James Brindley Community Primary School

About James Brindley Community Primary School

James Brindley Community Primary School in Salford has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection, a significant step up from its previous Good rating. The school’s leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all received the top grade of 1, and an ungraded inspection in 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained. This places the school among just nine Outstanding primaries out of 75 in the local authority. On the academic front, the school’s Key Stage 2 results are a key metric: the local authority average for KS2 attainment is 61, and while James Brindley’s exact score isn’t published here, its Outstanding rating and strong parent feedback suggest outcomes are well above that benchmark. The school’s headteacher, Kate Stokes, leads a mixed-gender primary for pupils aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site and a total of 236 pupils against a capacity of 250.

Parent views are overwhelmingly positive. In the most recent Parent View survey, 85% of respondents would recommend the school, and 66% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. On safety, 68% strongly agreed that their child feels safe, and 47% strongly agreed that pupils are well behaved. Academic confidence is high too: 59% strongly agreed that their child does well, and 45% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations. For SEND support, 53% strongly agreed that children with special educational needs get the help they need, though 11% strongly disagreed — a notable minority. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. Clubs include Eco Club, coding, film club and drama, while sports on offer range from rounders and netball to cross country and gymnastics.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 189 applications for just 30 places, with 58 first-preference applications and an oversubscription ratio of 6.3. That means competition is fierce, and parents should be prepared to apply early. Facilities are notably strong for a primary, including a gymnasium, library, playing fields, sports hall, sensory room, art studios, music rooms and even a chapel. The school’s religious character is listed as ‘does not apply’, so the chapel likely serves a broader community or historical function. James Brindley is a good fit for families who prioritise strong academic expectations, a wide range of enrichment activities, and a school that has been independently judged as Outstanding. Given the high demand, it’s one to research thoroughly and apply for promptly if it matches your priorities.

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