SchoolScoresSt John's CofE Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Part of NORTH WEST ACADEMIES TRUST LIMITED
Heath Road, Sandbach, CW11 2LE
01270 762859 · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Inadequate at the inspection that started on 26 September 2023. 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.
Category of concern: Special measures.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Inadequate |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Inadequate |
| Personal development | Inadequate |
| Leadership and management | Inadequate |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Not effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Sandbach comparisons use the 8 of its 9 state primary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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 | Sandbach | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandbach. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 91% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 6th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandbach. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandbach. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 86% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sandbach. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69%said yes | 82% | 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. Sandbach figures pool parents at the Sandbach 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
| Measure | This school | Cheshire East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 65% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | Not published | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | Not published | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | Not published | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 12 |
| Of those, offered a place | 12 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 20 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 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. 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Cheshire East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.5% | 16.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 4.4%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.4% | 12.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 11.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Lower than 4% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.1% | 4.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Lower than 20% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 18.0% | 9.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 6th highest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Higher than 35% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.3 | 21.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 11.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 9 state primary schools in Sandbach. Higher than 100% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 69.2% | 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
- Offley Primary Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sandbach Primary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wheelock Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elworth Hall Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elworth CofE Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brereton CofE Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Smallwood CofE Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Pikemere School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St John's CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?
St John's CofE Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 September 2023.
How did St John's CofE Academy do in its SATs?
DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. No figure published.
Would parents recommend St John's CofE Academy?
69% of the 13 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend St John's CofE Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St John's CofE Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 12 families put St John's CofE Academy as their first choice for 16 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 151487.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 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.