Academy converter · Warrington

Appleton Thorn Primary School

4–11Ages
198Pupils
PrimaryPhase
149676URN

Arley Road, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, WA4 4RW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 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

3.4per place

1.3 above Warrington median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Warrington

102 applications for 30 places · 2nd of 56 in Warrington

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

74%met the expected standard

Warrington 70% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 1 April 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		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

3.4applications per place, Reception

1.3 above Warrington median (2.1) 1.2 above England median (2.2)

102 applications · 30 places offered · 32 named it first

2026 3.4; Warrington median median 2.1
2025 3.4; Warrington median median 2.1
2024 3.2; Warrington median median 2.0
2023 3.1; Warrington median median 1.9; as the previous school
2022 3.6; Warrington median median 2.0; as the previous school
2021 4.2; Warrington median median 2.0; as the previous school
2020 2.8; Warrington median median 2.1; as the previous school
2019 3.0; Warrington median median 2.0; as the previous school
2018 3.1; Warrington median median 2.1; as the previous school
2017 4.1; Warrington median median 2.3; as the previous school
2016 3.0; Warrington median median 2.2; as the previous school
2015 3.4; Warrington median median 2.3; as the previous school
2014 3.8; Warrington median median 2.3; as the previous school

This school
Warrington median

Dashed bars: as Appleton Thorn Primary School (URN 111138), the previous school.

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	30	102	3.4	32	1.07
Sep 2025	29	99	3.4	34	1.17
Sep 2024	29	93	3.2	33	1.14
Sep 2023 *	29	91	3.1	34	1.17
Sep 2022 *	19	68	3.6	19	1.00
Sep 2021 *	18	76	4.2	18	1.00
Sep 2020 *	21	59	2.8	20	0.95
Sep 2019 *	30	90	3.0	28	0.93
Sep 2018 *	30	93	3.1	28	0.93
Sep 2017 *	23	95	4.1	19	0.83
Sep 2016 *	26	77	3.0	22	0.85
Sep 2015 *	28	95	3.4	24	0.86
Sep 2014 *	30	114	3.8	34	1.13

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 90% · Writing 77% · Maths 84% → all three 74% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard74%25th of 57 in Warrington

Warrington 70% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard90%

Warrington 85% England 78%

Higher standard42%

Warrington 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard77%

Warrington 77% England 75%

Greater depth13%

Warrington 12% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard84%

Warrington 83% England 77%

Higher standard39%

Warrington 30% England 24%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Warrington median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	74%	10%	108	108
2023/24	46%	8%	106	106
2022/23	73%	15%	107	105

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

Appleton Thorn Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.4applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Grappenhall Heys Community Primary School
1.7 km · Warrington

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.7applications per place 87%met the SATs standard
Stretton St Matthew's CofE Primary School
2.1 km · Warrington

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Broomfields Junior School
2.5 km · Warrington

Good2024

60%met the SATs standard
Grappenhall St Wilfrid's CofE Primary School
2.7 km · Warrington

Standards maintained2024

2.2applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
St Monica's Catholic Primary School
2.8 km · Warrington

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
The Cobbs Infant and Nursery School
2.8 km · Warrington

2026

1.9applications per place
Bradshaw Primary School
3.3 km · Warrington

Not yet inspected

2.3applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
St Thomas' CofE Primary School
3.6 km · Warrington

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.5applications per place

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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 149676 · 877/2317
Trust: The Challenge Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 210 pupils · 198 on roll
Free school meals: 12.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2023
Replaced: Appleton Thorn Primary School (URN 111138)
Address: Arley Road, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, WA4 4RW
Local authority: Warrington

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