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:
29. St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Haslingden
This St Mary’s is a Catholic primary school in Rossendale, Lancashire. Last year 86% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to 59% locally and 60% nationally. | Google
30. St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School
St Robert Bellarmine is a Catholic primary school in Bootle, Merseyside. Last year 86% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to averages of 58% locally and 60% nationally. | Google
31. Fulwood St Peter's Church of England Primary School and Nursery
St Peter’s is an Anglican school in Preston, Lancashire. Last year 85% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to 59% locally and 60% nationally. | Google
32. Garrett Hall Primary School
Garrett Hall is a primary school in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester. Last year 85% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to 64% locally and 60% nationally. | Google