Cornerstone Academy, Cheshire
Cornerstone Academy is an independent school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Cheshire. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cornerstone Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Cornerstone Academy are The Lodge AP (3.3 miles); and Jefferson House (5.3 miles, Outstanding).
Who goes there
In 2026, 5 pupils (31.3%) received SEN support and 11 (68.8%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Crewe Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Groby Road (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 39 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cheshire East (61).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cornerstone Academy transforms the lives of pupils who have struggled in mainstream education, creating a warm and welcoming environment where they feel safe and supported. Staff have exceptional expertise in working with children with social, emotional and mental health needs, delivering engaging lessons that help pupils catch up on missed learning and develop strong relationships with peers. The school's focus on positive behaviour, personal development and preparing pupils for their next steps means children leave ready to transition back to mainstream school or specialist provision.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes - pupils demonstrate outstanding positive behaviour with warm, calm and purposeful atmosphere throughout school
- Highly effective support for pupils with SEND and behavioural challenges - staff have expertise to identify needs and create bespoke programmes
- Strong focus on relationships and personal development - pupils learn to interact well with staff and peers, with impressive attendance rates
- Engaging curriculum delivery - staff deliver lessons in exciting ways that spark pupil interest and help them feel successful
- Excellent induction process - thorough and involves child and family voice to understand individual needs
Areas for Improvement
- Staff expertise in newer curriculum subjects needs to develop - some staff not yet secure in essential knowledge and how it builds over time, limiting depth of pupil learning
- Limited selection of high-quality books - pupils lack taught opportunities to enjoy a variety of texts, which restricts vocabulary development for writing
- Need to ensure curriculum knowledge embedding - staff require more clarity and confidence in delivering curriculum with consistency across subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong oversight and systems in place to protect pupils.
Extracurricular Activities
Chess, art and crafts, outdoor education, fire pit activities, trips to local places of cultural interest, Friday enrichment afternoons
Cornerstone Academy is an independent alternative provision school for pupils at risk of exclusion from primary schools. The school provides a life-changing experience for most pupils who have previously had negative experiences of education, helping them overcome lack of trust in schools and transforming their attitudes to learning.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Cornerstone Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Cheshire East is 6 (the median across 180 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
53%
Available places
16 pupils
30 places
14 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Cheshire
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cheshire
Across Cheshire East council
Places available
4,404
Applications
4,072
Got 1st preference
93.1%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Cheshire East council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
5
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
16
Total Pupils
15
Boys
1
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Cornerstone Academy
What is Cornerstone Academy's Ofsted rating?
Cornerstone Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025.
Does Cornerstone Academy meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in June 2025, Cornerstone Academy met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Cornerstone Academy?
Cornerstone Academy has around 16 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Cornerstone Academy?
Cornerstone Academy is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Cornerstone Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Cheshire East is 6 (the median across 180 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cornerstone Academy?
Cornerstone Academy is at The Stables, Warmingham Road, Cheshire, CW1 4PP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)