Having high-achieving students is far from the only factor that determines how good a school is, but for families who get a choice in the matter it can be a good sign that their little one will get the attention they need to thrive.
We’re taking a look at the top-rated primary schools around the country to help families make an informed decision on what’s right for them and their child, and today we’re visiting the North West. The region has an almost countless number of high quality, state-funded primary schools, so much so that we’ve had to set stringent criteria for inclusion in the list.
The first is schools rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted - meaning the quality of education provided, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding have all been found to be excellent.
The second is the percentage of its pupils who completed the national curriculum’s key stage 2 in the 2022/23 school year, and met the expected standards for reading, writing and maths. We’ve selected only schools which surpassed both the national and local authority area’s averages.
To narrow it down even further, only schools which had at least 85% of pupils meet or exceed the expected standard. This has given many smaller, local village or faith schools a chance to shine. But equally, even though they have more students from more diverse backgrounds to get across the goalpost, some larger city schools have earned a spot too.
Here were the North West’s top-scoring super primary schools from across the region:
5. Gisburn Primary School
This is a primary school in Gisburn, Lancashire. Last year 95% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to 58% locally and 60% nationally. It’s again worth noting Gisburn is also a small village school, but it does have nearly double the national average of children achieving at a higher level too. | Google
6. Ashdene Primary School
Ashdene is a primary school in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Last year 93% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to 62% locally and 60% nationally. | Google
7. Langho and Billington St Leonards Church of England Primary School
Langho St Leonards is an Anglican primary school in Blackburn, Lancashire. Last year 93% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to 59% locally and 60% nationally. | Google
8. Lower Peover Church of England Primary School
Lower Peover is an Anglican primary school in Knutsford, Cheshire. Last year 93% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to 58% locally and 60% nationally. | Google