Best Primary Schools in Manchester 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 137 schools across Manchester. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Manchester has 137 open primary schools. Of the 135 with a published Ofsted inspection, 20 (15%) 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, St Wilfrid's RC 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 Manchester 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.

137
Total schools
20
Outstanding (historic grade)
15%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60%
Avg KS2 SATs
45.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 St Wilfrid's RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 86 View school
🥈 Abbott Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
🥉 Manley Park Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
4. Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
5. Cringle Brook Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
6. Brookburn Community School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
7. St Malachy's RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
8. Oasis Academy Aspinal
Primary
 Good 83 View school
9. St Kentigern's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
10. Abbey Hey Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 83 View school
11. Crossacres Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
12. St Margaret Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. St Dunstan's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
14. St Edmund's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
15. St Patrick's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
16. Cavendish Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
17. Northenden Community School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
18. Rack House Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
19. St Cuthbert's RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
20. Oasis Academy Harpur Mount
Primary
 Good 80 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 Manchester

Best primary schools in ManchesterTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in ManchesterTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in ManchesterPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in ManchesterYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in SalfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in StockportCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in TraffordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in TamesideCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Manchester

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

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Manchester?
There are 137 open primary schools in Manchester (closed schools are excluded). 20 of the 135 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 schools in Manchester?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Manchester is St Wilfrid's RC 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 Manchester?
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 Manchester?
Primary and secondary applications in Manchester 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 Manchester 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.