Radcliffe Primary School

About Radcliffe Primary School

Radcliffe Primary School sends out a strong signal to prospective parents: it is a genuinely popular choice. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 53 applications for just 31 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.71. That means nearly two families applied for every spot, and of those, 22 were first-preference choices. It is a clear indicator that local parents rate the school highly enough to put it top of their list. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site, and is led by headteacher Alyson Walsh. With a capacity of 410 but currently 230 pupils on roll, there is room to grow, but the oversubscription figures suggest demand is already outstripping supply. The school does not have a religious character, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across the board, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019.

Academically, Radcliffe Primary sits in the middle of the pack within Bury. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is slightly below the local authority average of 64%. The school ranks 31st out of 46 primary schools in Bury on this measure, placing it in the bottom half of the LA. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In reading, 74% hit the expected standard and 31% reached the higher standard, while in maths, 72% met the expected level and 21% achieved the higher mark. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 104 in maths. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage — 49.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals — so these results should be viewed in that context. The Ofsted report from November 2022 rated behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all as Good, with early years provision also Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities and activities that give a sense of a well-resourced primary. There is a library, ICT suite, music rooms, a dining hall, outdoor playground, playing fields, and even a chapel and forest school area. Sports on offer include swimming, tennis, cricket, athletics, rounders, cross country and gymnastics, while clubs include book club, drama and art club. For families with children who need extra support, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 31 places available and strong local demand, this is a school that suits families who value a Good-rated, inclusive primary with a forest school ethos and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those living within its catchment area. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Chantlers Primary School, 3.1 km away.

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