Charles Darwin Community Primary School

Cheshire West and Chester · CW8 1BN

General information Primary School · 4-11 years Who goes here 331 pupils, 24.8% FSM

Educational attainment Ofsted report card

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 12.7% on SEN support Behaviour 5.1% absence rate Staff 9.6% turnover Financials £6,448 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Charles Darwin Community Primary School

General Information

Address: Darwin Street, Castle, Northwich, CW8 1BN – View on map
Phone: 0160675194
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Marianne Bennett
Age range: 4-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 28 families put it first for 28 places – 10 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 10 · 2024 10 · 2025 10 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

331 pupils out of 342 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 82
% eligible for free school meals: 24.8%
Pupil mix: 4 in 10 (more mixed than the Cheshire West and Chester average)
English as an additional language: 17% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 9.6% a year (Cheshire West and Chester 11.6%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 20% moved to another school, 80% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Cheshire West and Chester: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 1 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 4 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 0 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Cheshire West and Chester, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 5.1%
Persistently absent pupils: 12.7%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 12.7%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 6.6%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 15 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 8 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 5 pupils
SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need: 5 pupils
Other difficulty or disability: 4 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 7 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 5 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 4 pupils
Physical disability: 2 pupils
Hearing impairment: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Ofsted report card January 2026

Ofsted's new report cards grade each part of school life separately, instead of giving one overall word.

Safeguarding Met
Inclusion Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Achievement Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing Strong standard
Early years Expected standard
Leadership and governance Expected standard

Before this, under the old system, Ofsted rated the school Good (2021). The report card above replaces that grade.

How Ofsted report cards work

Since November 2025, Ofsted grades each area of a school on its own five-point scale, and no longer gives a single word like “Good” or “Outstanding”. Safeguarding (keeping children safe) is simply met or not met.

Exceptional The very best practice nationally
Strong standard Above what Ofsted expects
Expected standard What Ofsted expects of every school
Needs attention Some weaknesses the school needs to fix
Urgent improvement Serious weaknesses needing urgent action

“Expected standard” is a sound result – it's what Ofsted expects a good school to do. Report cards aren't directly comparable with the old single grades, which is why we don't turn them into one.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 75% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 13% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 13 percentage points above the Cheshire West and Chester average (62%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Above (3-year average 71% against an expected 63%)
3-year average (expected standard): 71%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 89% · Writing 82% · Maths 89% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 91%
Average test scores: reading 108, maths 109
Based on: 55 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolCheshire West and Chester averageEngland↗ Improving Up 7 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 13 percentage points above the Cheshire West and Chester average (62%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 22nd of 115 junior and primary schools in the area

=17Waverton Community Primary School77%
=22Acresfield Academy75%
=22Charles Darwin Community Primary School75%
#24Elton Primary School74%
=25Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School73%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

=1Delamere CofE Primary Academy96%
=1St Martin's Academy Chester96%
#3Mill View Primary School90%
#4Boughton Heath Academy88%
#5Belgrave Primary School87%
=6Guilden Sutton CofE Primary School84%
=6St Werburgh's and St Columba's Catholic Primary School84%
#8Comberbach Nursery and Primary School83%
=9Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School82%
=9Tarvin Primary School82%
=11Frodsham Manor House Primary School81%
=11Parkgate Primary School81%
#13Whitley Village School80%
=14St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School79%
=14Woodfall Primary and Nursery School79%
#16St Oswald's CofE Primary School78%
=17Childer Thornton Primary School77%
=17Frodsham Primary Academy77%
=17Hartford Manor Primary School & Nursery77%
=17Victoria Road Primary School77%
=17Waverton Community Primary School77%
=22Acresfield Academy75%
=22Charles Darwin Community Primary School75%
#24Elton Primary School74%
=25Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School73%
=25Hartford Primary School73%
=25Norley Church of England Primary School73%
=25St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham73%
=25Tushingham With Grindley CofE Primary School73%
=30Eaton Primary School72%
=30Mickle Trafford Village School72%
=30Tattenhall Park Primary School72%
=33Over St John's CofE Primary School71%
=33St Saviour's Catholic Primary and Nursery School71%
=33Tarporley CofE Primary School71%
=33The Oak View Academy71%
=33Wolverham Primary and Nursery School71%
#38Saighton Church of England Primary School & Pre-School69%
=39Helsby Hillside Primary School68%
=39Kelsall Primary and Nursery School68%
=39Kingsley Community Primary School and Nursery68%
=39Sandiway Primary School68%
=43Antrobus St Mark's CofE Primary School67%
=43Frodsham CofE Primary School67%
=43Little Leigh Primary School67%
=43St Winefride's Catholic Primary School67%
=43Willaston CofE Primary School67%
=48Kingsmead Primary School66%
=48Saughall All Saints Church of England Primary School66%
#50The Arches Community Primary School65%
=51Horn's Mill Primary School64%
=51Moulton School64%
=51Whitegate CofE Primary School64%
=51Wincham Community Primary School64%
=55Grange Community Nursery and Primary School63%
=55Huntington Community Primary School63%
=55Parklands Community Primary and Nursery School63%
=55The Grosvenor Park Church of England Academy63%
=55William Stockton Community Primary School63%
=60Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School62%
=60St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School62%
=62Cherry Grove Primary School61%
=62Chester Blue Coat Church of England Primary School61%
=62St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary & Nursery School61%
=62St. Chad's Church of England Primary School61%
=62Westminster Community Primary School61%
=67Byley Primary School and Nursery60%
=67Dodleston CofE Primary School60%
=69Cuddington Primary School58%
=69Malpas Alport Endowed Primary School58%
=69Rivacre Valley Primary School58%
=72Aston by Sutton Primary School56%
=72Leftwich Community Primary School56%
=72The Acorns Primary and Nursery School56%
=72Winnington Park Community Primary and Nursery School56%
#76Rudheath Primary Academy and Nursery55%
#77Duddon St Peter's CofE Primary School54%
=78Cambridge Road Community Primary and Nursery School53%
=78Christleton Primary School53%
=78Newton Primary School53%
=78Rossmore School53%
=82Upton Heath CofE Primary School52%
=82Whitby Heath Primary School52%
=82Wimboldsley Community Primary School52%
=85Alvanley and Manley Village School50%
=85Brookside Primary School50%
=85Farndon Primary School50%
=85Highfield Community Primary School50%
=85Little Sutton C of E Primary School50%
=85Neston Primary School50%
=85St Clare's Catholic Primary School50%
=85St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy50%
=93Darnhall Primary School49%
=93Woodlands Primary School49%
=95St Theresa's Catholic Primary School48%
=95Sutton Green Primary School48%
#97Eccleston CofE Primary School47%
#98Winsford High Street Community Primary School46%
#99Ashton Hayes Primary School44%
=100Crowton Christ Church CofE Primary School43%
=100St Luke's Catholic Primary School43%
#102Ellesmere Port Christ Church CofE Primary School41%
#103Dee Point Primary School40%
#104The Oaks Community Primary School39%
=105Over Hall Community School38%
=105Weaverham Primary Academy38%
#107Wharton CofE Primary School37%
=108Weaverham Forest Primary School35%
=108Willow Wood Community Nursery and Primary School35%
=108Witton Church Walk CofE Aided Nursery and Primary School35%
=111Barrow CofE Primary School33%
=111Great Budworth CofE Primary School33%
=111Huxley CofE Primary School33%
#114J H Godwin Primary School32%
#115Shocklach Oviatt CofE Primary School0%

View full Ofsted inspection report

Financials

Spending per pupil: £6,448 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

84th of 119 primary schools in Cheshire West and Chester for spending per pupil

#82The Grosvenor Park Church of England Academy£6,490
#83Acresfield Academy£6,490
#84Charles Darwin Community Primary School£6,448
#85Wimboldsley Community Primary School£6,439
#86St Martin's Academy Chester£6,431

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Frodsham Primary Academy£11,890
#2Clutton Church of England Primary School£11,789
#3Barrow CofE Primary School£10,731
#4Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School£10,055
#5Alvanley and Manley Village School£9,963
#6Crowton Christ Church CofE Primary School£9,868
#7Childer Thornton Primary School£9,757
#8Huxley CofE Primary School£9,521
#9Antrobus St Mark's CofE Primary School£9,452
#10The Oaks Community Primary School£9,220
#11Duddon St Peter's CofE Primary School£9,116
#12Dodleston CofE Primary School£9,110
#13J H Godwin Primary School£9,043
#14The Arches Community Primary School£8,962
#15Parklands Community Primary and Nursery School£8,693
#16The Oak View Academy£8,676
#17Eccleston CofE Primary School£8,514
#18Dee Point Primary School£8,453
#19Wolverham Primary and Nursery School£8,438
#20Aston by Sutton Primary School£8,340
#21Wharton CofE Primary School£8,327
#22Byley Primary School and Nursery£8,291
#23St Clare's Catholic Primary School£8,203
#24St. Chad's Church of England Primary School£8,111
#25St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary & Nursery School£8,045
#26Neston Primary School£7,934
#27St Luke's Catholic Primary School£7,910
#28Shocklach Oviatt CofE Primary School£7,893
#29Brookside Primary School£7,885
#30Westminster Community Primary School£7,837
#31Cambridge Road Community Primary and Nursery School£7,801
#32Willow Wood Community Nursery and Primary School£7,792
#33Over Hall Community School£7,791
#34Witton Church Walk CofE Aided Nursery and Primary School£7,763
#35Saighton Church of England Primary School & Pre-School£7,691
#36Weaverham Primary Academy£7,602
#37Tushingham With Grindley CofE Primary School£7,589
#38Over St John's CofE Primary School£7,567
#39William Stockton Community Primary School£7,416
#40Darnhall Primary School£7,386
#41St Theresa's Catholic Primary School£7,327
#42Whitley Village School£7,293
#43Victoria Road Primary School£7,224
#44Mickle Trafford Village School£7,212
#45Woodlands Primary School£7,132
#46Horn's Mill Primary School£7,121
#47Rivacre Valley Primary School£7,113
#48Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School£7,092
#49Ashton Hayes Primary School£7,086
#50Highfield Community Primary School£7,062
#51Ellesmere Port Christ Church CofE Primary School£7,048
#52Weaverham Forest Primary School£7,041
#53Whitegate CofE Primary School£7,037
#54Rossmore School£6,996
#55The Acorns Primary and Nursery School£6,967
#56St Saviour's Catholic Primary and Nursery School£6,949
#57Tattenhall Park Primary School£6,939
#58Kingsley Community Primary School and Nursery£6,928
#59Leftwich Community Primary School£6,835
#60St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£6,834
#61Helsby Hillside Primary School£6,832
#62Cherry Grove Primary School£6,793
#63Norley Church of England Primary School£6,790
#64Grange Community Nursery and Primary School£6,784
#65St Oswald's CofE Primary School£6,780
#66St Winefride's Catholic Primary School£6,773
#67Little Sutton C of E Primary School£6,748
#68St Werburgh's and St Columba's Catholic Primary School£6,746
#69St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School£6,746
#70Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School£6,738
#71Elton Primary School£6,735
#72Chester Blue Coat Church of England Primary School£6,707
#73Sandiway Primary School£6,701
#74Moulton School£6,700
#75Winsford High Street Community Primary School£6,688
#76Delamere CofE Primary Academy£6,637
#77Little Leigh Primary School£6,571
#78Frodsham Manor House Primary School£6,529
#79Rudheath Primary Academy and Nursery£6,520
#80Sutton Green Primary School£6,501
#81Kingsmead Primary School£6,501
#82The Grosvenor Park Church of England Academy£6,490
#83Acresfield Academy£6,490
#84Charles Darwin Community Primary School£6,448
#85Wimboldsley Community Primary School£6,439
#86St Martin's Academy Chester£6,431
#87St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School£6,421
#88Frodsham CofE Primary School£6,372
#89St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham£6,366
#90Wincham Community Primary School£6,363
#91Tarporley CofE Primary School£6,345
#92Kelsall Primary and Nursery School£6,236
#93Newton Primary School£6,235
#94Upton Heath CofE Primary School£6,177
#95Belgrave Primary School£6,167
#96Whitby Heath Primary School£6,160
#97Malpas Alport Endowed Primary School£6,123
#98Farndon Primary School£6,092
#99Waverton Community Primary School£6,005
#100Hartford Manor Primary School & Nursery£5,956
#101Saughall All Saints Church of England Primary School£5,956
#102Huntington Community Primary School£5,912
#103Guilden Sutton CofE Primary School£5,909
#104Tarvin Primary School£5,908
#105Cuddington Primary School£5,886
#106Christleton Primary School£5,865
#107Parkgate Primary School£5,865
#108Mill View Primary School£5,860
#109Lache Primary School£5,743
#110Comberbach Nursery and Primary School£5,729
#111Willaston CofE Primary School£5,707
#112Hartford Primary School£5,683
#113Woodfall Primary and Nursery School£5,670
#114Eaton Primary School£5,609
#115Winnington Park Community Primary and Nursery School£5,552
#116Boughton Heath Academy£5,552
#117Oldfield Primary School£4,400
#118Meadow Primary School£4,181
#119Overleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary School£2,687

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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