Ofsted: Needs attention trending_up Places Available emoji_events #84 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 76% UK

Newton Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

person Miss Caralyn Bignell (Headteacher)

location_onChester, CH2 2LA

language Visit Website phone 01244667930

verified

Ofsted

Needs attention

Inspected 2026

groups

Students

418

school

Expected Standard

53%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Newton Primary School is a Community school primary school in Chester, serving ages 4-11. Assessed as Needs Attention in curriculum and teaching on its latest Ofsted Report Card. Ranks in the top 76% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Newton Primary School is a community school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 369 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #84 of 113 primaries in Cheshire West and Chester and #11,658 of 14,159 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2026. The school's current overall rating is Needs attention. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Needs attention, behaviour and attitudes Expected standard, personal development Expected standard, and leadership and management Expected standard.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

53%

LA 59%

Reading80% LA 74%

Writing53% LA 70%

Maths85% LA 71%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

67%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading79% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing76% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths91% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

62%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading85% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing62% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths80% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.6

Read

LA 0.4

2.0 to 5.2

-1.4

Write

LA 0.1

-2.9 to 0.2

0.9

Maths

LA -0.4

-0.6 to 2.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

72%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading83% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing78% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths83% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.4

Read

LA 0.2

0.7 to 4.2

0.8

Write

LA -0.7

-0.8 to 2.4

2.5

Maths

LA -0.4

1.0 to 4.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 62%

Reading83% LA 77%

Writing83% LA 73%

Maths67% LA 74%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA 0.4

-0.8 to 2.6

-0.3

Write

LA -1.1

-1.9 to 1.3

-1.5

Maths

LA -0.3

-3 to 0

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Primary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	Attainment	Progress
2025	#11,658 / 14,159	#84	#10,668	#1
2024	#2,394 / 14,233	#9	#5,091	#1
2023	#6,476 / 13,940	#43	#6,491	#4,380
2019	#3,111 / 11,810	#13	#4,310	#2,108
2018	#7,958 / 10,972	#57	#7,465	#6,597

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 July 2026

Inspection Report

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17 October 2023

Inspection Report

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07 February 2018

Inspection Report

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26 March 2013

Inspection Report

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08 March 2011

Inspection Report

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21 April 2008

Inspection Report

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07 June 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2026-07-07

S5 Inspection REIF Report Card

Report Card

info

Why no single overall grade?

From autumn 2024 / 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word headline grades (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate) with individual area judgements on a Report Card.

Curriculum & Teaching

Needs attention

Achievement

Needs attention

Attendance & Behaviour

Expected standard

Personal Development

Expected standard

Inclusion

Expected standard

Leadership & Governance

Expected standard

Early Years

Expected standard

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2023-10-17

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2018-02-07

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2013-03-26

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2011-03-08

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 391 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	391	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	392	2	0.5%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	403	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	404	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	407	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	419	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	418	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	414	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	413	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	414	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	406	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	412	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	405	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	405	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	411	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	411	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	414	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	404	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	403	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	402	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	398	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	397	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	393	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	382	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	383	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	383	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 33 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 11 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

Overall, how do parents view this school?

81%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

93%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

95%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

strongly agree15%

agree31%

disagree31%

don't know8%

not applicable86%

Neither agree nor disagree15%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree47%

agree38%

disagree2%

don't know1%

Neither agree nor disagree12%

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

strongly agree45%

agree36%

Neither agree nor disagree11%

disagree6%

Don't know2%

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

strongly agree47%

agree36%

Neither agree nor disagree9%

disagree6%

Don't know1%

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

strongly agree33%

agree39%

disagree11%

strongly disagree7%

Neither agree nor disagree11%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

strongly agree35%

agree23%

disagree11%

strongly disagree1%

not applicable20%

Neither agree nor disagree11%

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

yes13%

no87%

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree25%

agree25%

disagree25%

strongly disagree8%

Neither agree nor disagree17%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes88%

no12%

Top Primary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Woodfall Primary and Nursery School

Outstanding

location_on Neston, CH64 4BT

emoji_events #1 in LA

Charles Darwin Community Primary School

Expected standard

location_on Northwich, CW8 1BN

emoji_events #2 in LA

Victoria Road Primary School

Good

location_on Northwich, CW9 5RE

emoji_events #3 in LA

Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Northwich, CW8 4QL

emoji_events #4 in LA

Elton Primary School

Good

location_on Chester, CH2 4LT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Hartford Primary School

Good

location_on Northwich, CW8 1NA

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Cheshire West and Chester arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Overall, how do parents view this school?

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Woodfall Primary and Nursery School

Charles Darwin Community Primary School

Victoria Road Primary School

Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School

Elton Primary School

Hartford Primary School