Puss Bank School and Nursery, Macclesfield

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Puss Bank School and Nursery on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "As pupils move through the school, they typically gain the important knowledge they need for the next stage of their education."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Most pupils attend school regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school has designed a curriculum that is sequenced so pupils build their learning securely over time."

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

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders make inclusion a priority."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context and priorities well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a personal development programme that supports pupils to grow into responsible young people."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to strengthen staff's subject knowledge in a very small number of subjects and make sure that teachers pick up any misconceptions that pupils may have so that pupils build secure knowledge across the curriculum"; "Leaders should continue to embed the improvements in mathematics so that pupils, especially disadvantaged pupils, achieve well in national tests"; "Leaders should continue to ensure that learning activities in the early years are meaningful and purposeful so that all children learn as well as they can".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Puss Bank School & Nursery is a busy but friendly school, with lots going on. We welcome children between the ages of 2 and 11 years old for Nursery and primary education, including provision for 14 children of school age with autism within our Resourced Provision. We are a diverse school, with more than 25 languages spoken by our children."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 5:00pm, from £6.30 per session.

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Puss Bank School and Nursery reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Cheshire East and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 61% in reading and 61% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 46 families put Puss Bank School and Nursery as their first choice and 79 named it as one of their preferences, for 46 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 Puss Bank School and Nursery are Hurdsfield Community Primary School and Nursery (0.6 miles); Parkroyal Community School (0.9 miles, Good, 77% reading, 70% maths); Christ The King Catholic and Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, 87% reading, 87% maths); and Bollinbrook CofE (A) Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths).

Puss Bank School and Nursery's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Puss Bank School and Nursery is one of 13 schools run by The Aspire Educational Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

In 2026, 51 pupils (12.5%) received SEN support and 35 (8.6%) 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.

Puss Bank School and Nursery has a resourced provision for autism: 14 places, 14 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Macclesfield Rail Station, about 690 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Puss Bank School (outside), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 269 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cheshire East (61), as is usual near a town centre.

Puss Bank School and Nursery recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Puss Bank School and Nursery are Tytherington School (0.9 miles), The Macclesfield Academy (1.2 miles) and All Hallows Catholic College (1.3 miles).