Barrow CofE Primary School, Chester

Ofsted's report card from its inspection grades Barrow CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's comprehensive personal development programme is underpinned by a carefully designed curriculum that is closely matched to pupils' needs and aspirations."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically attain in line with their peers nationally in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage two."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Staff check pupils' attendance daily."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "With the help of external support, the school has established a well-organised and ambitious curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children display high levels of confidence."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established effective systems to quickly and accurately identify pupils' individual needs."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "Since the last full inspection, governors and leaders have taken steps to develop a more accurate understanding of the school's performance."

Safeguarding standards were NOT met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the positive changes that they have made to safeguarding systems in school are sustained and built upon, including ensuring that staff's knowledge remains up to date over time"; "Leaders should ensure that safeguarding records detail the actions of staff in sufficient detail"; "Governors must ensure that the improvements that they have made to their checks on the school's safeguarding practice and leaders' actions are sustained and built upon"; "Governors must ensure that they build leadership capacity and provide effective support and challenge to leaders. This is in order to reduce the school's reliance on external support to drive the school's development work"; "Leaders should develop the school's approach to mathematics in key stage 1 in order to ensure that pupils secure number fluency before they reach key stage 2".

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £5.50 per session.

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils at Barrow CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 33% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 74% in Cheshire West and Chester and 77% and 75% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Barrow CofE Primary School as their first choice and 12 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Barrow CofE Primary School are Barrow CofE Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Guilden Sutton CofE Primary School (1.5 miles, Outstanding, 94% reading, 94% maths); Mickle Trafford Village School (1.8 miles, Good, 97% reading, 93% maths); and Tarvin Primary School (1.8 miles, 85% reading, 88% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Barrow CofE Primary School.

20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Barrow CofE Primary School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).

16.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 3 pupils (6.3%) received SEN support and 3 (6.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.

Barrow CofE Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Mouldsworth Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barrow Primary School (opposite), 50 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cheshire West and Chester (71).

Barrow CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.