Cronton Church of England Primary Academy

Cronton Church of England Primary Academy has been assessed as outstanding across all evaluated domains in its first inspection. The school, which is part of the Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, has maintained a high-quality education environment since its conversion to an academy in 2017. Pupils demonstrate exceptional enjoyment in learning and are well supported in their personal and academic development, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The curriculum is ambitious and engaging, well-structured to foster a love of learning and ensure excellent progress for all learners.

Strengths

• Exceptional relationships between staff and pupils.
• Highly engaging and ambitious curriculum.
• Excellent progress for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Strong commitment to developing pupils' confidence through diverse experiences.
• Reading is prioritized and effectively integrated into the curriculum.
• High-quality staff training and support from the trust.
• Effective behaviour management leading to exemplary conduct among pupils.
• Strong emphasis on personal development and understanding diversity.

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 Cronton Church of England Primary Academy attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.1% 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, 0.4% of pupils at Cronton Church of England Primary Academy 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 Cronton Church of England Primary Academy had 22.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.0% 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, 12.4% of pupils at Cronton Church of England Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 2024–25 Cronton Church of England Primary Academy received £6,670 and spent £6,730 for each of its 227 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £210,000 (-£925 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, income was £7,382 and spending £7,357 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Widnes · Knowsley local authority: places and applications

Cronton Church of England Primary Academy is part of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• Halewood Church of England Primary Academy Liverpool
• Huyton With Roby Church of England Primary School Liverpool
• Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School, Woolton Liverpool
• Parish Church of England Primary School, St Helens St Helens
• St Philip (Westbrook) CofE Primary School Warrington
• St James' Church of England Primary School St Helens
• Rainford CofE Primary School St Helens
• The Beacon Church of England Primary School Liverpool
• Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School Skelmersdale
• St Paul's Church of England Primary School Wigan

What is Cronton Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cronton Church of England Primary Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Cronton Church of England Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Cronton Church of England Primary Academy was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Cronton Church of England Primary Academy have?

Cronton Church of England Primary Academy has 233 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cronton Church of England Primary Academy cover?

Cronton Church of England Primary Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Cronton Church of England Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Cronton Church of England Primary Academy?

Cronton Church of England Primary Academy is at Smithy Lane, Cronton, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 5DF.