Acresfield Academy

Acresfield Academy is performing exceptionally well in all areas, achieving an overall rating of outstanding during its first inspection. The school boasts exemplary behavior and attitudes among pupils, who thrive in a supportive and caring environment. Strong relationships between staff and students foster a culture of independence and resilience, contributing to high levels of achievement, including for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). With a well-structured curriculum and an emphasis on personal development, pupils are well-prepared for subsequent educational stages.

Strengths

• Exceptional quality of education across all subjects
• Strong emphasis on reading from early years
• Excellent support for pupils with SEND
• High expectations for pupils' achievements
• Pupils demonstrate exemplary behavior and attitudes
• Strong personal development programs and community involvement
• Meticulously planned curriculum that builds on knowledge

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 Acresfield Academy attended 96.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.8% 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, 0.8% of pupils at Acresfield 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 Acresfield Academy had 24.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.4% 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, 9.7% of pupils at Acresfield Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 12 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 Acresfield Academy received £6,907 and spent £6,873 for each of its 243 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £140,000 (£575 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of North West Academies Trust Limited, income was £7,268 and spending £7,172 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 Chester · Cheshire West and Chester local authority: places and applications

Acresfield Academy is part of North West Academies Trust Limited, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• St Martin's Academy Chester Chester
• The Grosvenor Park Church of England Academy Chester
• Delamere CofE Primary Academy Tarporley
• Tilston Parochial CofE Primary Academy Malpas
• Weaverham Primary Academy Northwich
• The Oak View Academy Winsford
• Calveley Primary Academy Tarporley
• The Rudheath Senior Academy Northwich
• Acton Church of England Primary Academy Nantwich
• Kingsbourne Academy Nantwich

What is Acresfield Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Acresfield Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Acresfield Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Acresfield Academy was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Acresfield Academy have?

Acresfield Academy has 248 pupils on roll.

What age range does Acresfield Academy cover?

Acresfield Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Acresfield Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Acresfield Academy?

Acresfield Academy is at Acres Lane, Upton By Chester, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 1LJ.