Situated in the quiet village of Lymm just south of Warrington, Cherry Tree School has built a reputation as one of England's highest-performing primary schools. The school opened in 1974 and occupies a campus that underwent complete refurbishment in August 2000, creating separate closed classrooms alongside outdoor teaching spaces including a gazebo, adventure trails, and an activity playground. The December 2023 Ofsted inspection awarded Good for overall quality, with pupils' behaviour and personal development both rated as Outstanding. Academically, the latest Key Stage 2 results place the school in the elite tier nationally: 85% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared to 62% nationally, ranking Cherry Tree 292nd in England and 2nd in Warrington (FindMySchool data). The school admits 30 pupils per year group across seven mixed-gender classes, making it intimate yet academically ambitious.
Mrs Helen Graham leads the school, bringing a calm professionalism that filters through the day-to-day experience. The Ofsted report found behaviour to be exemplary and personal development outstanding, reflecting a culture where self-reliance, respect for individuals, and mutual regard are not slogans but embedded practices.
The physical environment supports this calm. The main Victorian building retains character whilst the refurbishment has modernised classrooms into proper teaching spaces. Beyond the buildings lies the heart of the school's appeal: two football pitches, an extensive field hosting a bird hide and environmental areas, plus dedicated outdoor learning zones. The pirate ship and trim trail signal that the school recognises childhood needs movement and adventure alongside structured learning.
Four house groups, each named after cherry varieties (Richmond, Merton Glory, Morello, and Sunburst), provide a structure for pastoral care and engagement. Siblings are placed together to strengthen home-school connection.
The vision statement, "Bringing out the best in each other as we blossom and grow," genuinely reflects what happens here. Staff talk of developing resilience, independence, and confidence as core to their work, not afterthoughts.
Cherry Tree's academic position is striking. In 2024, 85% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 43% achieved greater depth, compared to just 8% nationally.
Individual subject performance shows consistency. Reading scaled scores averaged 110 (England average: 100), mathematics 110, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 112. Science outcomes matched this strength: 88% reached expected standard, above the England average of 82%.
The school ranks 292nd in England for KS2 performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 2% of primary schools nationally. Locally in Warrington, only one primary ranks higher, making Cherry Tree second among 87 primaries in the local authority.
These figures reflect structured teaching, subject expertise, and systematic assessment. The school does not chase league tables obsessively; rather, it builds a curriculum where literacy and numeracy are taught rigorously, assessed regularly, and supported through small-group interventions when needed.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
84.67%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
The curriculum follows the National Curriculum framework with deliberate enrichment. French begins in Year 1 with a specialist teacher. Mathematics uses setting from Year 4 onwards, allowing pupils to progress at appropriate pace. Reading permeates the day; the school maintains a school library and two dedicated art areas for immersive creative teaching.
The school day runs from 9:00am to 3:20pm for juniors and 3:15pm for infants, with assemblies and playtimes bringing the whole community together. Most classes contain 30 pupils, allowing teachers to balance whole-class and guided group teaching.
Staff hold themselves to high standards. The 2023 Ofsted inspection noted that pupils are confident in their learning and staff expectations are clear. Teaching is described as good, with pupils developing understanding through both direct instruction and discovery.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
The extracurricular programme is substantial and changes each term to refresh engagement. After-school clubs run daily and encompass sports, cookery, outdoor education, choir, dance, arts and crafts, and STEM. This variety ensures most pupils find something that resonates.
The school achieved the highest tier of the School Games Award scheme in 2025, attaining Platinum status after holding Gold awards since 2021. Sports permeate school life. The school hosts cross-country competitions; recent years have seen Year 5 boys' teams win team races at the Neville Jones Cross Country event. Two football pitches enable structured coaching and inter-class matches throughout the year.
A specialist sports coach works alongside staff to deliver quality PE, with Miss Flower coordinating the games programme. House group competitions in football and netball add friendly rivalry to the competitive element.
Choir features in the clubs offering, providing opportunity for pupils to develop vocal skills and perform at school events. The school recognises music as a powerful form of communication and a vehicle for developing confidence through performance.
Two dedicated enclosed art areas allow extended creative work. Thematic teaching often incorporates art as a way of exploring curriculum content. Pupils work with clay, paint, collage, and mixed media across the year groups.
A dedicated allotment allows pupils to grow vegetables, understand ecosystems, and experience seasonal change firsthand. STEM clubs introduce coding and hands-on problem-solving. The adventure trail, pirate ship, and trim trail provide physical challenge whilst outdoor teaching areas extend classroom learning into natural settings.
The school operates a breakfast club from 7:45am, essential for working families, and an after-school club until 6:00pm. Both services ensure flexibility for parents. A separate nursery provision, Cherry Blossom Pre-School, operates on-site, housed in dedicated buildings with its own outdoor play area.
For pupils needing emotional support, the school employs myHappymind as part of its mental health provision, recognising that happy children learn more effectively.
8:50am arrival, 9:00am registration, 3:20pm (juniors) or 3:15pm (infants) finish. Breakfast club runs from 7:45am, after-school provision until 6:00pm. This is a state school with no tuition fees.
Required. Details available on the school website.
The school is accessible by car, and local public transport serves Lymm village. Parking is available on-site.
Two football pitches, extensive field, adventure trail, trim trail, bird hide, allotment, pirate ship, library, two art areas, gazebo/outdoor teaching space, closed classrooms with recent refurbishment.
The Ofsted report highlighted outstanding personal development and behaviour. Pupils show respect for staff and for one another. House groups mean that every child knows adults beyond their class teacher. A structured approach to behaviour, grounded in the school's values of self-reliance and respect, means discipline is consistent without being punitive.
The school operates an Early Help Offer, signalling willingness to work alongside families on a range of challenges beyond purely academic ones. Philip Adams, the SENCO, works to identify and support pupils with additional needs early, with SEN provision integrated into mainstream teaching rather than isolated. The Parent Forum provides a structured channel for parent voice.
Oversubscription remains a factor. The school attracts significantly more applications than places available. In recent admissions cycles, 80 applications were received for 30 places, placing the school at 2.67:1 oversubscription. Families must live within the catchment area; the admission criteria follow the standard model with looked-after children and siblings gaining priority, followed by distance from school gates. Parents should contact Warrington Borough Council admissions team early to understand where they sit in relation to the likely distance cutoff.
Rural setting versus urban connectivity. Lymm village is peaceful and family-oriented, but more remote than central Warrington. Families reliant on public transport should confirm travel times are workable during the application process.
High achievement creates competitive peer group. With strong academic results, pupils here are generally confident learners. Those who struggle with literacy or numeracy may feel pressure in this environment; families should discuss the school's SEN support with staff during visits to ensure needs will be met.
Cherry Tree School is among the highest-performing primaries in England, combining elite academic outcomes with genuine care for pupils' wider development. The combination of strong teaching, purposeful enrichment, and outstanding behaviour means pupils thrive both academically and personally. Best suited to families living within the catchment area who value a structured, academically ambitious environment where sport, music, and outdoor learning are genuinely embedded, not token extras. The main barrier is gaining entry; once accepted, the education is exceptional.
Yes. The school was rated Good by Ofsted in December 2023, with Outstanding grades for behaviour and attitudes and personal development. Academically, 85% of pupils met expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics in 2024, well above the national average of 62%. The school ranks 292nd in England for KS2 outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the elite tier nationally.
Applications for Reception entry are made through Warrington Borough Council coordinated admissions, not directly to the school. The standard deadline is 15 January for September entry. The school is oversubscribed, and places are allocated by distance from the school gates after looked-after children, then pupils with siblings already attending. Parents should contact Warrington Borough Council admissions team for specific distance information for their postcode.
Cherry Tree has no formal catchment boundary, but places fill by proximity. In recent years, the last distance offered has fluctuated; interested families should contact the school or council to understand their chances based on current address. Oversubscription means distance can tighten significantly each year, so families should verify this before relying on a place.
Yes. Breakfast club runs from 7:45am and after-school care until 6:00pm, providing flexibility for working parents. Both services are available and bookable through the school office. A separate out-of-school care provider, Thelwall Wasps, also operates from the school site.
The school achieved Platinum status for the School Games Award in 2025, reflecting its sports excellence. Two football pitches, regular cross-country competitions, and house group fixtures in football and netball provide competitive and recreational sport. After-school clubs rotate each term and cover sports, cookery, outdoor education, choir, dance, arts and crafts, and STEM. Most pupils find something aligned with their interests.
Yes. Cherry Blossom Pre-School operates on-site in separate buildings with its own outdoor area, accepting pupils from age 2. Pupils can then progress to the main school in Reception at age 4. For nursery fee details, contact the school directly.
Get in touch with the school directly
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