Voluntary aided school · Trafford

St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary School

3–11Ages
223Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
106359URN

Cherry Lane, Sale, M33 4GY · School website

This school is due to be replaced by St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary School.

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

0.6 below Trafford median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Trafford

48 applications for 24 places · 43rd of 54 in Trafford

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

55%met the expected standard

Trafford 73% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

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

2.0applications per place, Reception

0.6 below Trafford median (2.6) close to England median (2.2)

48 applications · 24 places offered · 24 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.0; Trafford median median 2.6
2025 2.0; Trafford median median 2.5
2024 2.5; Trafford median median 2.8
2023 2.2; Trafford median median 2.8
2022 2.6; Trafford median median 2.7
2021 3.1; Trafford median median 3.1
2020 2.5; Trafford median median 2.8
2019 2.7; Trafford median median 3.2
2018 2.4; Trafford median median 2.7
2017 2.4; Trafford median median 2.9
2016 2.4; Trafford median median 2.9
2015 2.8; Trafford median median 3.0
2014 2.1; Trafford median median 2.9

More applications per place than the Trafford median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Trafford 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	24	48	2.0	24	1.00
Sep 2025	21	42	2.0	21	1.00
Sep 2024	23	57	2.5	23	1.00
Sep 2023	26	56	2.2	26	1.00
Sep 2022	18	47	2.6	18	1.00
Sep 2021	30	92	3.1	37	1.23
Sep 2020	30	74	2.5	31	1.03
Sep 2019	23	61	2.7	22	0.96
Sep 2018	26	62	2.4	23	0.88
Sep 2017	29	69	2.4	28	0.97
Sep 2016	30	72	2.4	24	0.80
Sep 2015	30	83	2.8	33	1.10
Sep 2014	30	64	2.1	27	0.90

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 82% · Writing 79% · Maths 58% → all three 55% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard55%50th of 55 in Trafford

Trafford 73% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard82%

Trafford 86% England 78%

Higher standard42%

Trafford 47% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard79%

Trafford 80% England 75%

Greater depth15%

Trafford 18% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard58%

Trafford 83% England 77%

Higher standard30%

Trafford 39% England 24%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Trafford median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	55%	15%	106	102
2023/24	69%	9%	107	106
2022/23	67%	10%	106	104

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

St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.0applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
Woodheys Primary School
0.7 km · Trafford

Remains Good2022

3.0applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
Tyntesfield Primary School
0.8 km · Trafford

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
Firs Primary School
1.0 km · Trafford

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.3applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Broadheath Primary School
1.1 km · Trafford

Improved significantly2025

2.0applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
Park Road Academy Primary School
1.4 km · Trafford

Outstanding2023

6.5applications per place 90%met the SATs standard
All Saints' Catholic Primary School
1.9 km · Trafford

2026

3.0applications per place 88%met the SATs standard
St Hugh's Catholic Primary School
1.9 km · Trafford

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.4applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
St Mary's CofE Primary School
2.0 km · Trafford

Good2023

4.1applications per place 79%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 106359 · 358/3330
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 210 pupils · 223 on roll
Free school meals: 34.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Cherry Lane, Sale, M33 4GY
Local authority: Trafford

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