Cornerstone Academy, Cheshire
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
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
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
53%
Available places
16 pupils
30 capacity
14 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Cheshire
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Cheshire
Admissions Demand - Cheshire East
Places available
4,434
Applications
4,203
Got 1st preference
94.8%
Got preferred school
97.9%
Secondary admissions across Cheshire East (2025/26)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Cornerstone Academy
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.