Partington Central Academy, Manchester
Partington Central Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester, part of The Dean Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 122nd-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 7,842nd of 14,452 across England. It was 81% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Trafford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Partington Central Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Partington Central Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 82% in Trafford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 80% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Partington Central Academy
For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Partington Central Academy as their first choice and 60 named it as one of their preferences, for 43 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Partington Central Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Partington Central Academy are Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy (0.4 miles); Forest Gate Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 73% maths); Cadishead Primary Academy (1.1 miles); and St Mary's CofE Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 79% reading, 79% maths).
Partington Central Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, a Voluntary AcademyForest Gate AcademyCadishead Primary AcademySt Mary's CofE Primary School
The trust
Partington Central Academy is one of 11 schools run by The Dean Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Partington Central Academy (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Who goes there
59.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 11.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%), Mixed (6%) and other ethnic groups (6%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Irlam Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Partington Central Academy (outside), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Partington Central Academy issued 3 suspensions, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Partington Central Academy are Broadoak School (0.3 miles) and Irlam and Cadishead Academy (1.4 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from April 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Partington Central Academy creates a warm, inclusive community where children feel valued and proud to belong. The school combines high academic expectations with excellent support for all learners, including those with additional needs. With trips to museums and enrichment activities like yoga and fencing, children enjoy learning that extends well beyond the classroom.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are happy, polite and respectful, taking on responsibilities as prefects and buddies
- Phonics programme is taught well with most pupils becoming fluent, confident readers by Year 2
- Curriculum has been refined with clear knowledge sequencing and effective teaching that engages pupils
- Strong support for pupils with SEND, allowing them to learn alongside peers
- High expectations of behaviour from early years through to upper school, with improving attendance rates
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils have gaps in their learning from curriculum changes, making it difficult to build on new knowledge
- Teachers need to ensure strong foundations are in place before new learning is introduced
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear procedures and a strong safeguarding culture that prioritises pupils' interests and wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips to museums and stately homes, yoga, mindfulness, fencing, community litter picks, before- and after-school club, weekly prize draws for attendance and punctuality
Partington Central Academy has successfully maintained the standards from its previous 'good' inspection. The school has a happy, respectful pupil body with high aspirations for achievement, and staff have received thorough induction and training to support continuous improvement.
At a Glance
59.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
20 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 80% to 76% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 76% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 77% to 68% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.8
Avg class size
23.3
Infant (KS1)
25.1
KS2
15
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Partington Central Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Partington Central Academy.
- BTP Wraparound OL670m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Partington Central Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Trafford's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Partington Central Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Partington Central Academy is in Trafford; for families living there:
Apply to Trafford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 5 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Partington Central Academy
Will you get a place at Partington Central Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Partington Central Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Partington Central Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Partington Central Academy.
- Trafford publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Partington Central Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Partington Central Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Trafford got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
340 pupils
420 places
80 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Trafford council
Places available
2,990
Applications
2,238
Got 1st preference
94.5%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Trafford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
79
SEN Support
16
EHC Plans
25.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
373
Total Pupils
182
Boys
191
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
21.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,997
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,092
Per pupil
£2370k
Total funding
£268k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
14.3%
Persistent absence
307
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Partington Central Academy
Questions parents ask about Partington Central Academy
What are SATs results like at Partington Central Academy?
Of the pupils at Partington Central Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 76% reached the expected standard in reading and 76% did so in maths.
What is Partington Central Academy's Ofsted rating?
Partington Central Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Partington Central Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Partington Central Academy is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Partington Central Academy?
Partington Central Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 81% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Partington Central Academy?
Classes at Partington Central Academy average 24.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Partington Central Academy?
Partington Central Academy has around 373 pupils on roll. 60% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Partington Central Academy?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Partington Central Academy in 2024/25. 14.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Partington Central Academy?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming Partington Central Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Partington Central Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Partington Central Academy: BTP Wraparound OL (670m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Partington Central Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 5 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Partington Central Academy?
Partington Central Academy is at Central Road, Partington, Manchester, M31 4FL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)