Old Moat Primary School

About Old Moat Primary School

Old Moat Primary School sits within the Manchester local authority, a large and varied primary landscape where 137 state schools compete for attention. Among them, it ranks 44th on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it in the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in the area are Didsbury CofE Primary School, Brookburn Community School, and Rack House Primary School, each scoring notably higher on the same metric. Yet Old Moat stands out in one crucial respect: its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in 2024, awarded it an Outstanding rating across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. That’s a significant upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2013, and it places the school among just 15 Outstanding primaries in the entire authority. The nearest other Outstanding school, St Kentigern’s RC Primary, is less than a kilometre away, so families in this part of south Manchester have strong local options.

Academically, Old Moat delivers solid but not exceptional results at key stage 2. In the 2023/24 academic year, 62% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — above the Manchester local authority average of 57%, but still below the top-tier peers in the area. Reading is the strongest subject, with 69% at expected and 33% reaching the higher standard, while maths sees 66% at expected and 13% at the higher level. Writing is a relative weak spot, with only 7% achieving the higher standard. Average scaled scores sit at 106 for reading and 103 for maths. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds from its starting points. Given that 61.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals — well above the national average — the school is working with a significantly disadvantaged intake, which makes its above-average expected standard rate a notable achievement.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 87 applications for 42 places and 39 first-preference offers, giving a ratio of just over two applicants per place. Facilities include art studios, music rooms, a library, playing fields, and an outdoor playground, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers football, cricket, dance and netball, and there are clubs for art, chess and science. The nursery provision means children can join from age three. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded local primary with strong Ofsted credentials, a diverse intake, and a clear focus on supporting children with additional needs — though those hoping for top-tier academic outcomes may want to look at the higher-ranked peers nearby.

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