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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 134897

The Arches Community Primary School

Community school · Chester · CH1 5EZ

Ages 4–11 · 180 pupils · Cheshire West and Chester

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

61%

Overall absence

7.1%

Admissions demand

0.95 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-07-18

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)61%
Higher standard (RWM)16%
Avg scaled score — reading
105.0
Avg scaled score — maths
105.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
110.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)24.4%
Unauthorised1.2%
Authorised absence
5.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
176

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.95 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

18

Places offered

19

1st-preference offers

18

Total preferences (any rank)
39
Preferred offers (top 3)
19
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill86%

180 pupils · 210 places

Pupils on roll
180
Boys / girls
90 / 90
School capacity
210
Capacity fill
180 / 210 (86%)
Free school meals
55%
FSM pupils
99
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Community school
Headteacher
Mrs Michelle Ashfield

Location

Address
Saughall Road, Blacon
Postcode
CH1 5EZ
Town
Chester
County
Cheshire
Local authority
Cheshire West and Chester
District
Cheshire West and Chester
Constituency
Chester North and Neston
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, 180 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 55%.

Open schools in Chester
60
Primary schools in Chester
42
Academies among open schools in Chester
33% (20)
Open schools in CH1
14
Primary in CH1
10
Open schools in Cheshire West and Chester LA
184
Primary in Cheshire West and Chester LA
131

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ChesterNear CH1

  • Highfield Community Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Chester · CH1 5LD · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 3–11

    • KS256%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM24.0%
    • Demand0.89

    0.2 miles away

  • St Theresa's Catholic Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Chester · CH1 5UU · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 3–11

    • KS238%
    • Absence5.5%
    • FSM35.8%
    • Demand1.00

    0.3 miles away

  • J H Godwin Primary School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Community school · Primary

    Chester · CH1 5JG · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 4–11

    • KS230%
    • Absence6.5%
    • FSM44.7%
    • Demand1.00

    0.5 miles away

  • Dee Point Primary School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Community school · Primary

    Chester · CH1 5NF · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 3–11

    • KS235%
    • Absence6.8%
    • FSM46.8%
    • Demand1.14

    0.6 miles away

  • Mill View Primary School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Primary

    Chester · CH2 1HB · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 3–11

    • KS282%
    • Absence3.6%
    • FSM6.8%
    • Demand1.73

    1.7 miles away

  • Upton Heath CofE Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Chester · CH2 1ED · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 4–11

    • KS259%
    • Absence5.0%
    • FSM11.5%
    • Demand0.85

    1.7 miles away

  • St Oswald's CofE Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Chester · CH1 6LG · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 4–11

    • KS281%
    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM9.8%
    • Demand0.94

    1.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Michelle Ashfield
Telephone
01244667660
Website
www.thearches.cheshire.sch.uk

Official links