Varna Community Primary School, Manchester
Varna Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 245th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 13,418th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- 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
Varna Community Primary School in detail
Varna Community Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "'' Varna is special because the teachers teach with so much passion and kindness."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Varna Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 45% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 66% in reading and 63% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Varna Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 61 families put Varna Community Primary School as their first choice and 134 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Varna Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Varna Community Primary School are Higher Openshaw Community School (0.3 miles, Good, 78% reading, 76% maths); St Clement's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 74% reading, 71% maths); St James' CofE Primary School Gorton (0.6 miles, Good, 61% reading, 64% maths); and St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 81% reading, 81% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Varna Community Primary School.
Higher Openshaw Community SchoolSt Clement's CofE Primary SchoolSt James' CofE Primary School GortonSt Barnabas CofE Primary Academy
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Varna Community Primary School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 88% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (96%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (84%).
Who goes there
48.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 56.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (34%), White British (22%) and Asian (17%).
In 2026, 123 pupils (26.3%) received SEN support and 26 (5.6%) 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 railway station is Gorton Rail Station, about 490 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Louisa Street (opposite), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Varna Community Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Varna Community Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 2.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Varna Community Primary School are Fairfield High School for Girls (0.8 miles), Wright Robinson College (0.8 miles), Droylsden Academy (0.9 miles) and The East Manchester Academy (1.1 miles).
Fairfield High School for GirlsWright Robinson CollegeDroylsden AcademyThe East Manchester Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Varna Community Primary School excels at making children feel happy and safe while supporting them to achieve well. Staff know pupils extremely well and provide excellent support for all learners, including those with additional needs. The school's 'Dream, Believe, Achieve' motto is lived throughout the school, with pupils enjoying a wide range of trips, events and opportunities to develop their talents.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional early years provision with strong relationships between staff, children and parents
- Excellent pupil behaviour and attitudes, with pupils being polite, attentive and proud of their responsibilities
- Ambitious, broad curriculum that meets the needs of all learners, including those with SEND
- Effective phonics programme and strong focus on reading development
- Outstanding personal development programme covering mental health, physical health, online safety and celebration of diversity
Areas for Improvement
- In a few subjects, opportunities to recap and recall previous learning are not consistently implemented across classes, making it harder for some pupils to build on prior knowledge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff creating an open and positive culture where pupils know adults will listen and help with any worries.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, school council, digital ambassadors, young carers group, trips and visits to religious buildings
Varna Community Primary School is a well-run school where pupils thrive in an aspirational environment. The school fosters excellent behaviour, provides outstanding early years provision, and ensures all pupils, including those with SEND, achieve well.
At a Glance
48.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
25 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 remained stable at around 68% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 63% to 45% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 66% to 61% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
27.3
Infant (KS1)
29.9
KS2
15
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Varna Community Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Varna Community Primary School.
- Premier Sport Wraparound Abbey Hey Primary Academy910m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Varna Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Varna Community 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
- 41
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 29 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
10 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 Varna Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Varna Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Varna Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Varna Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Varna Community 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 Varna Community 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
101%
Over capacity
423 pupils
420 places
3 pupils over capacity 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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
123
SEN Support
26
EHC Plans
31.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
467
Total Pupils
229
Boys
238
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
18.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,852
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,211
Per pupil
£3113k
Total funding
£326k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
13.1%
Persistent absence
382
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
Varna Community Primary School
Questions parents ask about Varna Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Varna Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Varna Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% reached the expected standard in reading and 45% did so in maths.
What is Varna Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Varna Community Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Varna Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Varna Community 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 Varna Community Primary School?
Varna Community Primary School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Varna Community Primary School?
Classes at Varna Community Primary School average 28.3 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Varna Community Primary School?
Varna Community Primary School has around 467 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Varna Community Primary School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at Varna Community Primary School in 2024/25. 13.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Varna Community Primary School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Varna Community 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 Varna Community Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Varna Community Primary School: Premier Sport Wraparound Abbey Hey Primary Academy (910m 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 Varna Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 29 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 10 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 Varna Community Primary School?
Varna Community Primary School is at Chisholm Street, Openshaw, Manchester, M11 2LE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)