SchoolScoresPalace Fields Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE HEATH FAMILY (NORTH WEST)
Badger Close, Palace Fields, Runcorn, WA7 2QW
01928 242855 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 April 2019.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 26 November 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Runcorn comparisons use the 13 of its 29 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 16 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 | Runcorn | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Runcorn. Higher than 14% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 8th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Runcorn. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 12th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Runcorn. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 90% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 18 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Runcorn. Higher than 34% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 79% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Runcorn. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77%said yes | 85% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 17%). 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. Runcorn figures pool parents at the Runcorn 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
13 pupils in this year group.
77% — 15 points above the Halton average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Halton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 77% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 85% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 85% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 92% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 Halton. 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 | 8 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 8 |
| Of those, offered a place | 8 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 19 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 8 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Halton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 16th highest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 46.3% | 38.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 4.4%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.4% | 18.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 14th highest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 6.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 16th lowest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Lower than 29% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.8% | 14.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Lower than 42% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 18th highest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Higher than 19% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.4 | 18.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 13th highest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 29 state primary schools in Runcorn. Higher than 88% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 28.6% | 11.7%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Our Lady Mother of the Saviour Catholic Primary School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brookvale Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hallwood Park Primary School and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hillview Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Murdishaw West Primary and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beechwood Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodside Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Berteline's CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024, before conversion) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bridgewater Park Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected, 1 needs attention · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Palace Fields Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Palace Fields Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 April 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 26 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Palace Fields Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Palace Fields Primary Academy?
77% of the 22 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Palace Fields Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Palace Fields Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 8 families put Palace Fields Primary Academy as their first choice for 8 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 8 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 143768.
- 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.