St Paul's CofE Primary School, Manchester
St Paul'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 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 89th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 6,110th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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 26 Oct 2026
St Paul's CofE Primary School in detail
St Paul's CofE Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "The school has been at the heart of the community of Withington, South Manchester since 1844. We continue to meet the needs of our students and their families using the most up to date methods in our state of the art building."
The school runs a breakfast club, from £2.40 per morning.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 82% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 40 families put St Paul's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 96 named it as one of their preferences, for 41 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 Paul's CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Paul's CofE Primary School are St Cuthbert's RC Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 89% reading, 82% maths); St Cuthbert's RC Primary School and Nursery, A Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles); Old Moat Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 78% reading, 80% maths); and West Didsbury CE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 81% reading, 86% maths).
St Paul's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
St Cuthbert's RC Primary SchoolSt Cuthbert's RC Primary School and Nursery, A Voluntary AcademyOld Moat Primary SchoolWest Didsbury CE Primary School
Who goes there
35.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 33.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (36%), Asian (25%) and Mixed (16%).
In 2026, 73 pupils (22.2%) received SEN support and 12 (3.6%) 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 Burton Road (Manchester Metrolink), about 880 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Withington St Paul's, 40 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Paul's CofE Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Paul's CofE Primary School are Didsbury High School (0.9 miles), Burnage Academy for Boys (1 mile), Whalley Range 11-18 High School (1.1 miles) and The Barlow RC High School (1.2 miles).
Didsbury High SchoolBurnage Academy for BoysWhalley Range 11-18 High SchoolThe Barlow RC 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 2013, 13 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
From Ofsted's March 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Paul's is a warm, welcoming school where children are proud to attend and feel safe. Teachers have high expectations and support all pupils, including those with additional needs, to achieve well. The school provides a broad curriculum that teaches children about their rights and responsibilities, helping them understand and respect diversity.
Key Strengths
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils create a warm, welcoming environment where pupils behave well and feel safe
- Broad, creative and ambitious curriculum with carefully organised mixed-age classes
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
- Excellent focus on teaching children about rights, responsibilities and diversity in a multicultural society
- Early years staff develop children's language and communication skills effectively
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects lack clearly defined essential knowledge, leaving teachers unclear about what content to teach
- Inconsistencies in how early reading and phonics are taught, slowing progress for some pupils
- Pupils do not always remember prior learning as well as they should, though new systems are being developed
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear reporting systems, proactive support from external agencies, and age-appropriate teaching on risks including gaming, social media and cyber-bullying.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, arts and crafts, Chinese club, school newspaper
St Paul's CofE Primary School continues to be a good school where pupils are proud and happy to attend. Teachers develop strong relationships with pupils and support them to achieve well, including those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
35.9%
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 remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 76% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 76% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.3
Avg class size
23.6
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
13
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Paul's CofE Primary School
One Voice Agenda 29.09.2026
28 Sep 2026
One Voice Agenda and Documents 23/06/2026
22 Jun 2026
One Voice Agenda 16/06/2026
15 Jun 2026
One Voice Agenda 24.03.2026
One Voice Agenda 31.03.2026
One Voice Agenda 05/05/2026
From St Paul's CofE Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Paul's CofE Primary School
Before and after school care
St Paul's CofE Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Manchester
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Paul's CofE Primary School.
- Kidszone Out Of School CareAt the school · Not yet graded
- Activate Camps @ Withington Girls' School840m away · Not yet graded
- Ladybarn Kids Club990m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Paul's CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Paul's CofE Primary School is in Manchester; for families living there:
Apply to Manchester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 37
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 28 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
7 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 Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 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 Paul's CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Paul's CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Paul's CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Paul's CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Manchester, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Paul's CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Manchester 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
95%
Near capacity
299 pupils
315 places
16 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
73
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
25.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
329
Total Pupils
166
Boys
163
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
21.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,768
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,628
Per pupil
£1981k
Total funding
£168k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
10.6%
Persistent absence
274
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 Paul's CofE Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Paul's CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 76% did so in maths.
What is St Paul's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Paul's CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Paul's CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Paul's CofE 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 Paul's CofE Primary School?
St Paul's CofE Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School average 25.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Paul's CofE Primary School?
St Paul's CofE Primary School has around 329 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Paul's CofE Primary School?
5.1% of sessions were missed at St Paul's CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 10.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming St Paul'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.
Does St Paul's CofE Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Paul's CofE Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Kidszone Out Of School Care (registered, not yet graded). There are 2 more within a kilometre.
How many road collisions happen near St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 28 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 7 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 Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Paul's CofE Primary School?
St Paul's CofE Primary School is at St Paul's Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 4PG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)