Crab Lane Primary School, Manchester
Crab Lane Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 130th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Manchester (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Crab Lane Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Crab Lane Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 64% in reading and 59% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Crab Lane Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Crab Lane Primary School as their first choice and 78 named it as one of their preferences, for 43 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Crab Lane Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Crab Lane Primary School are St Clare's RC Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 85% maths); Bowker Vale Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 67% reading, 77% maths); Pike Fold Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 78% reading, 72% maths); and E-ACT Blackley Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 71% maths).
Crab Lane Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
St Clare's RC Primary SchoolBowker Vale Primary SchoolPike Fold Primary SchoolE-ACT Blackley Academy
What parents say
27 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Crab Lane Primary School (as of September 2025): 78% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
62.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 36.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (40%), Black (20%) and Asian (14%).
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Bowker Vale (Manchester Metrolink), about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Crab Lane (opposite), 190 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Crab Lane Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Crab Lane Primary School issued 25 suspensions, 5.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Crab Lane Primary School are Co-op Academy Manchester (0.4 miles) and Our Lady's RC High School (0.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a caring school where children feel safe and valued. Teachers deliver clear lessons with good strategies to help pupils progress, and the school provides wonderful trips and experiences that bring learning to life. Most children make good progress, with strong support available for those who need extra help.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on developing pupils' spoken language and ability to articulate their learning
- Well-trained staff delivering phonics with fidelity, helping most pupils become confident readers
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, working closely with external professionals and parents
- Rich enrichment experiences including trips to farms, galleries, museums and observatories
- Good pupil behaviour and positive attitudes, with pupils understanding school values
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils lack enthusiasm for reading and have limited knowledge of different books, texts and authors - the school needs to foster a stronger love of reading
- In early years, staff are not consistently clear on specific vocabulary children should learn and when to introduce it, limiting language development
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, gardening club, cookery club, art club, talent shows, sports events with other schools, breakfast club
Crab Lane Primary School is a friendly, well-run primary school where pupils are happy and settled. The school has high expectations for achievement and most pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, achieve well.
At a Glance
62.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
27 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 64% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 59% to 76% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 64% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.5
Avg class size
25.3
Infant (KS1)
27.8
KS2
15
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Crab Lane Primary School
SEND News from Manchester Local Offer
16 Sep 2026
Manchester Local Offer - SEND Reform Special
8 Sep 2026
The City of Manchester Institute of Gymnastics
7 Sep 2026
SEND News from Manchester - More summer bookings
15 Jul 2026
Flying Start Summer Newsletter
15 Jul 2026
Igo Card Applications and Summer Drop-In Sessions
From Crab Lane Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Crab Lane Primary School
Before and after school care
Crab Lane Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Manchester
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Crab Lane Primary School.
- Tiddlywinks Out of School Club (TOOSC)At the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Crab Lane Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Crab Lane Primary School is in Manchester; for families living there:
Apply to Manchester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
0 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 Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 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
Your chances of a place at Crab Lane Primary School
Will you get a place at Crab Lane Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Crab Lane Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Crab Lane Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Crab Lane Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Manchester, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Crab Lane Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Manchester got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
391 pupils
420 places
29 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Manchester council
Places available
7,530
Applications
5,736
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(12)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
61
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
18.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
412
Total Pupils
195
Boys
217
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
17.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,077
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,364
Per pupil
£2961k
Total funding
£350k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
17.5%
Persistent absence
355
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Crab Lane Primary School
Questions parents ask about Crab Lane Primary School
What are SATs results like at Crab Lane Primary School?
Of the pupils at Crab Lane Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% reached the expected standard in reading and 76% did so in maths.
What is Crab Lane Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Crab Lane Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Crab Lane Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Crab Lane Primary School is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Crab Lane Primary School?
Crab Lane Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Crab Lane Primary School?
Classes at Crab Lane Primary School average 27.5 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Crab Lane Primary School?
Crab Lane Primary School has around 412 pupils on roll. 63% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Crab Lane Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Crab Lane Primary School in 2024/25. 17.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Crab Lane Primary School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Crab Lane Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Crab Lane Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Crab Lane Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Tiddlywinks Out of School Club (TOOSC) (registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Crab Lane Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 0 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 Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Crab Lane Primary School?
Crab Lane Primary School is at Crab Lane, Higher Blackley, Manchester, M9 8NB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)