Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School

Astbury St Mary’s CofE Primary School, which has not been previously inspected under section 5 of the Education Act 2005, has received a good overall effectiveness rating during its first inspection. The school promotes a positive learning environment where pupils feel happy, cared for, and safe. Leaders have established high expectations in behavior and learning, resulting in a culture where pupils are proud of their school and enjoy participation in various enriching activities. Furthermore, the school's curriculum has been improved to ensure a broad and balanced education for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• Strong relationships between pupils and staff
• High expectations of pupil behavior and achievement
• Effective early years provision focused on language and communication
• Ambitious and well-structured curriculum
• Teachers well-trained in phonics and reading support
• Quick identification of SEND needs
• Active engagement of pupils in school and community activities
• Supportive leadership fostering staff well-being

Areas for Improvement

• Lack of clarity in essential knowledge for a small number of subjects
• Inconsistent confidence among teachers in delivering some subject curriculums

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 Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School attended 93.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.2% 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 Astbury St Mary's CofE 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 Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School had 28.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.2% 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, 12.1% of pupils at Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 9.1% 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 Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School received £7,445 and spent £7,313 for each of its 95 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £4,000 (-£41 per pupil).

Across all 27 schools of Chester Diocesan Academies Trust, income was £6,299 and spending £6,313 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 Congleton · Cheshire East local authority: places and applications

Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School is part of Chester Diocesan Academies Trust, which runs 32 schools. The nearest others:

• Brereton CofE Primary School Sandbach
• Bosley St Mary's CofE Primary School Macclesfield
• Warmingham CofE Primary School Sandbach
• Wybunbury Delves CofE Primary School Nantwich
• St Oswald's Worleston CofE Primary School Nantwich
• Little Bollington CofE Primary School Altrincham
• St Matthew's Church of England Primary School Stockport
• Bunbury Aldersey CofE Primary School Tarporley
• Norley Church of England Primary School Frodsham
• Stretton St Matthew's CofE Primary School Warrington

What is Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School have?

Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School has 99 pupils on roll.

What age range does Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School cover?

Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 15% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School?

Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School is at School Lane, Astbury, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4RG.