J H Godwin Primary School, Chester

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades J H Godwin Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a successful start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have improved their approach to inclusion."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged, do not achieve as well as they should."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' levels of attendance have been consistently below national averages over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders accurately understand the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Following some instability in leadership, current leaders have acted quickly to understand the school's context and areas for improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Leaders focus on supporting pupils' wellbeing across the school, including through effective partnerships with families and external specialists."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should fully embed recently improved approaches to teaching and ensure that staff deliver the curriculum consistently well"; "Leaders should continue to support staff in swiftly identifying and addressing gaps in pupils' knowledge, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils' overall achievement in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6 improves"; "Leaders and governors should ensure that their actions to improve attendance have the intended impact to raise pupils' levels of attendance and reduce persistent absence"; "Leaders should improve the personal development programme to provide pupils with broader opportunities and ensure that they secure the knowledge that they need for life in modern Britain"; "Those responsible for governance should strengthen their oversight and assurance across all aspects of the school's work, to hold leaders fully to account and ensure that improvements are sustained".

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils at J H Godwin Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 47% 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 were similar in 2024 (50% in reading, 53% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put J H Godwin Primary School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 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 J H Godwin Primary School are The Arches Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 74% maths); Dee Point Primary School (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 55% reading, 58% maths); Highfield Community Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 66% reading, 66% maths); and St Theresa's Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 66% reading, 62% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than J H Godwin Primary School.

44.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 74 pupils (46%) received SEN support and 8 (5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

J H Godwin Primary School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Bache Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Onslow Road (opposite), 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 123 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cheshire West and Chester (71), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, J H Godwin Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 5.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.