Manor Way Primary Academy Review 2026: High-performing one-form entry, with strong early years through Key Stage 2

This is a small primary in Cradley Heath, serving pupils from age 3 to 11, with a one-form entry structure that keeps year groups tight and relationships easy to build. The school sits within Windsor Academy Trust and joined the trust in October 2015, so parents are looking at an established academy set-up rather than a newly converted operation.

Academically, the data points to a school that is outperforming typical expectations. In 2024, 91% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. That performance places the school comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England, based on FindMySchool’s ranking methodology using official data. Locally, it ranks 1st in the Halesowen area for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking).

A May 2024 ungraded inspection kept the overall judgement at Good and also signalled that the school may now be operating at the level of a higher grade if a graded inspection were carried out.

A lot of the school’s tone is shaped by routines that teach pupils how to work independently and how to treat each other. The ungraded inspection describes pupils as conscientious, polite, and quick to settle to tasks; it also highlights a clear set of classroom habits designed to build perseverance, including a brain, browse, buddy approach that prompts pupils to think first, check resources, then seek peer help.

The school’s leadership model is visible in the way pupil roles are used. Rather than keeping responsibility in adult hands, pupils are given structured leadership jobs such as helping hands and playground pals, which are set up to keep shared spaces orderly and help younger pupils join in at breaktimes. This matters for families who want a primary where behaviour is not just a policy but a daily practice that pupils understand and can explain.

Early years is part of the same picture rather than a bolt-on. The school runs nursery provision from age 3, with an Early Years Foundation Stage approach and a stated focus on communication, turn-taking, and readiness for Reception. Nursery learning is framed around the seven areas of learning, with phonics introduced through the Read Write Inc programme.

Leadership is currently under Executive Headteacher Lisa Buffery, named on the school website and in the May 2024 inspection report. Governance records list her headteacher term of office from 01 October 2025.

The headline performance measure for Key Stage 2 is the combined reading, writing and maths expected standard. In 2024, 91% of pupils reached that benchmark, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 29% reached greater depth across reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores add detail to that picture. Reading averaged 108, mathematics 106, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 109, each comfortably above typical national reference points.

FindMySchool’s ranking places the school 2,150th in England for primary outcomes and 1st locally in the Halesowen area. That sits above the England average and places it comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England (top quartile). When parents are comparing options, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool can be useful for checking how this performance looks alongside nearby schools, using the same dataset across the board.

The inspection evidence points to a curriculum that is carefully sequenced, with staff training and resources built around consistency. External review describes teachers receiving effective professional development that supports both what to teach and how to teach it, and it highlights routine checks for misconceptions so gaps are addressed quickly.

Reading is a standout in the evidence base. The May 2024 inspection emphasises early reading and phonics as a strength, with matched books that align to pupils’ developing knowledge and swift support for pupils who fall behind. It also points to deliberate work on reading culture, including author-of-the-month activity and themed reading events. The implication for families is practical: strong phonics delivery and rapid catch-up often reduce the long tail of reading difficulty that can otherwise affect confidence across the curriculum.

In early years, the nursery curriculum is presented with clear intent. Children are supported to build communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development, alongside early literacy and number sense. Assessment is described through a learning journey approach that uses work samples and photos, with parents invited to contribute.

As a state primary, the main transition point is Year 6 to Year 7. The school frames its role as preparing pupils to succeed in the next stage, with a focus on confidence, routines, and responsibility, rather than positioning a single destination as the expected route.

For families thinking ahead, the best practical step is to check Dudley’s secondary transfer information and look at recent allocation patterns, as these can change year to year based on demand, admissions rules, and sibling priority. Where this school can help is through strong academic foundations and pupils who are used to structured learning habits, which typically supports a smoother transition into the larger setting of secondary school.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Entry is through the normal Dudley coordinated admissions process for Reception, with applications made via your home local authority.

Demand data indicates competition for places. In the most recent admissions dataset provided, there were 93 applications for 30 offers for the primary entry route, which equates to 3.1 applications per place. First preference demand also ran ahead of offers (1.13). For families, the implication is simple: apply on time, list realistic alternatives, and do not assume late applications will be viable.

For September 2026 Reception entry, the school’s admissions page states that online applications opened on 01 October 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026, with decision emails issued on 16 April 2026. As of today (27 January 2026), those deadlines have passed, so parents targeting later entry years should use the same page to confirm the next cycle’s dates as soon as they are published.

Nursery entry is separate from Reception admissions. The nursery is open to children from age 3, with parents invited to register interest directly with the nursery team via the school’s published form. Government-funded hours are referenced by the nursery information, including 15 and 30 funded hours for eligible children aged three to four.

Open events are clearly signposted on the website and, for the 2026 entry cycle, were scheduled as morning sessions in October and November 2025. For future years, it is sensible to expect open events to sit in early autumn, but parents should rely on the current website listing rather than last year’s dates.

If you are considering a move based on proximity, the FindMySchool Map Search can help you check walking and driving distance precisely. This school does not publish a last distance offered figure in the data provided, so it is wise to treat location as only one part of a broader admissions strategy.

Pastoral strength is closely tied to culture and routines. The inspection evidence describes behaviour as calm and consistent, with pupils eager to make good choices and staff applying expectations fairly through a ready-to-learn approach. That consistency tends to matter most for pupils who need predictable boundaries to feel secure.

Inclusion is described as an everyday practice rather than a separate track. The inspection notes that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are identified quickly, supported through a mix of adaptations and additional adult support, and included across school life.

Safeguarding is covered directly in the May 2024 inspection, which states that arrangements are effective.

The enrichment offer is broader than many small primaries can manage, because it is organised through both clubs and structured pupil roles.

Clubs and activities include coding, archery, crochet, gardening, pottery and book club, alongside sports and curriculum-linked trips and visits. The school’s published clubs timetable also lists activities such as Space Academy, Reading Buddies, Mini Mentors, Musical Theatre for younger year groups, and specific sports such as basketball, dodgeball, netball and hockey depending on the day.

Wraparound care is offered via Manor Way Activity Club, described as Ofsted-registered and running before and after school, with holiday provision during most school holidays. Times published include breakfast provision from 07:45 to 08:50 and after-school care until 17:30 on weekdays. Separately, the school also references participation in a government free breakfast club programme, which signals an additional layer of support around morning readiness for learning.

The implication for families is practical. A structured club timetable and formal wraparound care can reduce the logistical strain of the school week, especially for working parents, and it gives pupils more opportunities to develop interests beyond core lessons.

The school day is published in detail. Gates open at 08:40; the main school day starts at 08:50. Reception finishes at 15:20, while Years 1 to 6 finish at 15:30. The school also states it is open for 32.5 hours per week.

Nursery sessions are listed as morning, afternoon, or full day, with a standard day running 08:45 to 15:15.

For travel planning, most families will be looking at walking routes within Cradley Heath or short car journeys from nearby parts of Halesowen and the surrounding West Midlands area. Drop-off and pick-up can be busy at small-site primaries, so it is worth checking local parking and pedestrian access at the times you would actually use.

• Competition for Reception places. With 93 applications for 30 offers in the latest available admissions dataset, this is not a low-demand option. Build a realistic local shortlist and submit preferences carefully.

• Deadlines can catch families out. For September 2026 entry, the school published an application window from 01 October 2025 to 15 January 2026, with offers on 16 April 2026. Those dates are now in the past, so families aiming for later years should check the current cycle’s timetable early.

• Small-school feel cuts both ways. One-form entry can mean strong relationships and clear routines, but it also means fewer parallel classes, so friendship dynamics can feel more concentrated for some children.

• Wraparound details may vary. Care is available and timings are published, but activities and pricing are not fully set out online, so ask for the current offer if you rely on it weekly.

Manor Way Primary Academy looks like a small primary operating with the systems and ambition of a larger organisation. Strong Key Stage 2 results, a clear behaviour culture, and an unusually wide clubs timetable for a one-form entry setting make it an appealing shortlist school for families who want structure, high expectations, and practical wraparound options.

Who it suits: families seeking a high-performing state primary with nursery provision from age 3, clear routines that promote independence, and a busy programme of clubs and pupil leadership roles. The main hurdle is admission, because demand is strong.