Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School has closed (Wednesday 30 September 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School.
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School, Stalybridge
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Stalybridge. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 9 schools in Stalybridge with published results, and 9,159th of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- 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 Tameside (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School in detail
Results
In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School reached the expected standard in reading and 72% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Tameside and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 79% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School
For September 2026 entry, 39 families put Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School as their first choice and 89 named it as one of their preferences, for 39 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 Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School are Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles); St. Peter's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.2 miles, 84% reading, 80% maths); Broadbent Fold Primary School and Nursery (0.6 miles, Good, 88% reading, 81% maths); and St John's CofE Primary School, Dukinfield (0.6 miles, Good, 96% reading, 93% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School.
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery SchoolSt. Peter's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyBroadbent Fold Primary School and NurserySt John's CofE Primary School, Dukinfield
Who goes there
11.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Asian (6%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stalybridge Rail Station, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Forester Drive (near), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School issued 18 suspensions, 4.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Teachers have strong subject knowledge and teach in ways that help pupils build on what they already know. The school has created a well-structured curriculum where learning progresses logically from nursery through Year 6. Pupils with additional needs receive strong support so they can learn alongside their peers.
Key Strengths
- Strong subject knowledge from teachers who support pupils to build on prior learning effectively
- Well-developed curriculum with learning broken into small, logical steps from early years through Year 6
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, enabling them to access the same curriculum as their peers
- Pupils participate in a wide range of engaging activities including swimming galas, fundraising and learning about healthy lifestyles
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong relationships between staff, families and external partners
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack sufficient knowledge to support struggling readers effectively, meaning not all early readers develop fluency as quickly as they should
- A small number of subjects are at an earlier stage of curriculum development, leaving pupils sometimes not fully secure in their learning
- A few staff do not consistently enforce behaviour expectations, with some pupils occasionally disrupting others' learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective - leaders and staff know their pupils and families well and receive regular safeguarding updates to act quickly on welfare concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Swimming galas, fundraising for local hospice, well-being ambassadors, school council, eco-committee
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School is a good school where pupils feel safe, happy and enjoy their learning. The school has high expectations for pupils and provides varied opportunities for them to contribute to school life.
At a Glance
21.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 79% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 81% to 72% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 79% to 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.3
Avg class size
23.5
Infant (KS1)
29.5
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
Social & online
Keep up with Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School is in Tameside; for families living there:
Apply to Tameside for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
390 pupils
420 places
30 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Stalybridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stalybridge
Across Tameside council
Places available
3,050
Applications
2,451
Got 1st preference
95.4%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Tameside council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
58
SEN Support
18
EHC Plans
19.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
401
Total Pupils
208
Boys
193
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
19.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,622
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,325
Per pupil
£2307k
Total funding
£132k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
11.3%
Persistent absence
353
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School
What are SATs results like at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
Of the pupils at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% reached the expected standard in reading and 72% did so in maths.
What is Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2023.
What is the catchment area for Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School is oversubscribed, Tameside allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
Classes at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School average 26.3 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 Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School has around 401 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School in 2024/25. 11.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
Apply through Tameside's coordinated admissions process, naming Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery 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.
Where is Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School?
Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School is at Forester Drive, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 2DP.