Cheadle Catholic Infant School

About Cheadle Catholic Infant School

Cheadle Catholic Infant School, a state primary for children aged 3 to 7 in Stockport, performs notably above the local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. While the school itself only covers infants up to Year 2, its feeder reputation and overall academic trajectory are strong. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment sits at 62, and while this school’s own KS2 data isn't directly published (as its pupils move on before sitting those tests), the school’s broader metrics suggest it is a high-performing option. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2023 rated the school Good overall, with every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — all judged Good. This is a solid, consistent profile, especially when compared with the previous inspection in 2009, which rated the school Outstanding. The drop from Outstanding to Good is not uncommon for schools reassessed under a tougher framework, and the fact that all areas are now uniformly Good indicates stable, reliable provision rather than a decline in any one area.

Academically, the school’s focus is on early years and infant education, and its nursery provision means children can start from age three. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 163 applications for 73 places, with 66 of those coming as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of 2.23 to one tells you local families are keen to get in. The school’s religious character as a Roman Catholic school likely shapes its admissions criteria, and faith-based priority is common for such schools. While there are no published SATs results for this infant-only school, the Ofsted breakdown gives confidence: behaviour and attitudes, and personal development, both scored Good, which aligns with a calm, purposeful learning environment. The school also supports pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs, so it is equipped to handle a range of additional needs within a mainstream setting.

Facilities are surprisingly strong for an infant school, including a music room, library, sensory room, forest school area, ICT suite, sports hall, and even a chapel. There is a good range of sports on offer — athletics, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, and cross country — plus clubs like film, gardening, and chess. The school has playing fields and an outdoor playground, which is important for this age group. With 254 pupils against a capacity of 310, there is some headroom, but the oversubscription figures suggest demand is high. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Bradshaw Hall, just half a kilometre away, so families in the area have strong options. This school will particularly suit Catholic families or those who value a faith-based infant education with strong early years provision, a broad range of facilities, and a track record of good behaviour and teaching. It is a popular, well-regarded local choice rather than a flashy outlier.

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