St Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Catholic

Part of OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST

Hall Road, Handforth, Wilmslow, SK9 3AE

01625 520207 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 6 October 2011, before conversion; confirmed 2022
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths50%England 62% · 2024/25
9th highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 17% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils202Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 199 in 2019, 195 in 2021, 197 in 2022, 210 in 2023, 208 in 2024, 208 in 2025, 202 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.918 for 20 places, September 2026
5th highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 23% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 October 2011. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

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 managementRequires improvement
Early yearsGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 February 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

28 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 111323), before it changed to its current form.

50% — 15 points below the Cheshire East average, and 12 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 50% 65% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 68% 79% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 64% 75% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 71% 77% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 55%This school 2023/24: 55%This school 2024/25: 50% This school England 62% 2022/23 55% 2023/24 55% 2024/25 50%

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 Cheshire East. 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 offered20
Families who put it first18
Of those, offered a place18 (100%)
Families who listed it at all39

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 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 Cheshire East

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
24.0% 16.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.7% 4.4%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
13.9% 12.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
23.1% 11.1%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
6th lowest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Lower than 52% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.9% 4.5%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
6th lowest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Lower than 54% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
11.1% 9.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Lower than 62% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.5 1.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.5% 0.6% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 27% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
18.5 21.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 9 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 32% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
9.7 11.6 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
8th highest of 8 state primary schools in Wilmslow.
Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is St Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?

St Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 October 2011. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 February 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did St Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 50% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points below the England average of 62%.

Is St Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put St Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 20 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 18 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.