St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge, Stalybridge
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Stalybridge, part of Chester Diocesan Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 9 schools in Stalybridge with published results, and 5,545th of 14,452 across England. It was 63% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- 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 Tameside (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge in detail
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge in its own words
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Tameside
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Tameside and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 71% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge
For September 2026 entry, 24 families put St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge as their first choice and 55 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 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 Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge are Wild Bank Primary School (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 79% reading, 86% maths); St. Peter's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.5 miles, 84% reading, 80% maths); Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School (0.7 miles, Good, 74% reading, 72% maths); and Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School (0.7 miles).
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Wild Bank Primary SchoolSt. Peter's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGorse Hall Primary and Nursery SchoolGorse Hall Primary and Nursery School
The trust
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge 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.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Who goes there
33.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 18 pupils (9.5%) received SEN support and 4 (2.1%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stalybridge Rail Station, about 1130 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Demesne Drive (opposite), 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge issued 9 suspensions, 4.4 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, Stalybridge are Dixons Pennine Academy (0.3 miles) and West Hill School (0.8 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Paul's is a warm, welcoming school where children genuinely enjoy learning and feel well cared for. The school excels at teaching reading through expert phonics instruction and promoting a love of books. Pupils benefit from a thoughtfully planned curriculum with clear expectations, and receive excellent support if they need additional help with their learning.
Key Strengths
- Excellent phonics teaching and reading promotion throughout the school, with prompt support for struggling readers
- Strong early years provision with purposeful activities and clear routines that prepare children well for Year 1
- Well-designed curriculum that identifies key knowledge pupils need to know and remember
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, with teachers carefully adapting activities
- Strong school values that permeate all aspects of school life and help pupils understand how to treat others
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects like mathematics, teachers do not check pupils' understanding thoroughly enough, sometimes leading to unnecessary adult support that prevents independent learning
- Teachers need to undertake more thorough checks of pupils' learning to ensure they have accurate information about what pupils can and cannot do
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff available to support pupils who have worries and pupils feeling safe and cared for.
Extracurricular Activities
School band (ukuleles and guitars), clubs, plentiful trips and visits, charity fundraising activities
St Paul's CofE Primary School has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. The school prioritizes pupil well-being, strong values, and high achievement across a well-designed curriculum.
At a Glance
33.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 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 71% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 69% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 66% to 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.1
Avg class size
25.7
Infant (KS1)
28.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge.
- Active Copley510m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge is in Tameside; for families living there:
Apply to Tameside for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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 Tameside is 12 (the median across 111 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, Stalybridge
Will you get a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Tameside, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Tameside 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
63%
Available places
198 pupils
315 places
117 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Stalybridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stalybridge
Across Tameside council
Places available
3,050
Applications
2,451
Got 1st preference
95.4%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Tameside council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
11.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
190
Total Pupils
105
Boys
85
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
19.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,564
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,704
Per pupil
£1327k
Total funding
£100k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1%
Overall absence
8.3%
Persistent absence
181
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, Stalybridge
Questions parents ask about St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge
What are SATs results like at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
Of the pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge's Ofsted rating?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
No fixed boundary. When St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge is oversubscribed, Tameside 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, Stalybridge?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge was not full in 2025: it ran at 63% of its 315 places.
How big are the classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
Classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge average 27.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge has around 190 pupils on roll. 34% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
4.1% of sessions were missed at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge in 2024/25. 8.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
Apply through Tameside's coordinated admissions process, naming St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge 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, Stalybridge have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge: Active Copley (510m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 Tameside is 12 (the median across 111 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stalybridge is at Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 2PT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)