Heron Cross Primary School, Stoke-on-Trent

Good
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~769m)Possible (~1.1km)Unlikely (~1.4km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Gemma Willdigg
Pupils:396 / 472 capacity
LA:Stoke-on-Trent
Phone:01782233565
Address:Grove Road, Heron Cross, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4LJ
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Strong Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 20 January 2026View full report
URN:124003
UKPRN:10075870
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Stoke-on-Trent Central
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Heron Cross Primary School excels at creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where every child feels safe and valued. The school has outstanding attendance and behaviour standards, with pupils responding positively to high expectations and showing genuine enthusiasm for learning. Staff provide exceptional support for vulnerable pupils, those with special needs, and disadvantaged children, ensuring they progress well and access the full range of enrichment opportunities alongside their peers.

Key Strengths

  • Exceptional attendance rates above national average, particularly for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
  • Warm, positive relationships and exemplary behaviour throughout the school
  • Highly inclusive ethos with excellent support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
  • Comprehensive personal development programme including drama, music, dance, sports and enrichment activities
  • Effective early reading and phonics teaching with pupils on track to secure reading skills

Areas for Improvement

  • In a small number of subjects, teachers do not focus consistently on key knowledge, affecting pupil understanding
  • Recent changes to writing and mathematics curriculums need further embedding and refinement
  • Key stage 2 national test outcomes are broadly in line with national average but room for improvement

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Drama, music, dance, football, netball, athletics, chill and chat sessions, knit and natter activities, trips to Victorian towns, visits to places of worship

Heron Cross Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school where pupils thrive and feel safe, valued and well cared for. Leaders have created a harmonious environment with exemplary behaviour, high attendance rates, and strong support for all pupils including those with special educational needs.

At a Glance

43.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+4ppMaths+17ppWriting+4pp

Reading has improved from 65% to 69%. Maths has improved from 54% to 71%. Writing has improved from 72% to 76%.

Class Sizes

27.4

Avg class size

24.0

Infant (KS1)

27.3

KS2

15

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Heron House (adj)
196m · 3 min walk
Grove Avenue (adj)
197m · 3 min walk
Derry Street (adj)
223m · 4 min walk
Duke Street (opp)
299m · 5 min walk
Bourne Street (opp)
308m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

84%

Available places

396 pupils

472 capacity

76 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent

Low pressure
New homes approved:3,431
Projected new pupils:858

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Stoke-on-Trent

Admissions Demand - Stoke-on-Trent

Low demand0.89x oversubscription

Places available

3,375

Applications

3,008

Got 1st preference

95.3%

Got preferred school

98.1%

Primary admissions across Stoke-on-Trent (2025/26)

Inspection History(8)

20 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
30 November 2021
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
Early YearsGood
6 October 2016

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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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.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.55322%

Overall absence

10.11905%

Persistent absence

336

Enrolments

Authorised2.38324%
Unauthorised2.16998%
Persistent (10%+)10.11905%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

4.79184%
18/19
3.14524%
20/21
7.04644%
21/22
6.0073%
22/23
5.25056%
23/24
4.55322%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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