Chorlton CofE Primary School

About Chorlton CofE Primary School

Chorlton CofE Primary School holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, but the detail tells a more nuanced story. While the overall effectiveness was not judged on that occasion, inspectors awarded Outstanding marks in four of the five graded categories: early years provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The only area rated Good was quality of education. That pattern suggests a school that excels at creating a positive, well-ordered environment but is still working to match that with academic outcomes. The most telling exam metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 71 per cent. That is comfortably above the Manchester local authority average of 57 per cent, and it places Chorlton 20th out of 122 primary schools in the city, putting it in the top 17 per cent of its local authority.

Digging into the Key Stage 2 results from 2023/24, reading stands out as a particular strength. Ninety-three per cent of pupils reached the expected standard, and 43 per cent achieved a higher score — well above typical levels. In maths, 79 per cent met the expected standard, with an average score of 105, and 25 per cent reached the higher threshold. Writing is the weaker leg: 71 per cent hit the expected standard and only 7 per cent achieved the higher mark. That 71 per cent combined figure for reading, writing and maths is the metric used in the school’s ranking, and it puts Chorlton in the top 50 nationally by that measure. The school has no progress scores published, so it is hard to say how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment is solidly above the local norm and suggests a school that delivers reliably for most children.

Chorlton is a Church of England primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 there were 156 applications for 30 places, a ratio of 5.2 to one, and only 29 of those went to first-preference families. That tells you demand is fierce. The school has a range of facilities including a gymnasium, sensory room, art studios and a chapel, and offers clubs from gardening and film club to science and book club. Sports include swimming, gymnastics, athletics and rounders. On SEND, the school lists support for seven categories including dyslexia, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent View responses are overwhelmingly positive: 96 per cent of respondents would recommend the school, and 96 per cent strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy there. This is a school for families who value a strong community feel, high behaviour standards, and a clear Church of England character, and who are prepared to compete for a place.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Chorlton CofE Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents