St Paul's CofE Primary School
105%
Capacity
331
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About St Paul's CofE Primary School
St Paul's CofE Primary School in Manchester is a state primary that is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 106 applications for just 36 places, with all 36 first-preference families receiving an offer, giving an oversubscription ratio of nearly 3:1. The school currently has 331 pupils on roll against a capacity of 315, meaning it is operating slightly above its official number. This popularity sits alongside a pupil body where 35.6% of children are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average for primary schools and reflective of the diverse, urban community the school serves in the Manchester local authority. The school is a Church of England primary, led by headteacher Abigail Lee, and offers nursery provision for children from age three, feeding into the main school from Reception through to Year 6.
Academically, St Paul's performs strongly within its local context. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, significantly above the Manchester local authority average of 57%. This places the school 11th out of 122 primary schools in the borough, comfortably in the top 10% locally, and in the top 25% nationally. Individual subject scores are solid: a reading average score of 109, maths at 106, and notably 52% of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2013, rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, though the previous inspection in 2007 had rated it Outstanding. The school does not have a sixth form.
The school offers a broad set of facilities including a library, forest school, sports hall, playing fields, chapel, and dedicated art and music rooms. A wide range of clubs runs alongside the school day, from book club and coding to drama and science club, while sports include netball, football, tennis and cricket. For families with children who have additional needs, the school's SEND provision covers a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and physical disabilities. Given its oversubscription and strong local ranking, this is a school that suits families who live within its catchment area and value a Church of England ethos, strong academic outcomes relative to the local average, and a full range of enrichment opportunities from an early age.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | St Paul's Road, Manchester, Manchester, M20 4PG |
| Headteacher | Abigail Lee |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 331 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.6% |
| School Capacity | 331 / 315 (105% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Mar 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 23 May 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (75%)
2697th of 13,686
Nationally
373rd of 2,065
In North West
11th of 122
In Manchester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
75%
Expected Standard
5%
Higher Standard
'22/23
74%
'23/24
75%
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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed36
106
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
36 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British36.0%
- Asian27.7%
- Mixed15.6%
- White (other)3.0%
- Black2.1%
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 half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half 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.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
9
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 St Paul's CofE Primary 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
St Paul's Road, Manchester
Manchester, M20 4PG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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