Hale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

About Hale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Hale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a popular choice among local families, with 26 of its 27 reception places for 2025/26 going to first-preference applicants and an oversubscription ratio of 1.33, meaning 36 families applied for those spots. The school, which has a Church of England religious character, currently has 199 pupils on roll against a capacity of 175, so it is operating above its official number. While the Department for Education does not publish a parent view score for this school, the oversubscription figures suggest strong local demand. The school is led by headteacher Emma Fenton and sits in the Halton local authority area in the North West. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2022, rated it Good across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This was a consistent outcome, as the previous inspection in 2013 had also rated it Good for overall effectiveness and leadership and management.

Academically, Hale Church of England Primary performs around the middle of the pack in Halton. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is four percentage points above the local authority average of 59%. The school ranks 21st out of 43 primary schools in Halton on this metric, placing it in the top half of the borough. At the higher standard, 16% of pupils achieved the top scores across all three subjects. Breaking it down by subject, 68% met the expected standard in reading, 68% in maths, and 74% in writing. Average scaled scores were 104 in reading and 106 in maths. Nationally, the school sits at the 49th percentile, so it is broadly in line with the national average. There are no progress scores available for the school, so it is not possible to say how much value it adds relative to pupils' starting points.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a Forest School, sports hall, gymnasium, sensory room, ICT suite and a chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, netball, rounders, cross country, dance, gymnastics and swimming, while clubs include film, drama, art, coding, book club and eco club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form. Given its Good Ofsted rating, above-average KS2 results compared with the local authority, and oversubscribed admissions, this is a school that suits families who value a Church of England primary with a broad extracurricular offer and a strong local reputation, though those applying should be prepared for competition for places.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Hale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents