When it comes to deciding where to send your child to school, knowledge is power.
As the deadline for primary school places fast approaches, today we bring you a comprehensive guide to schools in Greater Manchester.
Our handy tool takes into account 44 different data points - including not just KS2 results but factors like progress, pupil-teacher ratios and absence rates.
Parents can go online to browse the full data, compare different schools, and find links to contact details and recent Ofsted reports.
The Guide, now in its sixth year, has been praised by education experts.
Dr Elaine McCreery Head of Primary Initial Teacher Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, said the guide could help parents make decisions about where to apply for or be useful for those with children already at schools to get involved and support the school.
This year's results put Gatley Primary School, in Stockport, on top as the best school in the local area.
Read more of today's top stories here
In second place is St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School, in Salford, while third is Nicol Mere School, Wigan.
David Deane, head of St Thomas of Canterbury, said the secret to his school's success was encouraging a love of reading.
Mr Deane explained: "Children at St Thomas of Canterbury have their imagination set alight through story and this stokes their love of learning generally and especially their love of reading.
"Our wonderful teachers know that once their children become great readers, this opens the door to learning in all the other areas of the curriculum."
Mr Deane added: "St Thomas of Canterbury offers a fantastic quality of education for children and we are delighted to be recognised in the MEN Good Schools Guide."
Mums and dads must submit their application to their local authority by Tuesday, January 15.
If parents fail to apply, their child could miss out on a school place.
An application must be received for all pupils who require a reception class place in September 2019.
That is children born between September 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015.
The January 15 deadline is the same for all other councils in Greater Manchester.
Attendance at a school nursery does not guarantee admission to that school’s reception class.
But meeting the deadline gives parents the best chance of a getting their child into one of their preferred schools.
All parents are encouraged to make at least three preferences when they make their application.
Greater Manchester top 10 primary schools
1. Gatley Primary School, Stockport
2. St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School, Salford
3. Nicol Mere School, Wigan
4. Seymour Park Community Primary School, Trafford
5. St Hugh of Lincoln RC Primary School, Trafford
6. St Kentigern's RC Primary, Fallowfield
7.Corpus Christi RC Primary School, Oldham
8. Sunny Bank Primary School, Bury
9. St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Tameside
10. St Vincent's Catholic Primary School, Trafford
