St Oswald's CofE Primary School, Chester

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades St Oswald's CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Staff warmly welcome pupils into school each day."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have recently worked with the trust to implement a new early years curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders in the school and across the trust have an accurate understanding of what the school does well and what needs to improve."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff have carefully considered and implemented a purposeful and well-organised programme that nurtures pupils' personal development and their wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6 is above the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have recently made improvements to the content of the curriculum."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Staff identify the steps that pupils need to take to learn key knowledge and skills."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well and that gaps in pupils' learning, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are identified and resolved so that they learn all that they should and write fluently across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that they are systematic in their approach to promoting pupils' cultural development so that all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, take full advantage of the rich offer".

In its own words: "St. Oswald’s CE Primary School Vision - At St Oswald’s CE Primary School, Mollington, our vision is rooted in the words of Jesus: This simple yet powerful teaching shapes everything we do-how we treat one another, how we learn, and how we live together as a school community."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Oswald's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 74% in Cheshire West and Chester and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 86% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put St Oswald's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 34 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Oswald's CofE Primary School are St Theresa's Catholic Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 66% reading, 62% maths); Upton Heath CofE Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 76% reading, 74% maths); Saughall All Saints Church of England Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 83% reading, 85% maths); and The Arches Community Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 77% reading, 74% maths).

St Oswald's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

St Oswald's CofE Primary School is one of 32 schools run by Chester Diocesan Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

9.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 13 pupils (12.7%) received SEN support and 7 (6.9%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Bache Rail Station, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.

St Oswald's CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.