Community school · Manchester

Varna Community Primary School

3–11Ages
467Pupils
PrimaryPhase
105459URN

Chisholm Street, Openshaw, Manchester, M11 2LE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

0.2 below Manchester median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Manchester

134 applications for 60 places · 82nd of 125 in Manchester

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

39%met the expected standard

Manchester 60% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 11 March 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.2applications per place, Reception

0.2 below Manchester median (2.4) close to England median (2.2)

134 applications · 60 places offered · 61 named it first

2026 2.2; Manchester median median 2.4
2025 2.6; Manchester median median 2.4
2024 2.9; Manchester median median 2.4
2023 3.0; Manchester median median 2.5
2022 2.6; Manchester median median 2.6
2021 2.3; Manchester median median 1.9
2020 2.8; Manchester median median 1.8
2019 2.9; Manchester median median 1.9
2018 2.5; Manchester median median 2.0
2017 3.2; Manchester median median 2.0
2016 2.3; Manchester median median 2.0
2015 2.3; Manchester median median 2.0
2014 1.9; Manchester median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Manchester median in 12 of 13 years.

This school
Manchester median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	60	134	2.2	61	1.02
Sep 2025	60	153	2.6	65	1.08
Sep 2024	60	171	2.9	76	1.27
Sep 2023	60	179	3.0	82	1.37
Sep 2022	60	158	2.6	74	1.23
Sep 2021	60	136	2.3	68	1.13
Sep 2020	60	165	2.8	77	1.28
Sep 2019	60	175	2.9	81	1.35
Sep 2018	60	149	2.5	65	1.08
Sep 2017	60	192	3.2	74	1.23
Sep 2016	60	139	2.3	64	1.07
Sep 2015	60	140	2.3	66	1.10
Sep 2014	60	116	1.9	55	0.92

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 68% · Writing 61% · Maths 45% → all three 39% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard39%116th of 123 in Manchester

Manchester 60% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard68%

Manchester 73% England 78%

Higher standard21%

Manchester 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard61%

Manchester 70% England 75%

Greater depth6%

Manchester 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard45%

Manchester 74% England 77%

Higher standard11%

Manchester 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 99 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Manchester median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	39%	2%	103	99
2023/24	54%	5%	104	102
2022/23	58%	9%	102	101

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Varna Community Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 39%met the SATs standard
Higher Openshaw Community School
0.5 km · Manchester

Remains Good2023

3.1applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
St Clement's CofE Primary School
0.6 km · Manchester

Standards maintained2025

2.9applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
St James' CofE Primary School Gorton
0.9 km · Manchester

Remains Good2023

2.5applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy
1.0 km · Manchester

Good2024

2.6applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Abbey Hey Primary Academy
1.1 km · Manchester

Improved significantly2024

2.1applications per place 85%met the SATs standard
Manchester Road Primary Academy
1.1 km · Tameside

Standards maintained2024

1.7applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Seymour Road Academy
1.1 km · Manchester

Remains Good2024

2.1applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
St Francis RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
1.2 km · Manchester

Special measures Inadequate2023

2.4applications per place 65%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 105459 · 352/2278
Capacity: 472 pupils · 467 on roll
Free school meals: 48.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Chisholm Street, Openshaw, Manchester, M11 2LE
Local authority: Manchester

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources