Heron Cross Primary School

About Heron Cross Primary School

Heron Cross Primary School is a mixed state primary in Stoke-on-Trent that currently educates 411 pupils against a capacity of 472, meaning it has some room to grow but is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 76 total applications for 59 places, with 58 of those coming as first preferences — a ratio of 1.29 applicants per place, and every first-preference child was offered a spot. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 42.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average and a clear signal of the intake profile. The school has nursery provision for children from age three, and the headteacher is Gemma Willdigg. There is no religious character to the school, and it is not a boarding school.

Academically, Heron Cross is a school where the picture is mixed. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 44% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — notably below the local authority average of 60%. The school ranks 54th out of 63 primaries in Stoke-on-Trent on this metric, placing it in the bottom half of the LA table and the bottom 50 nationally. Looking at individual subjects, reading scores were strongest: 65% met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 103. Writing saw 72% at expected, while maths was lower at 54% expected and an average score of 101. Only 2% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2021, rated it Good across all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — a consistent improvement from its previous Good rating in 2012.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, art studios, music rooms, a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields and a dining hall. Sports provision covers tennis, dance, athletics, gymnastics, swimming, netball and cross country, while clubs include drama, gardening, choir, science club, film club and art club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed but accessible to first-preference applicants. Given its below-average KS2 outcomes and high FSM intake, this is a school that may suit families who prioritise a supportive, inclusive environment over headline academic results, and who value the breadth of enrichment on offer.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Heron Cross Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents