Cringle Brook Primary School

About Cringle Brook Primary School

Cringle Brook Primary School in Manchester holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent inspections. In its 2024 ungraded inspection, the school was confirmed to have remained Outstanding, building on the top marks awarded in its 2017 graded inspection for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision. The most telling exam metric for this primary school is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. At 63%, this figure sits comfortably above the Manchester local authority average of 57%, placing the school in the top half of primary schools nationally. However, only 10% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, which is a more modest result and suggests that while most children are meeting expectations, fewer are exceeding them at the highest level.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, Cringle Brook’s strengths are unevenly spread across subjects. Maths stands out, with an average scaled score of 108 and 83% of pupils reaching the expected standard, compared with 77% in reading and 80% in writing. The higher-standard figures tell a similar story: 40% of pupils achieved the higher mark in maths, versus 33% in reading and just 13% in writing. The school’s overall ranking in Manchester is 42nd out of 122 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority, though this ranking is based solely on the combined expected standard metric. With 31.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage, making its above-average LA comparison particularly noteworthy. The school is oversubscribed, receiving 140 applications for 30 places in 2025/26, with 28 first-preference offers made.

Cringle Brook is a state primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision. Its facilities include music rooms, a sports hall, art studios and playing fields, and the school offers a wide range of sports from gymnastics and dance to cricket and football. Clubs such as gardening, coding, eco club and chess add breadth. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and visual impairment. With a capacity of 210 and 214 pupils currently on roll, the school is slightly over capacity, which aligns with its oversubscribed status. Families considering Cringle Brook should note its strong Ofsted record and above-average core results, but also that its higher-attainment figures are more modest, making it a solid choice for children who need consistent support to meet expected standards rather than a school focused primarily on pushing for the highest grades.

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