Whirley Primary School, Macclesfield

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Whirley Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders are relentless in their high expectations across the early years."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders are unwavering in their commitment to fostering the personal development of all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Published data shows that pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 6 has been close to or above the national average over the past 3 years."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise and maintain clear oversight of pupils' attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a curriculum that is broad and ambitious."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders place a high priority on inclusion across the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders aim for every pupil to get off to a flying start to their educational journey."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers match work more consistently for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to their stage of learning, so that these pupils achieve as well as they should across the curriculum".

Coming up: an open day on Monday 16 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Whirley Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Cheshire East and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 100% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 51 families put Whirley Primary School as their first choice and 85 named it as one of their preferences, for 31 places offered. That is 1.6 first choices for every place. 20 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Whirley Primary School are St Alban's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 70% reading, 72% maths); Broken Cross Primary Academy and Nursery (0.7 miles, Good, 76% reading, 69% maths); Upton Priory School (0.9 miles, Good, 65% reading, 75% maths); and St John the Evangelist CofE Primary School Macclesfield (1.1 miles, Good, 76% reading, 73% maths).

Whirley Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Whirley Primary School is one of 12 schools run by Halliard Trust, an academy trust.

4.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 21 pupils (9.9%) received SEN support and 9 (4.2%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Macclesfield Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whirley Primary School (near), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Whirley Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

Whirley Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Whirley Primary School are The Fallibroome Academy (0.6 miles), All Hallows Catholic College (1.4 miles) and The Macclesfield Academy (1.8 miles).