St John's RC Primary School has closed (Tuesday 30 June 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now St John's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy.
St John's RC Primary School, Manchester
St John's RC Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 46th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Manchester (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
St John's RC Primary School in detail
St John's RC Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St John's RC Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 73% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at St John's RC Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 41 families put St John's RC Primary School as their first choice and 92 named it as one of their preferences, for 41 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 St John's RC Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John's RC Primary School are St John's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (under 0.1 miles); Oswald Road Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 88% reading, 83% maths); St Hilda's CofE Primary School (0.3 miles, 93% reading, 90% maths); and St Teresa's RC Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 60% reading, 63% maths).
St John's RC Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
St John's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyOswald Road Primary SchoolSt Hilda's CofE Primary SchoolSt Teresa's RC Primary School
What parents say
114 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St John's RC Primary School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (77%).
Who goes there
13.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
Staffing
St John's RC Primary School had 24 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Firswood (Manchester Metrolink), about 610 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chorlton Library (outside), 320 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St John's RC Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St John's is a warm, welcoming school where pupils thrive. Teachers provide high-quality teaching backed by excellent training, and the school has worked hard to ensure pupils with additional needs get the support they need to succeed. Pupils develop into confident, caring individuals who take leadership roles and actively contribute to their school and local community.
Key Strengths
- High-quality teaching and training that helps pupils, including those with special needs, fully access the curriculum
- Excellent behaviour and attendance across the school with exceptional personal development opportunities
- Strong phonics teaching and reading programme with effective support for struggling readers
- Ambitious and relevant curriculum that engages pupils
- Excellent pastoral care with clear systems to keep pupils safe and support their well-being
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects lack clearly defined curriculum plans showing what pupils should learn and when, creating knowledge gaps
- Assessment strategies in a few subjects need further development to better track what pupils have learned
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear systems in place to identify and support pupils who need help.
Extracurricular Activities
Cheerleading, football, Spanish club, book club, debating, drama, sport, music (school band), eco-council, sports ambassadors, amigos, lead ambassadors
St John's RC Primary School has successfully maintained its good standards from the previous 2019 inspection. The school is a welcoming family environment where pupils are eager to attend, behave exceptionally well, and achieve across the curriculum.
At a Glance
13.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
114 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 improved from 73% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 69% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 73% to 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.5
Avg class size
23.5
Infant (KS1)
25.8
KS2
15
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St John's RC Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St John's RC Primary School.
- School of Play @ Oswald Road280m away · Not yet graded
- CR Academy440m away · Not yet graded
- School of Play @ St Hilda's500m away · Not yet graded
- Clubhouse @ Chorlton CE Primary School890m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John's RC Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John's RC Primary School is in Manchester; for families living there:
Apply to Manchester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St John's RC Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
345 pupils
420 places
75 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 Manchester council
Places available
7,530
Applications
5,736
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
67
SEN Support
19
EHC Plans
21.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
398
Total Pupils
199
Boys
199
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
16.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,906
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,051
Per pupil
£1900k
Total funding
£68k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.4%
Overall absence
5.8%
Persistent absence
310
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St John's RC Primary School
What are SATs results like at St John's RC Primary School?
Of the pupils at St John's RC Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is St John's RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St John's RC Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St John's RC Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St John's RC Primary School is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St John's RC Primary School?
St John's RC Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at St John's RC Primary School?
Classes at St John's RC Primary School average 26.5 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St John's RC Primary School?
St John's RC Primary School has around 398 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John's RC Primary School?
3.4% of sessions were missed at St John's RC Primary School in 2024/25. 5.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John's RC Primary School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming St John's RC Primary School 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 St John's RC Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 4 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St John's RC Primary School: School of Play @ Oswald Road (280m away, registered, not yet graded), CR Academy (440m away, registered, not yet graded) and School of Play @ St Hilda's (500m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
Where is St John's RC Primary School?
St John's RC Primary School is at Chepstow Road, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9SN.