Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Popular emoji_events #3 in Stockport public Top 10% UK

Priestnall School

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

personMs Rachel Howarth

corporate_fareTHE LAURUS TRUST

location_onStockport, SK4 3HP

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Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2019

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Attainment 8

52.6

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GCSE Rank

#3 in Stockport

#653 of 3,216 nationally

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Priestnall School is a Academy converter secondary school in Stockport, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Priestnall School is an academy converter in Stockport, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of THE LAURUS TRUST. The school has approximately 1,285 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 52.6, placing the school #3 in Stockport and #653 of 3,216 nationally. 56.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 30.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

52.6

Grade 5+ E&M

56.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)30.8%

Entering EBacc23.50%

EBacc APS4.59

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.4

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

56.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11.20%

EBacc APS4.89

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

06 September 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2019-10-29

Exempt School Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2011-06-08

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

4.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.3%(42 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,285 pupils. During this period, there were 61 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.7%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,285	61	4.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,276	62	4.9%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,263	58	4.6%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,272	57	4.5%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,269	107	8.4%	8.2%	3

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 105 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 52 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 43 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 38 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 34 pupils

Visual Impairment 7 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils