Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class

Whalley Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8AW

0161 226 2767 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 July 2015; confirmed 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths52%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 91st highest of 130 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 20% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils185Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 211 in 2019, 201 in 2021, 214 in 2022, 215 in 2023, 207 in 2024, 206 in 2025, 185 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.914 for 15 places, September 2026
Joint 102nd highest of 134 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 32% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 July 2015.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 23 May 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

54 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

Manchester comparisons use the 72 of its 132 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 60 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.

StatementThis schoolManchesterEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 35th highest of 72 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 93% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 59th highest of 72 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester.
Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 94% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 52nd highest of 72 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester.
Higher than 24% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 89% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 22 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 29th highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester.
Higher than 26% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 56% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 39 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 55th highest of 65 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester.
Higher than 14% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 82% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 53rd highest of 72 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester.
Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81%said yes 89% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Manchester figures pool parents at the Manchester 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.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

27 pupils in this year group.

52% — 6 points below the Manchester average, and 10 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolManchesterEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 52% 58% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 5% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 63% 72% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 63% 67% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 74% 72% 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. 103 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 74%This school 2023/24: 48%This school 2024/25: 52% This school England 62% 2022/23 74% 2023/24 48% 2024/25 52%

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 Manchester. 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 offered15
Families who put it first14
Of those, offered a place14 (100%)
Families who listed it at all51

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9

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 Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Manchester

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolManchesterEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
87th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
45.6% 48.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
8.7% 4.8%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
100th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.6% 15.3%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
49th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
48.1% 45.9%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
41st lowest of 130 state primary schools in Manchester.
Lower than 51% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.0% 5.6%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
25th lowest of 130 state primary schools in Manchester.
Lower than 60% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
10.2% 15.4%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 52nd lowest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Lower than 61% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.5 2.2 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
60th lowest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.5% 1.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 47th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 58% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
21.3 20.6 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 34th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 58% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
11.2 10.1 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 81st highest of 130 state primary schools in Manchester.
Higher than 35% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
8.8% 13.6%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester's Ofsted rating?

Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 July 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 23 May 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 52% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester?

81% of the 54 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 14 families put Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester as their first choice for 15 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 14 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.