Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #102 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 95% UK

Wharton CofE Primary School

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

personMrs Natalie Tomlinson

location_onWinsford, CW7 3EP

language Visit Website phone 1606663530

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

309

school

Expected Standard

37%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Wharton CofE Primary School is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in Winsford, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 95% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Wharton CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school in Winsford, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 235 pupils on roll, of whom 30% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 37% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 3% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #102 of 116 primaries in Cheshire West and Chester and #12,620 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. 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 19.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.3 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

37%

LA 59%

Reading63% LA 74%

Writing53% LA 70%

Maths43% LA 71%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

29%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading67% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing56% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths38% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

21%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading50% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing43% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths26% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA 0.4

-4.5 to -0.6

-2.1

Write

LA 0.1

-3.9 to -0.2

-5.4

Maths

LA -0.4

-7.3 to -3.5

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

49%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading62% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths64% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.2

Read

LA 0.2

-3.9 to -0.6

-1.0

Write

LA -0.7

-2.5 to 0.6

-3.3

Maths

LA -0.4

-4.7 to -1.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

51%

LA 62%

Reading64% LA 77%

Writing71% LA 73%

Maths61% LA 74%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1

Read

LA 0.4

-2.6 to 0.6

-0.3

Write

LA -1.1

-1.8 to 1.2

-2.1

Maths

LA -0.3

-3.5 to -0.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 October 2024

Inspection Report

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17 November 2021

Inspection Report

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06 July 2016

Inspection Report

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09 January 2015

Inspection Report

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06 October 2014

Inspection Report

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18 June 2014

Inspection Report

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11 September 2012

Inspection Report

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22 March 2010

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-10-15

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2021-11-17

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-07-06

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-06-18

None Legacy

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

1.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.9%(2 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 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.3%, 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	3	1.3%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	240	3	1.2%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	272	15	5.5%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	283	17	6.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	286	19	6.6%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	311	8	2.6%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	309	8	2.6%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	311	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	322	7	2.2%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	324	12	3.7%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	331	8	2.4%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	342	27	7.9%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	349	4	1.1%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	349	16	4.6%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	352	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	352	12	3.4%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	351	9	2.6%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	360	5	1.4%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	362	9	2.5%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	359	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	387	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	385	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	387	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	393	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	389	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	384	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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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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 9 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 5 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 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.

My child is happy at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

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

0.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree30%

agree43%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

don't know9%

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

strongly agree30%

agree57%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

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

strongly agree26%

agree17%

disagree9%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

not applicable30%

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 agree35%

agree39%

disagree17%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree30%

disagree17%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree43%

agree35%

disagree13%

strongly disagree9%

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

strongly agree39%

agree48%

don't know13%

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

strongly agree43%

agree26%

disagree17%

strongly disagree4%

don't know9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree35%

agree22%

disagree35%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes65%

no35%

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

Good

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

St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Ellesmere Port, CH66 1NN

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Cheshire West and Chester arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

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

St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School