Mesne Lea Primary School, Manchester

Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~370m)Possible (~529m)Unlikely (~688m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Victoria Unsworth
Pupils:441 / 446 capacity
LA:Salford
Phone:01615662993
Address:Walkden Road, Walkden, Manchester, M28 7FG
Trust:PRESTOLEE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 February 2023

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

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

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 21 April 2026View full report
URN:149387
UKPRN:10091319
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Bolton South and Walkden
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Mesne Lea creates a caring, inclusive school where children feel safe and happy. Teachers use consistent routines and clear expectations to support positive behavior, and the school works hard to meet the needs of all learners, including those who need extra support. The school has strong partnerships with parents and the community, which helps children enjoy school and be ready to learn.

Key Strengths

  • Strong safeguarding culture with all legal requirements met and pupils feeling safe
  • Consistent approach to behavior that promotes positive relationships and emotional regulation
  • Effective early reading teaching through phonics with clear professional development for staff
  • Well-designed, ambitious curriculum with carefully sequenced knowledge and skills
  • Strong inclusion practices with early identification of pupils' needs and effective support

Areas for Improvement

  • Variable achievement levels, particularly for disadvantaged pupils who sometimes have gaps in learning
  • Misconceptions in some subjects not identified or addressed quickly enough
  • Checks on individual pupils' understanding are sometimes imprecise, slowing progress
  • A small number of pupils continue to have persistent absence issues
  • Limited opportunities in early years to build on children's independent thinking

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open, positive culture where all staff take responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

clubs, music tuition, careers-related events, play leader roles, school council roles

Mesne Lea Primary School provides a safe, well-organized learning environment with strong safeguarding practices and positive behavior. However, achievement is variable, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, and some are not progressing as well as they could from their starting points.

At a Glance

25.8%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+10ppMathsWriting

Reading has improved from 68% to 78%. Maths has remained stable at around 69%. Writing has remained stable at around 69%.

Class Sizes

26.7

Avg class size

28.5

Infant (KS1)

26.3

KS2

16

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Walkden Rail Station
476m · 8 min walk

Bus Stops

Shaving Lane (nr)
124m · 2 min walk
Worsley College (o/s)
222m · 4 min walk
Lime Grove (nr)
247m · 4 min walk
Co-op Academy Walkden (o/s)
252m · 4 min walk
Laburnum Road (at)
282m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

441 pupils

446 capacity

5 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Manchester

Low pressure
New homes approved:18,398
Projected new pupils:4,600

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Manchester

Admissions Demand - Salford

Low demand0.86x oversubscription

Places available

3,290

Applications

2,825

Got 1st preference

89.3%

Got preferred school

96.5%

Primary admissions across Salford (2025/26)

Inspection History(2)

21 April 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
7 February 2023

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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

5.6212%

Overall absence

15.33923%

Persistent absence

339

Enrolments

Authorised3.52674%
Unauthorised2.09446%
Persistent (10%+)15.33923%
Severe (50%+)0.88496%

Absence trend

6.37596%
23/24
5.6212%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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