Ofsted: Expected standard trending_up Places Available emoji_events #83 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 80% UK

Highfield Community Primary School

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

person Ms Nicola Dowling (Headteacher)

location_onChester, CH1 5LD

language Visit Website phone 01244259650

verified

Ofsted

Expected standard

Inspected 2026

groups

Students

234

school

Expected Standard

50%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Highfield Community Primary School is a Community school primary school in Chester, serving ages 3-11. Assessed at Expected standard by Ofsted on its latest Report Card inspection. Ranks in the top 80% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Highfield Community Primary School is a community school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 218 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 50% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 9% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #83 of 113 primaries in Cheshire West and Chester and #11,514 of 14,159 nationally.

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

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 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

50%

LA 59%

Reading66% LA 74%

Writing63% LA 70%

Maths66% LA 71%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

56%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading70% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing63% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths78% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

41%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading63% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing50% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths66% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA 0.4

-3.7 to 0.8

-2.3

Write

LA 0.1

-4.5 to -0.2

-1.5

Maths

LA -0.4

-3.6 to 0.6

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading90% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing77% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths90% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.8

Read

LA 0.2

0.6 to 5.0

-1.1

Write

LA -0.7

-3.2 to 0.9

2.1

Maths

LA -0.4

0.2 to 4.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

61%

LA 62%

Reading71% LA 77%

Writing79% LA 73%

Maths93% LA 74%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.5

Read

LA 0.4

-3.8 to 0.8

-0.8

Write

LA -1.1

-3 to 1.4

3.6

Maths

LA -0.3

1.5 to 5.7

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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	#11,514 / 14,159	#83	#11,330	#1
2024	#5,365 / 14,233	#31	#8,934	#1
2023	#11,816 / 13,940	#94	#11,871	#11,120
2019	#1,749 / 11,810	#4	#3,942	#3,264
2018	#4,611 / 10,972	#27	#7,258	#4,941

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

23 June 2026

Inspection Report

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13 July 2022

Inspection Report

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13 December 2016

Inspection Report

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12 January 2012

Inspection Report

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30 June 2010

Inspection Report

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27 March 2007

Inspection Report

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12 February 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2026-06-23

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

Expected standard

Achievement

Expected standard

Attendance & Behaviour

Strong standard

Personal Development

Expected standard

Inclusion

Strong standard

Leadership & Governance

Expected standard

Early Years

Strong standard

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2016-12-13

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2012-01-12

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2007-03-27

None EIF

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

0.0%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 227 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	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	227	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	218	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	232	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	221	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	215	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	236	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	234	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	230	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	240	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	230	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	227	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	229	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	223	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	211	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	224	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	224	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	219	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	234	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	232	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	226	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	253	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	245	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	231	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	240	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	227	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	219	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.

Speech, Language & Communication 22 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Physical 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?

92%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

92%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 agree25%

agree25%

strongly disagree25%

not applicable90%

Neither agree nor disagree25%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree55%

agree29%

disagree2%

Neither agree nor disagree14%

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

strongly agree57%

agree31%

Neither agree nor disagree5%

disagree7%

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

strongly agree62%

agree33%

disagree5%

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

strongly agree52%

agree33%

disagree5%

Neither agree nor disagree10%

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

strongly agree48%

agree29%

disagree2%

not applicable14%

Neither agree nor disagree7%

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

yes48%

no52%

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

strongly agree45%

agree35%

disagree15%

strongly disagree5%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes90%

no10%

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