Dean Valley Community Primary School
Macclesfield, SK10 5HS · Cheshire East · primary school
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21st of 114 primary schools in Cheshire East we can score, 124 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 2,280 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.5/10 among them, against 7.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 73.0 · 73 | 40% | 2.93 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 17.0 · 87 | 25% | 2.18 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dean Valley Community Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 73.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 17.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.5 out of 10 among them, against 7.9 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join sewing, baking, and book clubs, or play in the school orchestra. Sports include cross-country and football, while music covers singing, piano, clarinet, flute, saxophone, violin, and drums. Trips visit the Bollington Festival, Young Voices at the Manchester Arena, and Bridgewater Hall. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 199 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who do not reach the expected standard? What specific activities are included in the after-school club? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the 2023 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Dean Valley Community Primary School
Overview
Dean Valley Community Primary School continues to be a good school, providing a happy environment where pupils are polite and care for one another. Leaders have designed a curriculum that connects ambitious knowledge with rich cultural experiences, ensuring high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school fosters a strong sense of right and wrong, with pupils learning to treat everyone with respect and acting as ‘upstanders, not bystanders’ regarding bullying.
Strengths
- Pupils behave well, enjoy their learning, and trust adults to deal with problems, helping them feel safe.
- Reading is central to the curriculum, with skilful support ensuring pupils who fall behind can catch up quickly.
- Leaders have developed rigorous systems to identify and meet the additional needs of pupils with SEND.
- Staff work as a team to share subject expertise, ensuring all pupils benefit equally from high-quality teaching.
- Leaders enrich learning through diverse opportunities, such as the daily mile, outdoor learning, and musical instruments.
Areas to improve
- In some foundation subjects, leaders have not carefully considered how pupils build knowledge over time, leading to gaps in learning.
- Subject-specific content in some topics is less clear, making it harder for pupils to make connections between current and past learning.
- Leaders should ensure curriculum knowledge is logically sequenced and revisited frequently to help pupils remember more as they progress.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture where staff are well trained to spot signs of risk and report concerns quickly.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 57% |
| 2024/25 | 73% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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