Great Moor Junior School

Four years is a short window to make a difference, but this junior school in Great Moor uses it well. Pupils join in Year 3 and leave at the end of Year 6, with routines designed to settle children quickly and build momentum. The latest inspection confirmed the school continues to be Good, with effective safeguarding and a broad curriculum that includes trips and visitors.

Academically, the headline is KS2 attainment. In the latest dataset, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined.

This is a school where values and behaviour expectations are meant to show up in everyday choices, not just assemblies. The inspection describes pupils as happy, respectful, and positive about learning, with bullying said to be rare and dealt with promptly. That matters for junior schools in particular, because children often arrive with friendship groups and habits already formed from infant school.

Daily routines aim to create calm purpose. Pupils are encouraged to arrive between 8:40 and 8:45 and go straight into class for MAD (Make A Difference) time, using the start of the day for reflection on prior learning or set activities before formal lessons begin. It is a small detail, but it signals a school that wants learning time protected, and transition time structured.

The site itself shapes the feel of the place. The main building has nine classrooms arranged around an enclosed quadrangle, plus three mobile classrooms by the field. The school describes classrooms as well equipped but on the small side, so space management and clear routines matter. There is also an ICT suite and a library highlighted as well equipped.

Leadership is clear and visible. The headteacher is Mrs Kate Bushaway.

KS2 data suggests a school that does not simply clear the expected standard, it pushes a meaningful proportion into higher outcomes.

Attainment headline (latest KS2 dataset)

• 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined.

• At the higher standard, 10% achieved the high standard in reading, writing and maths.

Subject indicators (latest KS2 dataset)

• Reading expected standard: 90%; maths expected standard: 90%; GPS expected standard: 90%.

• Scaled scores: reading 107, maths 106, GPS 110.

• Writing greater depth: 20%.

Ranking context (FindMySchool)

Ranked 1,330th of 14,978 in England for primary academic outcomes and 15th in Stockport on the local primary measure (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). The overall primary ranking is 2,559th of 14,978, keeping performance comfortably within the top quarter nationally.

What this means for parents is straightforward. The profile is not only “most pupils reach the standard”, it is also “a sizeable minority exceed it”, which tends to reflect consistent teaching routines, strong reading culture, and careful identification of gaps before Year 6.

Curriculum breadth is not an abstract claim here. The inspection describes a broad and ambitious curriculum, with clarity about what pupils should learn and remember across subjects. Educational trips and visiting speakers are described as part of how leaders enhance learning.

Reading is treated as a whole-school priority. The inspection notes a structured reading curriculum aimed at building vocabulary, regular teacher read-alouds, and a new class novel introduced each half-term. Pupils who struggle with reading receive targeted support from trained staff, including support for those still securing early reading and phonics knowledge. The implication is that the school expects all pupils, not only the confident readers, to leave Year 6 ready for the jump to secondary-level texts.

There is also a practical, classroom-facing emphasis on talk and performance. The inspection notes teachers using drama to support learning and encouraging purposeful conversation to discuss ideas, which can be particularly effective in junior years when pupils are developing confidence in explanation and reasoning.

This is a junior school, so the main transition point is Year 6 to secondary. The school states that most pupils move on to Stockport School and that secondary admission depends on where pupils live, not which junior school they attend.

Practically, families should treat Year 5 as the start of “secondary readiness” planning. That includes checking address-based criteria for likely options, understanding how travel time will work, and making sure pupils are confident with independent organisation by the end of Year 6.

Entry is principally into Year 3, and the key message is that junior transfer is not automatic.

Parents are told to apply by 31 October of Year 2, including families at Great Moor Infant School. For Stockport community junior schools (including this school), the verified admission timetable for the September 2027 intake sets out:

• Online applications open 15 August 2025

• Closing date 31 October 2026

• Offers issued 16 April 2027

Oversubscription follows the published criteria, including priority for looked-after and previously looked-after children, highly exceptional medical or social reasons, catchment and sibling criteria, then distance as relevant.

Because this is a junior school, families should not leave this late. If Year 3 is your intended entry point, use FindMySchool’s Map Search to sense-check your likely position against distance-based criteria across nearby junior and primary options, then keep an eye on the local authority timetable each year.

Pastoral support is organised, named, and built into systems rather than left to chance. The school describes wellbeing as central, with staff knowing pupils well and working closely with families, and specific tools used to help pupils understand and manage emotions.

Examples include Zones of Regulation and daily check-ins, plus a Time to Talk box so pupils can contact the pastoral manager, and a Question Box in every class for worries or feedback. A senior leader acts as the designated wellbeing lead and has completed Place2Be Senior Mental Health Leads training. The pastoral manager also links with external services including the Stockport Mental Health Support Team, with access via referral criteria.

Safeguarding culture is described as vigilant, with regular staff training and prompt follow-up of concerns, including work with external agencies where needed. Pupils also take an active role in online safety messaging, including through Web Warriors contributions to assemblies.

Extracurricular life here has two strands. One is the after-school club menu, the other is sport with genuine competitive structure.

After-school clubs are run weekly on set days, with half-termly sign-up, and include football, tag rugby, art, ICT, craft, tennis, basketball, karate, Spanish, dance, drama, and singing. The important point is not just variety, it is regularity, clubs that run predictably and allow pupils to build skills over time.

Cross-country is unusually detailed and well organised. Races are held at Woodbank Park on Saturday mornings, with separate races by age and gender, and the school notes that last year it had over 35 different runners taking part. The school covers team entry costs, and awards certificates in assembly. If you have a child who enjoys endurance sport, this kind of structured calendar can become a real anchor point across Years 3 to 6.

The school’s wider sporting identity also comes through in the inspection report, which highlights opportunities including tennis, hockey, and cross-country running. Pupils also have leadership roles such as play buddies and learning ambassadors, which is a useful indicator for families who want confidence-building responsibility alongside academic work.

School day

Pupils arrive 8:40 to 8:45 for MAD time; lessons start 8:45; school ends 3:15. The school states weekly opening time totals 32.5 hours.

Wraparound care (Fun Club)

Runs 7:30 to 8:55 and 3:15 to 6:00, based in the canteen building. The published cost is £5 for the morning session and £10 for the afternoon session, with a one-off £10 administrative registration fee for new children.

Site and facilities

Nine classrooms around a quadrangle plus three mobile classrooms by the field, an ICT suite, and a library. The all-weather field is used year-round for games and breaks.

Getting there

The school has a clear link with the local area, including a community project with Woodsmoor station, where pupils designed a welcome banner. For most families, the practical question is how drop-off and pick-up will work around residential streets, and whether wraparound care is needed for working hours.

• Junior transfer is not automatic. Even families at Great Moor Infant School must apply by 31 October in Year 2 for a Year 3 place.

• Classroom space constraints. The school notes that classrooms are well equipped but on the small side, which can matter for children who benefit from more physical space for regulation.

• Assessment consistency across subjects. The inspection notes that in a small number of subjects, assessment checks are not as effective as in core areas, which can make it harder to spot gaps early.

• Paid extras add up. Wraparound care has published session costs, and after-school clubs are stated to involve a charge to cover staffing, so budgeting for add-ons is sensible.

Great Moor Junior School combines strong KS2 outcomes with structured routines and a clearly-described approach to reading, wellbeing, and pupil leadership. It suits families who want an academically purposeful junior school, with wraparound care available and plenty of organised opportunities beyond lessons, especially cross-country and performing arts. The main challenge for many families is getting the Year 3 application timing right, because junior transfer relies on the local authority process and early deadlines.