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The Friars Primary School

Salford, M3 7EUPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2024
KS2 Results
51%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
20 1st-choice / 20 places
Ranking
#10,453
of 13,686 nationally

About The Friars Primary School

The Friars Primary School in Salford is a state primary that, on the surface, performs broadly in line with the local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, but a closer look reveals a more nuanced picture. The school’s percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined stands at 51%, compared with the Salford average of 61%. That ten-point gap places The Friars in the bottom half of primary schools in the borough, ranking 52nd out of 65. However, the school is heavily oversubscribed — it received 43 applications for just 20 places in 2025/26, with all 20 first-preference families offered a spot — suggesting that local parents see something beyond the headline figures. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, upgraded it from Requires Improvement to Good across all five graded categories, including leadership, behaviour and personal development. That turnaround, achieved under headteacher Michael Earnshaw, may explain why demand now outstrips supply by more than two to one.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCannon Street, The Friars Primary School, Cannon Street, Salford, Salford, M3 7EU
HeadteacherMichael Earnshaw
Local AuthoritySalford
Number of Pupils394
Free School Meals (FSM)43.7%
School Capacity394 / 450 (88% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Mar 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 24 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
LibraryArt StudiosOutdoor PlaygroundForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

DanceFootballCricketAthleticsGymnasticsCross Country

Clubs & Activities

ChessGardeningChoirArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyResourced Provision

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:30

After-school care

15:30-17:30

Source: friarsprimaryschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Friars Primary School

The Friars Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.