Kelsall Primary and Nursery School
90%
Capacity
237
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Kelsall Primary and Nursery School
Kelsall Primary and Nursery School received an Outstanding rating across all five categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, a clean sweep that places it among just 14 primary schools in Cheshire West and Chester to hold that top grade. The school’s exam results back up that judgement: 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2, well above the local authority average of 61%. That figure also puts Kelsall 16th out of 110 primary schools in the borough, comfortably inside the top 25% nationally. The school’s ranking score of 78 reflects strong performance across the board, with reading a particular strength — 94% of pupils reached the expected standard and 44% hit the higher benchmark, compared with 28% in maths and writing.
Digging deeper into the 2023/24 results, average scaled scores tell a similar story: reading averaged 109, maths 106, and 19% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects. Progress scores aren’t available in the data, but the raw outcomes are strong enough that the school sits in the top 15% of primaries nationally. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision and leadership and management were all judged Outstanding in the inspection, with the report noting consistency since the school’s previous Outstanding rating in 2012. For a relatively small school of 237 pupils, these are impressive numbers, and they suggest a setting where academic expectations are high without being narrow — the range of clubs including drama, coding, science club and eco club points to breadth beyond the core curriculum.
Kelsall is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 66 families applied for 27 places, with 23 of those coming as first preferences. That 2.44 oversubscription ratio means it pays to have the school high on your list. The school has a nursery for children from age two, a sensory room, ICT suite, sports hall, music rooms and playing fields, plus a chapel on site. Sports on offer include swimming, tennis, netball, athletics, dance and cross country. SEND provision covers social, emotional and mental health needs as well as speech, language and communication support. With 5.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals — below the national average — the intake is relatively advantaged, but the school’s strong outcomes and broad facilities make it a natural first choice for families in the Kelsall area who want a well-resourced primary with proven academic results.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Kelsall Primary and Nursery School, Flat Lane, Tarporley, Cheshire West and Chester, CW6 0PU |
| Headteacher | Sarah White |
| Local Authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Number of Pupils | 237 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 5.9% |
| School Capacity | 237 / 263 (90% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (78%)
1976th of 13,686
Nationally
256th of 2,065
In North West
16th of 110
In Cheshire West and Chester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
78%
Expected Standard
19%
Higher Standard
'22/23
70%
'23/24
78%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed27
66
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
23 families put this school as their 1st choice (35% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:30-08:40
After-school care
15:15-18:00
Source: kelsall.cheshire.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.0%
- Mixed4.2%
- White (other)1.7%
- Asian1.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kelsall Primary and Nursery School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Kelsall Primary and Nursery School, Flat Lane, Tarporley
Cheshire West and Chester, CW6 0PU
Kelsall Primary and Nursery School, Flat Lane, Tarporley
Cheshire West and Chester, CW6 0PU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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