Lacey Green Primary Academy Review 2026: High-performing Wilmslow primary with an English Hub focus

Strong primary outcomes sit at the centre of this Wilmslow academy’s story. In 2024, 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. Nearly half reached the higher standard, a level of depth that is unusual even among strong schools. Those results translate into a top-tier ranking: 55th in England and 1st in Cheshire East for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

The school frames its identity around academic rigour alongside music and art, and it also operates as a Department for Education English Hub, which shapes its emphasis on reading and staff expertise. For families considering Reception entry, the key practical point is demand. For Reception entry, there were 110 applications for 60 offers, so admissions can be competitive.

Expect a purposeful feel, with pupils who are confident with visitors and polite in how they represent the school. Formal reviews describe strong friendships and a calm social environment, supported by clear routines from the early years upwards.

Leadership is clearly structured. The current Principal is Mr S Shaw, with Mr T Copland as Head of School. Governance information also records Steven Shaw as Accounting Officer, appointed on 1 September 2024, which helps anchor the current leadership timeline.

Pupil responsibility is part of the fabric. Opportunities such as head girl and head boy roles, sports ambassador responsibilities, and school parliament participation are presented as normal rather than exceptional. For many families, this matters as much as results because it suggests a school culture that expects pupils to contribute, not just comply.

The headline figures are striking, and they are consistent across the core measures families care about most at the end of Year 6.

• In 2024, 91% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%.

• At the higher standard, 49% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 8%.

• Average scaled scores were 112 in reading and 111 in mathematics, and the combined reading, grammar punctuation and spelling, and mathematics total score was 337.

Rankings based on official data place the school 55th in England and 1st in Cheshire East for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking). That positioning puts it among the highest-performing schools in England (top 2%).

For parents comparing nearby options, the simplest way to use these numbers is relative benchmarking. The FindMySchool Local Hub pages and Comparison Tool help families view local schools side-by-side using the same measures, which is often more useful than reading standalone results in isolation.

The curriculum is described as carefully sequenced, with key knowledge mapped year-by-year and lessons designed to build on prior understanding. The practical implication is that the school is not relying on test preparation alone. Instead, it focuses on strong foundations, then revisits and extends content to improve long-term retention.

Reading is given particular status. Author visits and “golden tickets” placed in library books are used to motivate pupils, while reading ambassadors provide peer recommendations and role-modelling. In Reception, phonics starts immediately and pupils who fall behind are identified quickly and supported by trained staff.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is presented as integrated rather than separate. Identification is described as prompt, staff training is prioritised, and pupils with SEND are expected to learn from the same curriculum as peers, with adapted tasks where needed.

As a primary academy, the main transition point is Year 6 to Year 7. Most pupils transfer to Wilmslow High School, and the school emphasises the importance of applying promptly because that secondary school is typically oversubscribed.

The school also notes that some pupils move to other secondary destinations, including selective and independent options. Examples listed include Manchester Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Withington Girls’ School, The King’s School Macclesfield, and Stockport Grammar School. For families, the key point is not that these are “typical” pathways, but that the school’s academic profile can support a wide spread of next-step choices when pupils are aiming for them.

Reception admissions are coordinated by Cheshire East Council, rather than handled directly by the school. The school’s own admissions information explains the cycle in simple terms, with the window typically opening in September and closing the following January.

For September 2026 Reception entry in Cheshire East, the published timetable sets out the key dates:

• Applications available from 1 September 2025

• Closing date 15 January 2026

• Supporting documentation deadline 16 February 2026

• Offers made 16 April 2026

• Deadline for accepting or refusing places 30 April 2026

Demand is an important part of the picture. For the Reception entry route reflected there were 110 applications for 60 offers, indicating oversubscription. This is the kind of school where a precise understanding of criteria matters. Where distance criteria apply in a local authority process, families should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise home-to-school distance, then cross-reference that with published admissions rules and historic patterns.

Tours are available by arrangement, and the school also maintains a New Starters section aimed at September 2026 Reception families, including a parents’ evening scheduled for 10 June 2026 (from 5.30pm).

Pastoral support is visible in staffing structure, with a Home-School Liaison role combined with SENDCO and mental health leadership, plus staff identified within the safeguarding team.

The school’s expectations around routines and attendance are also explicit. Its published attendance policy sets out a defined start to the day and a clear approach to lateness, including registers taken at 08.40. Families who value predictability and clear boundaries tend to see this as reassuring, particularly in a busy community school environment.

The latest Ofsted inspection in November 2023 rated the school Good overall.

Extracurricular life looks organised and broad, with both school-run and provider-run activities, plus clear participation details. The school’s club programme includes creative, sporting, and performance options across different year groups, rather than concentrating provision only in older year groups.

For pupils interested in creative work, clubs listed for 2025 to 2026 include Paint a Pot, Clay Creators, art clubs, and Kids Cookery Land. Performing arts is also represented through Echo Performing Arts, alongside choir options such as Infant Choir.

Sport is similarly varied. The published club lists include gymnastics and tennis as breakfast options, plus after-school activities such as dodgeball, football, girls’ football, and a Sport for All programme for Years 5 and 6. Karate also appears both in the club lists and as an example highlighted in formal review documentation, which suggests it has been part of the enrichment mix for some time.

Chess Club adds an academic enrichment strand outside the classroom, and is explicitly offered for Years 3 to 6 in the published club programme.

The published core school day runs from 08.35 to 15.30, totalling 34.5 hours per week.

Wraparound care is clearly defined. Breakfast Club runs 07.30 to 08.30 during term time, and After School Club runs 15.10 to 18.00, with booking rules that matter for working families (including set-pattern booking expectations for After School Club).

The website does not publish detailed travel guidance beyond location mapping. Most families will want to plan routes and parking expectations using maps and, if relevant, discuss safe walking routes during a tour.

• Competition for Reception places. With 110 applications for 60 offers demand can exceed supply. Families should treat this as a school where admissions criteria and deadlines genuinely matter.

• High expectations can feel demanding. Results and the curriculum approach point to an academically ambitious environment. This suits many pupils, but families should consider whether their child thrives with a fast pace and structured routines.

• Wraparound is available, but with fixed booking rules. Breakfast Club is flexible, but After School Club is designed around set weekly patterns for a half term. This works well for stable schedules and less well for changing shift patterns.

• Secondary transition planning matters. The school states that most pupils move to Wilmslow High School and notes that it is typically oversubscribed. Families aiming for selective or independent routes should plan early for application timelines.

This is a high-performing Wilmslow primary with a well-evidenced focus on reading, curriculum sequencing, and enrichment that goes beyond the basics. Academic outcomes are among the strongest in England, and the school’s published routines and wraparound structure will suit families who value clarity and consistency. Best suited to pupils who respond well to high expectations and to families prepared to manage a competitive Reception application process.