East Ward Community Primary School

East Ward Community Primary School is performing at a strong standard overall, with leaders effectively prioritizing the needs of pupils and fostering a supportive environment. The safeguarding measures in place ensure that pupils feel safe and supported, contributing significantly to a positive school culture. The curriculum is ambitious and tailored to the needs of the community, helping pupils to progress effectively, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The school has made notable strides in promoting emotional well-being and developing skills for the future among pupils, alongside a rich personal development program. While the school demonstrates many strengths, attendance remains an area where improvement is needed, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. Despite efforts to enhance attendance rates, persistent absence is above the national average. Overall, the leadership team is proactive and committed to continuous improvement, with clear strategies in place to address challenges and support all students in their educational journey.

Strengths

• Effective safeguarding culture ensures pupils feel safe
• Ambitious curriculum tailored to the school's context
• Strong support for pupils with SEND and those facing barriers to learning
• High-quality interactions fostering language development in early years
• Proactive leadership committed to pupil welfare and community engagement
• Diligent monitoring of pupil achievement and targeted support
• Rich personal development program promoting British values
• Strong relationships with parents enhancing pupil support

Areas for Improvement

• Attendance rates need improvement, especially for disadvantaged pupils
• Persistent absence remains above national averages

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 East Ward Community Primary School attended 94.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.5% 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, 1.3% of pupils at East Ward Community 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 East Ward Community Primary School had 20.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 28.6% 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, 11.2% of pupils at East Ward Community Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 10.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 20 pupils.

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 East Ward Community Primary School received £8,733 and spent £7,917 for each of its 460 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £120,000 (£261 per pupil).

Across all 4 schools of Vision Multi Academy Trust, income was £7,729 and spending £7,658 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 Bury · Bury local authority: places and applications

East Ward Community Primary School is part of Vision Multi Academy Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Sunny Bank Primary School Bury
• Parrenthorn High School Manchester
• Higher Lane Primary School Manchester
• Peel Brow School Bury

What is East Ward Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for East Ward Community Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in March 2026.

When was East Ward Community Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

East Ward Community Primary School was last inspected in March 2026.

How many pupils does East Ward Community Primary School have?

East Ward Community Primary School has 474 pupils on roll.

What age range does East Ward Community Primary School cover?

East Ward Community Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are East Ward Community Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is East Ward Community Primary School?

East Ward Community Primary School is at Willow Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 7QZ.