North Walkden Primary School, Manchester

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades North Walkden Primary School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Over the past few years, leaders have implemented an ambitious new curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have made improvements to the early years provision."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from the range of opportunities on offer to promote their personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Some pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, do not achieve well enough in the end of key stage 2 tests."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance has declined this year."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders do not have sufficient oversight of the additional support given to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders know the school's strengths and areas for improvement."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen their oversight of the provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to ensure that it has the intended impact on these pupils' achievement"; "Leaders should swiftly address identified barriers to attendance to ensure that all pupils attend regularly, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND"; "Leaders should ensure that gaps in learning caused by previous weak provision are closed so that pupils achieve well by the end of key stage 2 and are fully prepared for the next stage of their education".

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 52% of Year 6 pupils at North Walkden Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 73% in Salford and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 71% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 25 families put North Walkden Primary School as their first choice and 33 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 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 North Walkden Primary School are Bridgewater Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 86% reading, 86% maths); St Edmund's RC Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 84% reading, 73% maths); St Paul's CofE Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 84% reading, 87% maths); and St Andrew's Methodist Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 80% reading, 80% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than North Walkden Primary School.

45% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 41 pupils (18.6%) received SEN support and 5 (2.3%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Walkden Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Grosvenor Road (opposite), 100 metres away.

In 2024/25, North Walkden Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to North Walkden Primary School are Kearsley Academy (0.7 miles), Star Salford Academy (0.8 miles), The Lowry Academy (0.9 miles) and St James's Church of England High School (1 mile).