Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School, Runcorn

Ofsted's report card from its 15 September 2026 inspection grades Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have rightly prioritised pupils' behaviour and attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years and have a clear vision for providing high‑quality early education."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders work closely with the trust and external specialists to identify pupils' needs at an early stage and reduce barriers to learning."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leadership and staffing at the school has changed significantly since the school joined the trust in January 2024."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a clear and well‑structured programme for personal development that reflects pupils' needs."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Although pupils' attainment by the end of Year 6 in 2025, including for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional barriers, was broadly in line with national averages, the current picture is variable."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "With support from the trust, leaders have worked quickly over the last academic year to improve the curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen the consistency of curriculum implementation so that teaching meets pupils' needs reliably across all subjects and year groups, particularly in key stage 2"; "Leaders should ensure that assessment is used precisely to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge, so that pupils build securely on prior learning and achieve well over time"; "Leaders should continue their work to improve pupils' basic skills in writing, including letter formation, handwriting and spelling, so that pupils produce accurate, fluent work across the curriculum".

In its own words: "Our mission at Halton Lodge Nursery and Primary School is to be a School of Opportunity with a vision to inspire every one of our children to believe in their own abilities to achieve their full potential!"

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School. I am delighted to welcome you to our vibrant school community where every child is inspired to believe in themselves and achieve their full potential. At Halton Lodge, we strive to provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment where high expectations and a love of learning flourish."

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 72% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Halton and 77% and 75% across England.

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

For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School as their first choice and 44 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School are The Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 72% maths); Castle View Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths); Woodside Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 82% reading, 91% maths); and Pewithall School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 90% reading, 97% maths).

Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School is one of 6 schools run by Weaver Trust Limited, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

61.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 43 pupils (21%) received SEN support and 13 (6.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs: 8 places, 5 pupils on roll.

Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Runcorn Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Beech Road, 40 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 4.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Halton Lodge Nursery & Primary School are Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy (0.3 miles), The Grange School (0.4 miles) and The Heath School (0.5 miles).