puts it in the bottom 50% nationally, but its reading outcomes suggest there are pockets of genuine strength.

The school has held a Good rating from Ofsted since its graded inspection in 2014, and an ungraded visit in 2023 confirmed it remains Good. Leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour and attitudes were all judged Good at the last graded inspection. This is a notable improvement from the previous inspection in 2013, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. With 192 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is not full, but it is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 44 families applied for 20 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.2. All 20 first-preference applicants were offered a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 38.5%, well above the national average, which adds useful context when interpreting the school’s attainment figures.

Brookside offers a nursery provision for children from age three, and its facilities include a sports hall, library, forest school, gymnasium, art studios, ICT suite and a chapel. The school runs clubs covering eco, drama, book club, coding, science and art, and pupils can take part in tennis, swimming, netball, athletics and rounders. SEND support is available for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and other difficulties. For families weighing up options, Brookside is a community school with no religious character, led by headteacher Daniel Orme. It suits parents who value a school that has improved its Ofsted rating and offers strong reading outcomes, but who are realistic about overall attainment being below the LA average. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Meadow Primary School, 1.1 km away.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Brookside Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents