Daresbury Primary School

About Daresbury Primary School

Daresbury Primary School is rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023, a change from the Outstanding rating it held in 2008. The school’s current report shows a consistent Good across all five graded categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. But the most telling academic metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — 75% of Year 6 pupils achieved this in the 2023/24 assessments. That is well above the Halton local authority average of 59%, and it places Daresbury 6th out of 43 primary schools in the area, putting it in the top 25% nationally. Individual subject results are also strong: 96% met expectations in writing, 92% in maths, and 79% in reading, with average scaled scores of 107 in maths and 108 in reading.

Beyond the headline figures, the school shows solid performance at the higher standard too. In reading, 46% of pupils achieved the higher benchmark, compared with 29% in maths and 21% in both writing and the combined RWM measure. The school’s ranking score of 75 places it just behind the top three in Halton — Moorfield, Moore and Castle View primary schools — but still comfortably within the top 15% of primaries in the North West region. Nationally, Daresbury sits in the 19th percentile, meaning roughly four out of five primary schools in England have a lower proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in all three core subjects. With 201 pupils on roll and a capacity of 210, the school is nearly full, and its 8.5% pupil premium rate is relatively low, suggesting a less disadvantaged intake than many local schools.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 72 applications for 27 places and 21 offers made to first-preference families — a ratio of 2.67 applicants per place. Facilities include an ICT suite, art studios, a gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields and even a chapel. Sports on offer include football, netball, cricket, athletics, rounders, gymnastics and dance, while clubs range from drama and choir to science, chess, art and gardening. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, multi-sensory impairment and other disabilities. This is a well-regarded village primary that suits families who value strong academic foundations and a broad extracurricular offer, but given its oversubscription, early application is essential.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Daresbury Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents