Etchells Primary School

About Etchells Primary School

Etchells Primary School sits within Stockport local authority, a borough with 86 primary schools where only seven currently hold an Ofsted Outstanding rating. The school itself ranks 32nd out of 67 primaries in Stockport on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it just inside the top half locally. Its nearest Outstanding-rated neighbour is Bradshaw Hall Primary School, one kilometre away, while the top three performers in the LA are Gatley Primary School, St John’s Church of England Primary School and Bradshaw Hall itself. Etchells is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged three to eleven, with a nursery on site. Headteacher Stuart Kelly leads a school of 397 pupils, which is 84 per cent of its 470 capacity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.1 per cent, a figure that gives some indication of the school’s intake relative to the local area.

Academically, Etchells performs broadly in line with or slightly above the Stockport LA average. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 assessments, 64 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 62 per cent. Reading and writing saw stronger results, with 75 per cent and 86 per cent meeting expected standards respectively, while maths sat at 72 per cent. At the higher standard, 9 per cent achieved the top level across all three subjects. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 105 in maths. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2016 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding and early years provision Outstanding. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Good. This marks a clear improvement from its 2014 inspection, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including an outdoor playground, playing fields, an ICT suite, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, football, cricket, gymnastics and swimming, while clubs include art, drama, eco, film and book clubs. SEND support is broad, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, visual impairment and social, emotional and mental health needs, plus a resourced provision. Admission data for 2025/26 shows the school is oversubscribed: 115 applications for 48 places, with 43 offers made to first-preference applicants from 44 first-preference requests, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.4. This suggests strong local demand, and the school will suit families in Stockport who want a Good-rated primary with nursery provision, solid SEND support and a range of extracurricular activities, particularly those who value the early years and leadership strengths noted by Ofsted.

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