St Stephen's CofE Primary School, Manchester

Primary
Voluntary aided school
Mixed
Church of England
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~966m)Possible (~1.4km)Unlikely (~1.8km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Maria Lowe
Pupils:240 / 236 capacity
LA:Wigan
Phone:01942882412
Address:Manchester Road, Astley, Manchester, M29 7BT
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 6 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 10 March 2026View full report
URN:106482
UKPRN:10074947
Diocese:Diocese of Manchester
Constituency:Worsley and Eccles
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

St Stephen's creates a genuinely nurturing school environment where every child feels valued and belongs. The school excels at supporting pupils with additional needs through expert inclusive practices and strong pastoral care. Early years provision is particularly strong, with children developing excellent communication skills and a real love of learning that prepares them well for Year 1.

Key Strengths

  • Strong early years provision with exciting curriculum and excellent language development
  • Effective safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe
  • Exceptional support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged learners
  • Positive relationships between staff and pupils with tailored pastoral support
  • Good attendance rates and improving behaviour, especially through structured playtimes

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils do not build sufficient knowledge and skills across wider curriculum subjects
  • Some teachers lack expertise in teaching certain subjects effectively
  • Leaders' checks on teaching quality and behaviour record-keeping are not sharp enough
  • Professional development is not focused enough on improving subject knowledge and classroom practice
  • Playground behaviour expectations are inconsistent compared to classroom standards

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled, resulting in pupils being made safer and feeling safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Sports events, singing in community, brass instrument lessons, overnight trips in Year 4 and Year 6, Bee Ready breakfast club, pupil leader roles, clubs supporting talents beyond curriculum

St Stephen's CofE Primary School provides a welcoming, nurturing environment where pupils feel valued and supported, with particular strengths in early years provision and inclusive practices. However, the school needs to improve the teaching of the wider curriculum and strengthen leadership checks on quality and impact.

At a Glance

16.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-3ppMaths+3ppWriting+3pp

Reading has remained stable at around 77%. Maths has remained stable at around 80%. Writing has remained stable at around 80%.

Class Sizes

30.4

Avg class size

30.0

Infant (KS1)

30.8

KS2

7

Total classes

4 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Astley Hall Drive (cnr)
180m · 3 min walk
Manchester Road (Stop B)
193m · 3 min walk
Windsor Avenue (opp)
228m · 4 min walk
The Straits (nr)
233m · 4 min walk
Miners Arms (Stop C)
294m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

102%

Over capacity

240 pupils

236 capacity

4 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Manchester

Low pressure
New homes approved:18,398
Projected new pupils:4,600

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Manchester

Admissions Demand - Wigan

Low demand0.92x oversubscription

Places available

3,894

Applications

3,601

Got 1st preference

89.7%

Got preferred school

97.0%

Primary admissions across Wigan (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

10 March 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
1 December 2021
5 October 2016

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.91426%

Overall absence

6.01093%

Persistent absence

183

Enrolments

Authorised3.09819%
Unauthorised0.81607%
Persistent (10%+)6.01093%
Severe (50%+)0.54645%

Absence trend

4.40444%
18/19
3.86953%
20/21
6.95787%
21/22
5.58414%
22/23
4.76743%
23/24
3.91426%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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