Adlington Primary School, Macclesfield Review 2026: Small-school feel, top-tier outcomes

A village primary with unusually big numbers behind it, Adlington Primary School sits among the highest-performing primaries in England on key stage 2 measures, while remaining a small setting where mixed-age friendships are part of daily life. In FindMySchool’s primary rankings (based on official data), it is ranked 13th in England and 1st locally in the Macclesfield area, placing it among the highest-performing in England (top 2%).

The latest Ofsted inspection (17 December 2024; published 04 February 2025) graded every key judgement as Outstanding, including early years provision.

For families, the practical implication is clear. If your priority is consistent academic challenge, strong early reading, and a calm culture in a small school, this is a serious contender. The main trade-off is admissions pressure. Recent application data indicates around three applications per place on the Reception entry route.

This is a small primary, and that shapes the social experience as much as the teaching. Pupils spend time with friends across age groups, and the wider culture is described as welcoming and individual-focused, which is often easiest to sustain when cohorts are not large.

A key part of the school’s identity is its place within a multi-academy trust. The school is part of the Halliard Trust, and staff development and curriculum support are described as drawing on trust-wide training and shared resources. This matters because it typically raises consistency, particularly when a school is small enough that individual staff changes could otherwise have an outsized impact.

Leadership is also stable. The headteacher is Steph Swinson, who took up post in September 2019. That tenure is long enough to have embedded a coherent approach across curriculum, behaviour, and pastoral routines, which aligns with the consistently high external judgement and the strength of outcomes.

The headline story is that results are exceptional, and not only in one subject. In 2024, 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 51.67% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores reinforce the same picture. Reading and mathematics are both at 113, and grammar, punctuation and spelling is 115. Science outcomes are similarly strong, with 100% meeting the expected standard.

Rankings provide useful context for parents trying to understand how rare these figures are. Ranked 13th in England and 1st in the Macclesfield area for primary outcomes, this is a FindMySchool ranking based on official data, and it places the school among the highest-performing in England (top 2%).

For families comparing schools locally, this is a case where using a side-by-side view is worthwhile. FindMySchool’s Local Hub pages and Comparison Tool can help you benchmark these results against nearby primaries on the same measures, rather than relying on reputation.

High results are most meaningful when you can see the mechanism behind them. Here, the curriculum is described as carefully constructed from Reception through to Year 6, with clear sequencing of what pupils should know and remember. That sequencing reduces gaps, particularly in a small school where mixed-age interactions and flexible grouping can be common.

Early reading is positioned as a core priority. Phonics is delivered consistently in the early years and key stage 1, and pupils read books matched to the sounds they know, so fluency builds steadily rather than through guesswork. The practical benefit is that decoding becomes automatic earlier, which then supports strong comprehension across the wider curriculum, and helps pupils access ambitious content in subjects such as geography and history.

The inspection evidence also points to a teaching model that uses checking and review deliberately, not as an add-on. Teachers revisit what pupils know before moving onto new learning, aiming to introduce new concepts at the right point rather than rushing. For parents, that often translates into fewer “mystery gaps” that only appear in Year 6, plus more confidence that homework and revision are reinforcing well-sequenced classroom learning.

For a primary school, the destination question is less about league tables and more about transition pathways and local options. In this area, secondary transfer is shaped by Cheshire East admissions, catchment boundaries, and the policies of individual academies. Cheshire East publishes catchment area mapping for primaries, and Adlington Primary School has a defined catchment map within that system.

One distinctive point for families planning ahead is the feeder-school link into The Fallibroome Academy for Year 7 admissions from 2026 to 2027 onwards. Adlington is explicitly listed among the feeder primaries in the published admissions criteria for that year. This does not guarantee a place, but it can be relevant if oversubscription criteria include feeder priority.

Poynton High School is another local option for many families. Its published admissions information describes the school as serving Poynton, Disley, Adlington and the local area, which gives a sense of the geography families often consider at transfer.

Transition support tends to matter most for pupils moving from a small primary into a larger Year 7 cohort. The strongest indicators here are the school’s emphasis on confidence, articulation, and secure foundational skills, which typically smooths the move into secondary expectations around independent organisation and reading stamina.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated by Cheshire East, and deadlines are fixed. For September 2026 entry, the online application window opened on 1 September 2025 and the closing date was 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

The most useful way to think about demand is not whether a school is “popular”, but how that popularity translates into odds. Recent application data indicates 30 applications for 10 offers on the Reception route, around three applications per place, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed.

Distance data is not available here, so it is unwise to assume you can “be close enough” without checking the admissions criteria carefully. If you are considering a move, use FindMySchoolMap Search to estimate practical proximity to the school gate, then cross-check against Cheshire East’s published rules and any school-specific admissions arrangements.

For in-year admissions (moving mid-year), availability is typically limited in small schools, particularly where cohorts are already tight and staffing is planned carefully around class sizes. Expect the school and local authority to ask for clear evidence of address and residency, especially where multiple addresses are involved.

Small schools can deliver pastoral support in a very direct way, because staff often know families across multiple years and siblings. The latest evaluation describes a culture where pupils know there are trusted adults they can speak to if they have worries, and where relationships are grounded in mutual respect.

Safeguarding is the area where families want unambiguous reassurance, and Ofsted reported that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Wellbeing is treated as a practical skillset rather than a slogan. Pupils learn about online safety, healthy lifestyles, and mental wellbeing, and there are structured leadership opportunities that give pupils a role in shaping the school, including eco council activity linked to sustainability.

Extracurricular provision matters most when it is specific enough to shape a child’s week, not just an occasional enrichment day. Here, the detail suggests a programme that is planned to extend the curriculum rather than simply occupy time.

A clear example is the mix of sport and applied learning. Activities referenced include lacrosse, STEM club, and gardening. The implication for pupils is a wider set of “entry points” into confidence. A child who is quiet in a whole-class discussion may be the one who thrives in a practical gardening task, or in a STEM project where persistence matters more than speed.

Trips are another signal of breadth. The programme includes visits to museums and theatres, plus visits to places of worship. For families, that indicates two things. First, curriculum knowledge is being anchored through real-world experience. Second, pupils are being given structured exposure to wider cultural and faith contexts, which supports the personal development judgement and is useful preparation for a diverse secondary environment.

Leadership opportunities also extend beyond formal roles. Eco council assemblies are described as a way older pupils support younger ones in understanding climate change and sustainability initiatives. That kind of pupil-to-pupil communication is a meaningful “soft skill” outcome, and in small schools it can become part of the culture rather than a one-off project.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual extras, particularly uniform, trips, and any optional clubs or wraparound care.

Wraparound care is available. The school’s before-school provision opens from 7.30am, and after-school provision runs from 3.20pm to 5.45pm.

In terms of transport, Adlington (Cheshire) rail station is close by for families commuting into the area, with onward connections to stations with more facilities when needed. Road access is typically straightforward for local drop-off, but as with many village settings, parking and turning space can be constrained at peak times, so families should check the school’s routines and any local traffic expectations.

• Admissions pressure. Recent figures indicate around three applications per place on the Reception route, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. This can limit flexibility for late movers and in-year transfers.

• Small-school dynamics. The close-knit feel suits many children, but it can be a harder fit for pupils who want a very large peer group or multiple parallel friendship circles in each year.

• Planning for secondary. The feeder link to The Fallibroome Academy for 2026 to 2027 admissions onwards is useful context, but it is not a guarantee. Families should read oversubscription criteria early and plan realistic alternatives.

Adlington Primary School, Macclesfield combines exceptionally strong outcomes with a small-school experience that prioritises confidence, respect, and breadth. It suits families who want high academic expectations alongside a culture where pupils are known well, and where enrichment is integrated into the week rather than bolted on. The limiting factor is entry, and families should treat admissions planning as a project, not an assumption.