Rowan Tree Primary School, Manchester
Rowan Tree Primary School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Manchester. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Rowan Tree Primary School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Rowan Tree Primary School are Cambian Tyldesley School (1.2 miles, Requires improvement); Green Fold School (2 miles, Outstanding); Thomasson Memorial School (2.1 miles, Good); and Raise Education and Wellbeing School (2.2 miles, Good).
Cambian Tyldesley SchoolGreen Fold SchoolThomasson Memorial SchoolRaise Education and Wellbeing School
Who goes there
35.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%), Asian (5%) and Black (5%).
Almost every pupil at Rowan Tree Primary School has an education, health and care plan (131 of 131 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Rowan Tree Primary School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Atherton Rail Station, about 420 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Green Hall Close (opposite), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Rowan Tree Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from September 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its September 2017 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
35.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Rowan Tree Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Rowan Tree Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Rowan Tree Primary School is in Wigan; for families living there:
Apply to Wigan for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
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 Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
131 pupils
128 places
3 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Wigan council
Places available
4,061
Applications
3,718
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
131
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Rowan Tree Primary School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
131
Total Pupils
94
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
7.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,680
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.5%
Overall absence
16.7%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Rowan Tree Primary School
Questions parents ask about Rowan Tree Primary School
What are SATs results like at Rowan Tree Primary School?
Of the pupils at Rowan Tree Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Rowan Tree Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Rowan Tree Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Rowan Tree Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Rowan Tree Primary School is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Rowan Tree Primary School?
Rowan Tree Primary School has around 131 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Rowan Tree Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Rowan Tree Primary School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Rowan Tree Primary School?
7.5% of sessions were missed at Rowan Tree Primary School in 2024/25. 16.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Rowan Tree Primary School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Rowan Tree Primary School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Rowan Tree Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 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 Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Rowan Tree Primary School?
Rowan Tree Primary School is at Green Hall Close, Atherton, Manchester, Lancashire, M46 9HP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)