Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #104 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 95% UK

Witton Church Walk CofE Aided Nursery and Primary School

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

person Ms Kathryn Hinchliffe (Headteacher)

location_onNorthwich, CW9 5QQ

language Visit Website phone 01606663610

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

279

school

Expected Standard

35%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Witton Church Walk CofE Aided Nursery and Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Northwich, serving ages 2-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 95% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Witton Church Walk CofE Aided Nursery and Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 2-11. The school has approximately 219 pupils on roll, of whom 32% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 35% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 3% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #104 of 113 primaries in Cheshire West and Chester and #13,167 of 14,159 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.1 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

35%

LA 59%

Reading55% LA 74%

Writing58% LA 70%

Maths45% LA 71%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

23%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading33% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing50% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths33% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading67% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing61% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths61% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA 0.4

-1.3 to 3.1

-1.1

Write

LA 0.1

-3.2 to 1.1

-0.8

Maths

LA -0.4

-2.8 to 1.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading65% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing65% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths55% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.9

Read

LA 0.2

-3.9 to 0.0

-1.0

Write

LA -0.7

-2.9 to 0.8

-3.9

Maths

LA -0.4

-5.6 to -2.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

39%

LA 62%

Reading56% LA 77%

Writing61% LA 73%

Maths47% LA 74%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.6

Read

LA 0.4

-2.6 to 1.4

0.4

Write

LA -1.1

-1.5 to 2.3

-2.7

Maths

LA -0.3

-4.5 to -0.9

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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	#13,167 / 14,159	#104	#13,453	#1
2024	#13,034 / 14,233	#101	#13,428	#1
2023	#9,921 / 13,940	#73	#11,216	#8,019
2019	#11,090 / 11,810	#83	#10,841	#10,548
2018	#9,867 / 10,972	#74	#10,386	#8,101

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 January 2025

Inspection Report

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14 February 2023

Inspection Report

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11 May 2017

Inspection Report

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18 September 2012

Inspection Report

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13 October 2010

Inspection Report

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05 May 2010

Inspection Report

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12 October 2009

Inspection Report

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08 July 2008

Inspection Report

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14 June 2007

Inspection Report

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11 November 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-01-14

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

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.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2023-02-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2017-05-11

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2012-09-18

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

0.9%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(1 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 235 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.9%, which is above 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)	235	2	0.9%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	234	3	1.3%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	262	3	1.1%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	260	6	2.3%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	255	3	1.2%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	286	8	2.8%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	279	5	1.8%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	255	7	2.7%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	289	6	2.1%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	280	2	0.7%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	272	1	0.4%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	282	2	0.7%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	276	2	0.7%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	278	9	3.2%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	286	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	286	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	279	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	307	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	304	1	0.3%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	302	4	1.3%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	317	2	0.6%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	313	1	0.3%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	304	2	0.7%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	315	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	308	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	304	2	0.7%	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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psychology_alt

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.

Speech, Language & Communication 33 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 6 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

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

My child is happy at this school.

87%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

79%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

13%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree38%

agree38%

disagree13%

strongly disagree13%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree21%

agree50%

disagree17%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree29%

agree25%

disagree17%

strongly disagree8%

not applicable21%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree38%

agree42%

disagree4%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree25%

disagree17%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree46%

agree33%

disagree8%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree29%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree29%

disagree8%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree50%

agree17%

disagree17%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes71%

no29%

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

Faith Priority (Church of England)

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

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

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 special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would 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