St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Manchester
St Matthew's CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 239th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 13,005th of 14,452 across England. It was 69% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
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
St Matthew's CofE Primary School in detail
St Matthew's CofE Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "I am Leah Grimsley, the extremely passionate Headteacher of St. Matthew’s CE Primary. I am absolutely delighted that you have taken the time to learn more about our wonderful school. St. Matthew’s is a thriving family of children, parents, staff and governors who work together to create a fantastic school for our community."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted you have taken the time to learn more about our wonderful school. St. Matthew’s is a thriving family of children, parents, staff and governors who work together to create a fantastic school for our community. ‘In the same way, you should be a light for other people."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at St Matthew's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 52% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 82% in Trafford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (76% in reading, 48% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Matthew's CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put St Matthew's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 44 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Matthew's CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Matthew's CofE Primary School are Moss Park Primary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 81% reading, 81% maths); Victoria Park Infant School (0.7 miles, Good); St Ann's RC Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 68% maths); and Victoria Park Junior School (0.9 miles, Good, 85% reading, 81% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Matthew's CofE Primary School.
Moss Park Primary SchoolVictoria Park Infant SchoolSt Ann's RC Primary SchoolVictoria Park Junior School
Who goes there
In 2026, 21 pupils (14.9%) received SEN support and 4 (2.8%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Stretford (Manchester Metrolink), about 970 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Poplar Road (near), 220 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Matthew's CofE Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Matthew's CofE Primary School are Stretford Grammar School (0.8 miles); St Antony's Roman Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy (1.1 miles); and Lostock High School (1.2 miles).
Stretford Grammar SchoolSt Antony's Roman Catholic School, a Voluntary AcademyLostock High School
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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from May 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 Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2017 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
31.2%
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 declined from 76% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 48% to 52% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 59% to 37% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
20.8
Avg class size
12.0
Infant (KS1)
25.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with St Matthew's CofE Primary School
Term dates
St Matthew's CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Trafford. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Wednesday 26 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Matthew's CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Matthew's CofE Primary School 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
- 21
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 14 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 St Matthew's CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at St Matthew's CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Matthew's CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Matthew's CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Matthew's CofE Primary School.
- Trafford publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Matthew's CofE Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Matthew's CofE Primary School for 2014 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
69%
Available places
145 pupils
209 places
64 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(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
17.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
141
Total Pupils
72
Boys
69
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
20.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,983
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,116
Per pupil
£1038k
Total funding
£73k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.3%
Overall absence
27.5%
Persistent absence
149
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
St Matthew's CofE Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Matthew's CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Matthew's CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 52% did so in maths.
What is St Matthew's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Matthew's CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Matthew's CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
St Matthew's CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 69% of its 209 places.
How big are the classes at St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
Classes at St Matthew's CofE Primary School average 20.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
St Matthew's CofE Primary School has around 141 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
8.3% of sessions were missed at St Matthew's CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 27.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming St Matthew's CofE 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.
What are St Matthew's CofE Primary School's term dates?
St Matthew's CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Trafford. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Wednesday 26 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 14 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 St Matthew's CofE Primary School?
St Matthew's CofE Primary School is at Poplar Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 9AN.
Sources: Trafford term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)