SchoolScoresAppleton Thorn Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of THE CHALLENGE ACADEMY TRUST
Arley Road, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, WA4 4RW
01925 266764 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 1 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
57 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Warrington comparisons use the 36 of its 77 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 41 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 21st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 32nd highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 13 parents whose child had been bullied 26th highest of 27 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 7% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 31% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 39 parents who had raised a concern 30th highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 32% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 86% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 86% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 81% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 25th highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 28%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Warrington figures pool parents at the Warrington schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
31 pupils in this year group.
74% — 6 points above the Warrington average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 74% | 68% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 82% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 77% | 77% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 84% | 80% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 106 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Warrington. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 32 |
| Of those, offered a place | 25 (78%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 102 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.1
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 69th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.4% | 24.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 60th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.9% | 13.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 33rd highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 60% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.9% | 16.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 98% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 4.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 23rd lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 87% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 8.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 15th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 89% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.6 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 89% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.6 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 32nd highest of 76 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 50% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 12.3% | 11.0%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Grappenhall Heys Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stretton St Matthew's CofE Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Broomfields Junior School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Grappenhall St Wilfrid's CofE Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Monica's Catholic Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Cobbs Infant and Nursery School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 3 expected
- Bradshaw Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas' CofE Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thelwall Infant School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Stockton Heath Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Appleton Thorn Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 1 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Appleton Thorn Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 74% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Appleton Thorn Primary School?
89% of the 57 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Appleton Thorn Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Appleton Thorn Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 32 families put Appleton Thorn Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 25 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 149676.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.