Wesley Methodist Primary School

About Wesley Methodist Primary School

Wesley Methodist Primary School’s headline KS2 results sit slightly below the Bury local authority average, but the gap is narrower than it first appears. The school’s proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 60%, compared with the LA average of 64% — a difference of just four percentage points. That places Wesley 30th out of 46 primary schools in Bury, putting it in the bottom half of the local league table. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In reading, 79% of pupils hit the expected standard, and in writing and maths that figure is 74% for both — all respectable scores. Where the school really falls short is at the higher standard: only 5% of pupils achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths combined, and just 5% in writing alone. For families weighing up options, Wesley is a solid, middle-of-the-road performer rather than an academic standout.

Academically, Wesley’s results tell a story of steady but not spectacular progress. In the 2023/24 KS2 assessments, the average reading score was 104 and the average maths score was 103 — both in line with national expectations. The school’s Ofsted rating of Good, confirmed in an ungraded inspection in March 2023, reflects consistent quality across leadership and management, which were both judged Good. This is a notable improvement from the school’s previous graded inspection in 2012, when overall effectiveness was rated Requires Improvement. The early years provision, which was also Requires Improvement in 2011, has clearly been turned around, though the most recent inspection did not publish a separate early years grade. With no progress scores available for reading, writing or maths, it’s hard to measure how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment figures suggest most children leave Wesley with a solid foundation for secondary school.

Wesley Methodist Primary School is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary with a Methodist religious character, serving 299 pupils aged 2 to 11. It is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 94 applications for 45 places, with 53 first-preference applications resulting in 45 offers — an oversubscription ratio of 2.09. The school offers a nursery provision, which will appeal to families looking for continuity from early years through to Year 6. Facilities include a library, ICT suite, music rooms, playing fields and a chapel, and the extracurricular programme is strong, with clubs ranging from coding and chess to eco club and science club. Sports on offer include tennis, netball, gymnastics and dance. The school’s SEND provision is comprehensive, covering eight areas including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. This makes Wesley a practical choice for families who value a broad curriculum and strong pastoral support, particularly those with children who have identified special educational needs.

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