Whitby Heath Primary School

Whitby Heath Primary School is a warm, inclusive primary where pupils are extremely happy, feel safe and achieve highly. The school has high expectations, and pupils respond with exemplary behaviour, strong attendance and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Staff deliver an ambitious curriculum expertly, reading is a high priority from the start of Reception, and pupils with SEND are quickly identified and well supported. Personal development is a particular strength, with a wide range of clubs, trips, responsibilities and community activities that prepare pupils exceptionally well for life in modern Britain. Leadership is strong, including governance and support for staff workload and well-being. The early years provision is highly effective, with children’s independence and communication skills cultivated well. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new headteacher took up post in April 2023. The main area for improvement is that, in a few subjects, pupils do not recall prior learning securely enough, which limits how well they build new knowledge. The school should refine its processes for checking what pupils know and can remember over time in these subjects.

Strengths

• Pupils are extremely happy, feel safe and are celebrated as individuals
• The school has very high expectations and pupils achieve highly
• Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary in lessons and around school
• Pupils are polite, respectful and eager to engage in conversation
• The school offers a vast range of clubs, trips and wider opportunities
• Curriculums are highly ambitious, engaging and well sequenced in many subjects
• Staff deliver the curriculum expertly and address misconceptions promptly
• Reading is a high priority and phonics is taught skilfully from Reception
• Pupils who struggle with reading receive effective support to catch up
• Early years staff cultivate children’s independence and communication exceptionally well
• Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported thoughtfully
• The personal development programme develops character and responsibility well
• Pupils engage with their community through fundraising and choir performances
• Pupils are exceptionally well prepared for life in modern Britain
• Governors know the school well and hold leaders to account effectively
• Staff feel valued and supported with their workload and well-being
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• In a few subjects, pupils do not recall prior learning securely enough, hindering progress through those curriculums
• The school should refine its processes for checking what pupils know and can confidently remember over time in these subjects

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Whitby Heath Primary School attended 95.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Whitby Heath Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Whitby Heath Primary School had 20.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 16.5% of pupils at Whitby Heath Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Whitby Heath Primary School received £6,329 and spent £6,165 for each of its 406 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £302,000 (£744 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ellesmere Port · Cheshire West and Chester local authority: places and applications

What is Whitby Heath Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whitby Heath Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Whitby Heath Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Whitby Heath Primary School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Whitby Heath Primary School have?

Whitby Heath Primary School has 406 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whitby Heath Primary School cover?

Whitby Heath Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Whitby Heath Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 52% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Whitby Heath Primary School?

Whitby Heath Primary School is at Wyedale, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 6RJ.