Best Primary Schools in Salford 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 76 schools across Salford. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Salford has 76 open primary schools. Of the 76 with a published Ofsted inspection, 11 (14%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 87% 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, The Deans 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 Salford 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.

76
Total schools
11
Outstanding (historic grade)
14%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
33.8
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 The Deans Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Broadoak Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 92 View school
🥉 St Andrew's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
4. St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
5. Bridgewater Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
6. James Brindley Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
7. St Andrew's Methodist Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
8. St Philip's RC Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
9. Christ The King RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 85 View school
10. St Mark's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
11. Light Oaks Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. Monton Green Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
14. Dukesgate Academy
Primary
 Good 78 View school
15. Primrose Hill Primary School and Children's Centre
Primary
 Good 77 View school
16. Ellenbrook Community Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
17. Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
18. Irlam Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
19. St Paul's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
20. St Mary's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 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 Salford

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

Nearby areas

Schools in ManchesterCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in TraffordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BuryCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BoltonCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Salford?
There are 76 open primary schools in Salford (closed schools are excluded). 11 of the 76 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 Salford?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Salford is The Deans 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 Salford?
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 Salford?
Primary and secondary applications in Salford 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 Salford 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.