Gorse Covert Primary School

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 4 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Gorse Covert Road, Birchwood, Warrington, WA3 6TSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Gorse Covert Primary School is a primary school in Warrington for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 92 schools in Warrington. It ranks 18th of 65 primary schools in Warrington. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 13 June 2023, report published 27 July 2023

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 June 2023

Pupils said that Gorse Covert Primary School is a happy and safe place to learn. They are warmly welcomed each morning by staff. Pupils said that adults really care for their well-being. Pupils respond appropriately to the high expectations that leaders have for their behaviour. Pupils' conduct around the school is calm and orderly. They are respectful of one another and they work together purposefully. Although there are occasions when pupils fall out with each other, any misbehaviour, including incidents of bullying, are dealt with effectively by staff. Leaders have high aspirations for all pupils' learning, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This includes for those pupils in the specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND (specially resourced provision). Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum for pupils. Pupils are keen to learn. Typically, they achieve well. Children in the early years are well prepared for the demands of Year 1. Pupils enjoy a range of interesting enrichment activities that have been designed to complement the subjects that they study. Leaders choose activities carefully to promote pupils' wider personal development. For example, pupils develop their resilience when working on their mental health journals. There is a diverse range of extra-curricular clubs on offer too. These include engineering, science and judo.

What the school should improve

  • Leaders have not finalised their curriculum thinking in a few subjects. This means that, occasionally, some pupils do not develop the depth of subject knowledge that they could. Leaders should finalise their curriculum thinking in these remaining subjects so that pupils achieve even more highly.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

31 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths77%

77%, 15 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths13%

13%, 5 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score109

109, 3 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score110

110, 5 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

212 pupils on roll, with places for 242

Eligible for free school meals24.5%

24.5%, 2 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language17.5%

17.5%, 4.1 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support9.9%

9.9%, 4.9 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan12.7%

12.7%, 6.7 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Gorse Covert Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Birchwood CofE Primary School0.8 milesOfsted: Good59% met the expected standard
Locking Stumps Community Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good56% met the expected standard
Newchurch Community Primary School2 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding47% met the expected standard
Culcheth Community Primary School2 milesOfsted: Good79% met the expected standard
St Helen's Church of England Primary School2 milesOfsted: Good86% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
ONE COMMUNITY TRUST
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Gillian Poole
Address
Gorse Covert Road, Birchwood, Warrington, WA3 6TS
Local authority
Warrington
URN
147389

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.