School Chooser

Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademyRoman Catholic428 pupilsNurseryManchester
School Chooser Score
95
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 91 to 98
Out of 100. Better than 100% of the 50 schools most like it. Getting better year on year.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, November 2024
Reached the expected level at 1177%England 63%
Attendance96.6%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families36%Far more than most schools
Places31 spare428 pupils, 459 places
Pupils per teacher23.8School workforce census

Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is a converter academy in Manchester for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 428 pupils and room for 459. About 36 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 95 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 100% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.

Wilson Road, Blackley, Manchester, M9 8BG0161 740 4696mountcarmel.manchester.sch.ukMrs Kirsty Seaborn headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 5 November 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Outstanding
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Outstanding
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Outstanding
Early years
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

60 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1177%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level12%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score106.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score108.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 63%63%20172018: 54%54%20182019: 73%73%20192023: 65%65%20232024: 70%70%20242025: 77%77%2025
Since 2017: +14%Improving overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure2025202420232019†2018†2017†ManchesterEngland
Pupils tested606060625960
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths77%70%65%73%54%63%60%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths12%10%7%18%12%8%5%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0106.0105.0104.0103.0102.0104.9105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score108.0107.0105.0108.0106.0105.0104.2104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score109.0109.0108.0110.0108.0107.0105.4105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard83%88%80%77%66%68%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard92%88%82%87%81%80%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)80%73%75%81%75%83%
Reading progressReading progress score+1.0+0.7-0.4-2.6
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.7+3.3+2.7+0.3
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged71%75%59%63%48%63%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged81%64%70%79%58%64%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

† These results are for Mount Carmel RC Primary School, the school this one replaced in December 2021. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 4 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
71%81%
Gap 10 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
71%83%
Gap 12 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
88%77%
Gap 11 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
4%12%
Gap 8 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Nearly full407 pupils for 420 places, 2024/25
97% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Manchester council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll428Census January 2026
Places45993% full
Pupils from low-income families36%36% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English28%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support14%61 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan6%27 pupils with a plan
Average class size29.411 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils18%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)37%£226,300 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls209 / 219
White British pupils31%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 27.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 29.0 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (65), emotional and mental health (11), Autistic spectrum disorder (4), Physical disability (4), Hearing impairment (2), Specific learning difficulty (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census20262025202420232022
Pupils on roll428438454457468
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals36%37%36%36%36%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language28%28%26%25%25%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support13%17%11%16%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans6%3%3%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.6% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance96.6%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school8.1%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils3.02024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.7%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21†2018/19†England
Sessions missedOverall absence3.5%4.3%4.5%5.3%3.2%3.4%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence2.8%3.3%3.1%3.9%2.3%2.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.7%1.0%1.4%1.4%0.9%1.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence8.1%10.1%11.7%12.3%7.8%7.7%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate3.03.13.53.6
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions0200

† These attendance figures are for Mount Carmel RC Primary School, the school this one replaced in December 2021. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers18.0full-time equivalent, 23 people
Pupils per teacher23.8Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants23.8full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£49,313
Teachers who left in the year0%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher2.32024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,831England £7,128. Total £3.0m
Income per pupil£7,390England £7,587. Total £3.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,205England £3,405
Money in reserve9%A healthy amount put by: £278k, £634 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£245kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,831spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Local crime rate0 per 1,000 people100% lower than the England average
Typical house price£254,000Manchester
Nearest bus stop130 mOld Road, 15 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Holy Trinity CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England670 m457Requires improvement 20244Compare
Pike Fold Primary SchoolCouncil720 m435Good 202353Compare
Oasis Academy Harpur MountAcademy860 m443Good 202485Compare
Irk Valley Community SchoolCouncil920 m437Good 202327Compare
Moston Lane Community Primary SchoolCouncil0.6 miles456Good 202240Compare
Lily Lane Primary SchoolAcademy0.9 miles598Report card 20262Compare
St John Bosco RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyAcademy0.9 miles207Requires improvement 2024Compare
Crumpsall Lane Primary SchoolCouncil0.9 miles418Good 202330Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats100%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the very top of its group. Its score of 95 is 43 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 52 · highest 93100

No school with a similar mix of pupils within 25 km scores clearly higher.

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 95 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 95% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 91 to 98. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%above
+0.09
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 60 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.43
Ofsted grade, 1.9 years old
Progress pupils make20%above
+0.08
DfE progress measure; 60 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well above
+0.15
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.09
2024/25; 369 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%above
+0.10
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 60 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy scores 95 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 100% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 91 to 98, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.

What is Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy not judged at its last full inspection on 5 November 2024.

How good are Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 77% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 12% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy have?

428 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 459 places, so it is 93% full.

Is Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?

Pupils were in school 96.6% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 8% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?

The average class had 29.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 18% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Wilson Road, Blackley, Manchester, M9 8BG
Telephone
0161 740 4696
Website
www.mountcarmel.manchester.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Kirsty Seaborn
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic, Diocese of Salford
Multi-academy trust
Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust (38 schools)
Local authority
Manchester
Ward
Harpurhey
Constituency
Blackley and Middleton South
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 December 2021 (academy converter)
URN
148738 · LAESTAB 3523503 · UKPRN 10089115
Formerly
Mount Carmel RC Primary School

Where these figures come from