SchoolScoresHurst Knoll St James' CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Ladbrooke Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8JS
0161 330 4049 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 19 May 2026 , published 28 June 2026.
In short: 5 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
47% — 13 points below the Tameside average, and 15 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 47% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 63% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 57% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 53% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 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 Tameside. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 15 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 12 |
| Of those, offered a place | 12 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 41 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 59.0% | 37.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 18th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.0% | 4.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.5% | 16.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 11th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.6% | 18.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Lower than 36% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.7% | 12.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.7 | 2.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 20th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Lower than 5% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 1.03% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Higher than 46% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.3 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 19th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Higher than 12% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.2 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne. Higher than 83% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 25.0% | 12.1%* | 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
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James' CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Heys Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oasis Academy Broadoak 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 3 needs attention · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parochial CofE Primary and Nursery School, Ashton-under-Lyne 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Canon Johnson CofE Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Christopher's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Inspire Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Waterloo Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Hurst Knoll St James' CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Hurst Knoll St James' CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 19 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Hurst Knoll St James' CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 47% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Hurst Knoll St James' CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 12 families put Hurst Knoll St James' CofE Primary School as their first choice for 15 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 12 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 106229.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.