St Malachy'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 Malachy's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy.
St Malachy's RC Primary School, Manchester
St Malachy'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 June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 474th of 14,452 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 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 Malachy's RC Primary School in detail
St Malachy's RC Primary School in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 97% of Year 6 pupils at St Malachy's RC Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 77% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Malachy's RC Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 28 families put St Malachy's RC Primary School as their first choice and 53 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 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 Malachy's RC Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Malachy's RC Primary School are St Malachy's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (under 0.1 miles); Saviour CofE Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Requires improvement, 73% reading, 64% maths); Abbott Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 88% maths); and Manchester Communication Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 70% reading, 79% maths).
St Malachy's RC Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
St Malachy's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademySaviour CofE Primary SchoolAbbott Community Primary SchoolManchester Communication Primary Academy
Who goes there
53.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 34.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%), Black (25%) and Mixed (13%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (7.1%) received SEN support and 12 (5.7%) 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.
Staffing
St Malachy's RC Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 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 Queens Road (Manchester Metrolink), about 420 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whitley Road (opposite), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Malachy's RC Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Malachy'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; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Malachy's creates a warm, inclusive community where children thrive academically and personally. The school excels at teaching reading and provides excellent support for children with additional needs, helping them achieve alongside their peers. Pupils are encouraged to develop kindness, respect and awareness of differences through a rich range of experiences including sports, cultural activities and community involvement.
Key Strengths
- Pupils behave well and feel safe, with staff quickly addressing any unkind behaviour
- Strong focus on reading with pupils reading regularly at school and at home, and most reading accurately by end of key stage 1
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND who make good progress alongside their peers
- Well-organised curriculum in most subjects with knowledge broken into steps that build from Nursery to Year 6
- Wide range of sporting activities and enrichment opportunities including church services, theatre visits and debating events
Areas for Improvement
- In some foundation subjects, curriculum planning is still being finalised, making it unclear what specific knowledge pupils need to remember over time
- Teachers in developing subject areas are sometimes not clear about the precise components of knowledge, which affects how they design learning activities
- Strategies to help pupils remember previous learning are less effective in subjects where the curriculum is still developing
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders and governors putting pupils' welfare at the forefront, staff well-trained on procedures, and leaders working closely with external agencies to ensure vulnerable pupils get additional help when needed.
Extracurricular Activities
House system with competitive activities, sporting activities, church services, theatre visits, national debating events, sports leaders programme, nursery helpers
St Malachy's RC Primary School continues to be a good school where pupils learn and play happily together in a caring, family-like environment. The school provides a high-quality education for all pupils, including those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
53.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 77% to 97% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 80% to 93% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 80% to 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.3
Avg class size
24.7
Infant (KS1)
26.8
KS2
8
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with St Malachy's RC Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Malachy's RC Primary School.
- The Hive Before And After School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Malachy's RC Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Malachy'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 Malachy's RC Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
191 pupils
210 places
19 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(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
12.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
211
Total Pupils
97
Boys
114
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
16.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,509
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,611
Per pupil
£1493k
Total funding
£164k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
12.1%
Persistent absence
173
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Malachy's RC Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Malachy's RC Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Malachy's RC Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 97% reached the expected standard in reading and 93% did so in maths.
What is St Malachy's RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Malachy's RC Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Malachy's RC Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Malachy'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 Malachy's RC Primary School?
St Malachy's RC Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Malachy's RC Primary School?
Classes at St Malachy's RC Primary School average 26.3 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 St Malachy's RC Primary School?
St Malachy's RC Primary School has around 211 pupils on roll. 54% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Malachy's RC Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at St Malachy's RC Primary School in 2024/25. 12.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Malachy's RC Primary School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming St Malachy'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 Malachy's RC Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: The Hive Before And After School Club (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
Where is St Malachy's RC Primary School?
St Malachy's RC Primary School is at Eggington Street, Collyhurst, Manchester, M40 7RG.