The Arches Community Primary School
Saughall Road, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5EZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Arches Community Primary School is a primary school in Chester for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 181 schools in Cheshire West and Chester. It ranks 17th of 33 primary schools in Chester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 18 July 2023, report published 28 September 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 18 July 2023
Pupils, including children in the early years, enjoy attending this happy and welcoming school. They benefit from kind and positive relationships with staff and each other. Pupils are confident that staff will always listen to them and help them if they have any concerns or worries. Staff have high expectations for pupils' achievements. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), live up to these expectations and achieve well across a range of subjects. Leaders expect pupils to behave well, and most pupils do. Pupils are polite and respectful to each other and staff. This helps to create a calm and purposeful atmosphere in which pupils can learn. Leaders deal with any instances of bullying swiftly and effectively. Pupils enjoy the range of activities on offer beyond the academic curriculum. For instance, they look forward to residential trips such as cultural visits to London. In addition, pupils enjoy attending after-school activities, such as art club and wildlife club. They are eager to learn how to play a musical instrument. Pupils are keen to take on leadership roles within the school. For example, they support younger pupils by acting as reading ambassadors and road safety leaders. Parents and carers are positive about the support that staff provide for their children's wider development.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, the strategies that staff use to check on pupils' learning are not as well developed as they are in other subjects. Occasionally, this hinders staff from checking that pupils' earlier learning is secure. Leaders should ensure that staff are supported well to use assessment strategies to check on how well pupils are learning the curriculum over time.
- Some pupils do not have sufficient opportunity to learn about and revisit aspects of some fundamental British values. This means that some pupils are not as prepared as they could be for life in a diverse society. Leaders should ensure that pupils have an age-appropriate and secure understanding of the fundamental British values.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
31 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
180 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near The Arches Community Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highfield Community Primary School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 50% met the expected standard |
| St Theresa's Catholic Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 48% met the expected standard |
| J H Godwin Primary School | 0.5 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 32% met the expected standard |
| Dee Point Primary School | 0.6 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 40% met the expected standard |
| Chester Blue Coat Church of England Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 61% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Michelle Ashfield
- Phone
- 01244667660
- Address
- Saughall Road, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5EZ
- Local authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- URN
- 134897
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.