Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Cheshire East 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 180 schools across Cheshire East. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Cheshire East has 180 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 168 with a published Ofsted inspection, 23 (14%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 90% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Ashdene Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Cheshire East follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

180
Total schools
23
Outstanding (historic grade)
14%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
65.4%
Avg KS2 SATs
37.7
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Ashdene Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
2. Calveley Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 89 View school
3. Peover Superior Endowed Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
4. Gorsey Bank Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 88 View school
5. Wincle CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 87 View school
6. Lostock Hall Primary School
Primary
 Good 87 View school
7. Mobberley CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
8. Chelford CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
9. Alderley Edge Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
10. Lindow Community Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
11. Bridgemere CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
12. Lacey Green Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 82 View school
13. Wistaston Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 82 View school
14. Adlington Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 82 View school
15. Rode Heath Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
16. Acton Church of England Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
17. St Vincent De Paul Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
18. Vernon Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 79 View school
19. Handforth Grange Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 78 View school
20. Excalibur Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Cheshire East

Best primary schools in Cheshire EastTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Cheshire EastTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in Cheshire EastReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in Cheshire EastYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Stoke-on-TrentCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in StockportCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in TraffordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WarringtonCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Cheshire East

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Cheshire East?
There are 180 open primary & secondary schools in Cheshire East (closed schools are excluded). 23 of the 168 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Cheshire East?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Cheshire East is Ashdene Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Cheshire East?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Cheshire East?
Primary and secondary applications in Cheshire East are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Cheshire East council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.