Hursthead Infant School Review 2026: A high-expectations infant school in Cheadle Hulme

There are no Key Stage 2 outcomes here, so the most meaningful academic indicators are early reading and end-of-infant-stage assessments.

The school publishes recent outcomes that suggest a strong early literacy profile. On its results page, Hursthead reports (for 2025 outcomes) 97% meeting the Year 1 phonics standard versus an England average of 80% shown alongside, and a Reception Good Level of Development of 84% versus an England average of 68%. In Year 2 teacher assessments, the same page reports high proportions at the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, with substantial percentages working at greater depth.

Treat these published figures as one part of the picture rather than the whole story. Infant outcomes are sensitive to cohort size and starting points, and they do not always predict Key Stage 2 results in a simple straight line. What matters most is whether pupils leave Year 2 as confident readers with secure number sense and learning habits. The inspection report supports that trajectory, particularly around phonics and fluent reading by the end of Year 2.

Parents comparing local schools can use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages and the Comparison Tool to view nearby schools’ outcomes side by side, particularly where Key Stage 2 data is available at linked junior schools.

Early reading is a cornerstone. The inspection report notes that staff deliver the school’s chosen phonics programme effectively, and that pupils build on this in Key Stage 1 to become confident, fluent readers by the end of Year 2. The mechanics behind that matter: matched reading books, careful sequencing of sounds, and quick support for pupils who struggle are the difference between “doing phonics” and building lifelong reading.

Curriculum planning appears deliberate. The school has thought carefully about sequencing in most subjects and uses checks to shape next steps, which helps pupils remember and connect ideas over time. The key area to watch, based on the report’s improvement point, is consistency across all subjects. In a small number of subjects, staff clarity about the most important knowledge was not as secure, which can limit how well pupils recall and apply learning later. For parents, this is a useful tour question: ask how subject leaders ensure progression is equally well-defined beyond English and maths.

As an infant school, the most effective teaching tends to look like short, explicit instruction followed by well-chosen practice and talk. The report’s references to clear explanations and appropriate activities align with that model.

Most families will be thinking about the Year 3 move and how well the infant curriculum sets children up for Key Stage 2.

The inspection report states that pupils learn a curriculum designed to prepare them well for Key Stage 2. The school’s published materials also frame admissions and catchment in tandem with the linked junior stage, which is typical for infant and junior arrangements in the area.

In practical terms, parents should look at the likely junior options early, including whether the child will remain within the same catchment priority and what the junior school expects in reading fluency and basic number facts at the start of Year 3. If you are shortlisting multiple infant and primary routes, the Saved Schools feature can help you track tours, questions, and deadlines in one place.

Entry is via Reception, and the school operates within Stockport Council coordinated admissions. The Published Admission Number shown in local authority materials is 90 places for Reception.

Demand is a real factor. One recent admissions cycle recorded 184 applications for 71 offers, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed, with around 2.59 applications per offer. (These figures reflect the latest available admissions snapshot.)

Stockport’s published guide for 2026 to 2027 explains the key dates: applications opened 15 August 2025 and the closing date was 15 January 2026 for September 2026 entry. National offer day for primary places is 16 April 2026. The same guide sets out how distance is measured, using a straight line measure between home and school.

Catchment matters. The school’s prospectus includes a defined list of streets described as within the catchment area for the infant and junior schools. If you are relying on catchment priority, use Stockport’s official catchment checker and then sanity-check your position by mapping walking and straight line distances from your front door. FindMySchool’s Map Search can help you understand how close you are relative to typical allocation patterns, bearing in mind that outcomes change year to year.

Personal Development is the headline strength, graded Outstanding at the most recent inspection. In day-to-day terms, that shows up in how pupils learn about emotions, relationships and safety. Pupils develop a strong understanding of feelings and learn how actions affect others, alongside knowledge of respect, equality and living well in a diverse society.

Support for additional needs appears well organised. The report describes effective systems to identify special educational needs and disabilities and strong links with professionals, which is particularly important in an infant school where needs are often first identified through speech, language, and early learning.

Safeguarding is reported as effective, which is a baseline requirement but still valuable reassurance for parents comparing multiple options.

For an infant school, the most meaningful enrichment tends to be regular experiences that build confidence and curiosity. The school’s published sport premium documentation lists a wide set of clubs and activities that have run as breakfast or after-school options, including Forest Schools, Tri-Golf, Boxercise, Gymnastics, Multi Skills, Dance, Football, Drama, and Sewing. For families, the implication is practical: children can sample movement, performance and outdoors learning early, which often supports focus in class and social confidence on the playground.

Music is also positioned as part of everyday life, with weekly singing assemblies designed to build participation and confidence. In an infant context, that emphasis on collective performance can be particularly helpful for speech, rhythm, memory and group belonging.

If your child thrives on structured routines, ask how clubs rotate termly and whether there is a clear pathway from taster experiences to sustained participation, especially for Forest Schools and creative clubs.

The school day runs 08:45am to 3:15pm. Wraparound care is available on site via a separate provider operating morning and after-school sessions, with published opening times including 07:45am to 08:45am and 3:15pm to 6:00pm on weekdays.

The school publishes term-date documents and holiday lists for families planning childcare and travel. For travel planning, most families will be looking at local walking routes and short car journeys within Cheadle Hulme; confirm parking and drop-off arrangements directly with the school as these can change with roadworks and safeguarding policies.

• Competition for places. The school is oversubscribed in available admissions data, so shortlisting should include at least one realistic alternative within your priority area.

• Key dates are strict. For September 2026 entry, the closing date was 15 January 2026, and late applications are treated differently in the local authority process.

• Curriculum consistency beyond the core. The latest inspection highlighted that, in a small number of subjects, important knowledge was not as clearly defined as it should be. Ask how this is being tightened so children remember more over time.

• Infant-only structure. The Year 3 transfer is a built-in transition. Families should look early at junior-school pathways, including whether siblings, catchment priority and distance rules align across both stages.

Hursthead Infant School reads as a high-expectations, well-organised infant setting with particular strength in pupils’ wider development and a strong early reading story. The most recent inspection grades are solid, with a standout judgement for Personal Development, and leadership continuity since September 2022 gives a clear anchor for improvement work.

Who it suits: families who want an orderly infant environment, a clear focus on early reading, and structured opportunities beyond lessons, and who are comfortable navigating a competitive local admissions picture.