Eccleston CofE Primary School, Chester

Ofsted's report card from its 31 March 2026 inspection grades Eccleston CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 5 needs attention and 2 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement is variable."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders do not ensure that staff consistently apply the school's behaviour management procedures."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders identify pupils' social, emotional and wellbeing needs accurately."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Much of leaders' work to address the weaknesses across the school are in the early stages of development and implementation."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Staff do not teach the recently introduced personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum consistently well."

Curriculum and teaching - Urgent improvement. "Staff's expectations of what pupils should know and be able to do are low."

Early years - Urgent improvement. "Leaders have not made sure that there is a well-designed curriculum for children to experience."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should make sure that there is a well-designed and delivered curriculum in place for all children in early years and across all subjects in key stages 1 and 2. They should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to teach the curriculum consistently well so that pupils learn consistently well"; "Leaders should ensure that staff have high expectations of what pupils should learn and be able to do from early years to Year 6. This is so that pupils achieve well in all subjects"; "Leaders should make sure that staff in early years consistently use their interactions with pupils to deepen children's language"; "Leaders should make sure that staff consistently apply the behaviour policy so that pupils focus on their learning during lessons"; "Leaders should ensure that staff deliver the personal, social, health and economic education curriculum consistently well. This is so that pupils are fully prepared to take their place as citizens in modern Britain"; "Governors should continue to support and challenge leaders to so that leaders' actions lead to rapid improvement".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Choosing the right school for your child is such an important decision. So that you can visit our wonderful school and understand who we are and how we can work with you, please see below to find out more about our school Open Days on Saturday 26th September, Wednesday 14th October and Saturday 14th November."

The school runs after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Saturday 14 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Eccleston CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 74% in Cheshire West and Chester and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 79% in reading and 64% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Eccleston CofE Primary School as their first choice and 28 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 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 Eccleston CofE Primary School are Huntington Community Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 78% reading, 76% maths); Belgrave Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 90% reading, 97% maths); Kings Moat Community Primary School (1.3 miles); and Overleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles).

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

32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Eccleston CofE Primary School (as of September 2026): 78% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).

7.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 16 pupils (17.6%) received SEN support and 6 (6.6%) 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 specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Chester Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is CE Primary School (outside), 50 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cheshire West and Chester (71).

In 2024/25, Eccleston CofE Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Eccleston CofE Primary School are Tute Education Ltd (0.8 miles); and The Catholic High School, Chester (1.5 miles).