Primary school

Darnhall Primary School

  • Community School
  • ages 2–11
  • Mixed
  • Cheshire West and Chester
  • CW7 1JL
Ofsted Good · inspected Oct 2023

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 12,485 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 83%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 75%75%2016/17: top 61%2017/18: top 75%2018/19: top 97%2022/23: top 69%2023/24: top 60%60% · 2023/242024/25: top 83%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM49% · North West 63%2/10 Well below North West+13.5 pts
Higher standard, RWM4% · North West 6%4/10 Below+16 pts
Reading score102 · North West 1051/10 Well below North West+5.1 pts
Maths score103 · North West 1053/10 Below+17.3 pts
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 43% · 37 pupils · North West 55%2016/17: 59% · 29 pupils · North West 64%2017/18: 56% · 36 pupils · North West 68%2018/19: 36% · 45 pupils · North West 67%2022/23: 54% · 61 pupils · North West 61%2023/24: 59% · 44 pupils · North West 63%2024/25: 49% · 51 pupils · North West 63%59%36%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 0% · 37 pupils · North West 3%2016/17: 3% · 29 pupils · North West 7%2017/18: 3% · 36 pupils · North West 8%2018/19: 4% · 45 pupils · North West 9%2022/23: 3% · 61 pupils · North West 6%2023/24: 2% · 44 pupils · North West 5%2024/25: 4% · 51 pupils · North West 6%4%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 103 · 37 pupils · North West 1022016/17: 104 · 29 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 107 · 36 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 98 · 45 pupils · North West 1042022/23: 103 · 61 pupils · North West 1052023/24: 105 · 44 pupils · North West 1052024/25: 102 · 51 pupils · North West 10510798No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 102 · 37 pupils · North West 1032016/17: 102 · 29 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 105 · 36 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 101 · 45 pupils · North West 1052022/23: 103 · 61 pupils · North West 1042023/24: 104 · 44 pupils · North West 1042024/25: 103 · 51 pupils · North West 105105101No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
45 of 45 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st4545
2nd363
3rd181

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2008–2023

  1. 2008Inadequate
  2. 2009Satisfactory
  3. 2011Satisfactory
  4. 2013Good
  5. 2018Good
  6. 2023Good

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

1 weak areas

  • Early years provision

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026440
Free school meals (past 6 years)44.9%
First language not English2.2%
SEN support11.9%
EHC plan7.4%
Absence (sessions missed)6.3%
Persistently absent pupils18.8%

Girls 49.2%Boys 50.8%

108.6% full · 405 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 59 responses (13.2% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school100% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school96.6% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved96.6% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 76.3% not applicable64.3% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year98.3% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 27.1% not applicable95.3% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed75% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child91.5% agree
  • My child does well at this school98.3% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing98.3% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school96.6% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school96.6% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development96.6% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent98.3% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.3
Pupils per adult8.0
  • Classroom teachers 19.6
  • Leadership 4.8
  • Teaching assistants 24
  • Other support 11.7

Teachers 24.4 FTE · Whole workforce 60.1 · 79 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£8,699
Spend per pupil£8,259
Staff spend per pupil£6,283
Reserve per pupil£747
  • +£314,316revenue reserve
  • +£184,981in-year balance

Grants £8,240 · self-generated £459 · premises £391 per pupil