Yew Tree Primary School

About Yew Tree Primary School

Yew Tree Primary School’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit slightly below the Tameside local authority average, with 58% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined against a LA average of 62%. That places the school 39th out of 76 primary schools in the borough, and in the bottom half nationally. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects: 71% met the expected standard in maths and 72% in writing, both respectable figures. The school’s Progress 8 data is not available, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment suggests a school that is broadly in line with its peers rather than struggling. With 47.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, Yew Tree serves a significantly disadvantaged intake, which makes its overall Good Ofsted rating and solid writing outcomes particularly noteworthy.

Academically, the school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2016 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management and early years provision both judged Good. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, meaning it has held this rating consistently for nearly a decade. At Key Stage 2, the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined was just 8%, and only 22% reached the higher standard in reading or maths individually. This suggests the school is more focused on securing the expected standard for the majority than pushing a large cohort into the top tier. In the Tameside rankings, Yew Tree sits at 37th out of 57 schools when ranked by the proportion reaching the expected standard, placing it in the bottom half of the LA. For context, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Millbrook, 4.4 km away.

Yew Tree is a three-form entry primary with nursery provision, offering 27 places per year group, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 with 59 applications for those 27 places, giving a ratio of 2.19 applicants per place. All 27 first-preference applicants were offered a spot, so families who put it first are likely to get in. The school has a strong set of facilities including a library, ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, forest school, sensory room and art studios, plus a chapel. Clubs range from book club and chess to gardening and science club, and sports include athletics, cricket, rounders and football. SEND provision covers moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication, hearing impairment and physical disability. This is a school that suits families in Tameside looking for a well-resourced, inclusive primary with a Good rating and a clear focus on core skills, particularly for children who may benefit from additional support.

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