SchoolScoresThe Acorns Primary and Nursery School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE ROWAN LEARNING TRUST
Pooltown Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 7ED
0151 355 1546 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 February 2018. 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.
| 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 11 June 2025: 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
148 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Ellesmere Port comparisons use the 10 of its 21 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 11 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 | Ellesmere Port | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 97% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 88% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 94% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 41 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 65% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 61% | 61% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 97 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 72% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 85% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 82% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 87% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99%said yes | 94% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 40%). 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. Ellesmere Port figures pool parents at the Ellesmere Port 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
45 pupils in this year group.
56% — 5 points below the Cheshire West and Chester average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 56% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 64% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 64% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 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 Cheshire West and Chester. 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 | 45 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 44 |
| Of those, offered a place | 43 (98%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 70 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 52.8% | 20.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.8% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.5% | 9.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 15th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 26% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.5% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 12th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 45% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 54% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 20th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 19% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.5 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 19th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 13% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.3 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 5th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 38% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.4% | 9.9%* | 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
- Brookside Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Stockton Community Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rivacre Valley Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westminster Community Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Saviour's Catholic Primary and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parklands Community Primary and Nursery School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cambridge Road Community Primary and Nursery School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitby Heath Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Acorns Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
The Acorns Primary and Nursery School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 February 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 11 June 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did The Acorns Primary and Nursery School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 56% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Acorns Primary and Nursery School?
99% of the 148 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Acorns Primary and Nursery School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Acorns Primary and Nursery School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 44 families put The Acorns Primary and Nursery School as their first choice for 45 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 43 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 149092.
- 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.