UKSchoolSearch
OpenSecondaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 148596

Edgar Wood Academy

Free schools · Heywood · OL10 2QN

Ages 11–16 · 729 pupils · Rochdale

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

Overall absence

11.5%

Admissions demand

1.09 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2026-06-02

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence11.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)36.5%
Unauthorised5.7%
Authorised absence
5.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.9%
Enrolments in measure
507

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.09 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

191

Places offered

176

1st-preference offers

165

Total preferences (any rank)
543
Preferred offers (top 3)
176
Applications from outside LA
18
Offers to outside-LA applicants
4
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill81%

729 pupils · 900 places

Pupils on roll
729
Boys / girls
391 / 338
School capacity
900
Capacity fill
729 / 900 (81%)
Free school meals
42.7%
FSM pupils
311
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: ALTUS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
Academy trust
ALTUS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
Sponsor
Rochdale Sixth Form College
Headteacher
Mr Paul Jones

Location

Address
Heywood Old Road
Postcode
OL10 2QN
Town
Heywood
Local authority
Rochdale
District
Rochdale
Constituency
Heywood and Middleton North
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Heywood, Rochdale, 729 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 42.7%.

Open schools in Heywood
13
Secondary schools in Heywood
3
Academies among open schools in Heywood
31% (4)
Open schools in OL10
14
Secondary in OL10
3
Open schools in Rochdale LA
106
Secondary in Rochdale LA
13

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in HeywoodNear OL10

  • St Anne's Church of England Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Manchester · M24 6XN · Rochdale

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.3
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence9.7%

    0.9 miles away

  • Newhouse Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Heywood · OL10 2NT · Rochdale

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.1
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+33%
    • Absence9.8%

    1.4 miles away

  • Our Lady's RC High School

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Manchester · M9 0RP · Manchester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att848.6
    • P80.3
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence4.9%

    1.8 miles away

  • Unsworth Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Bury · BL9 8LP · Bury

    Ages 11–16

    • Att846.5
    • P80.2
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence8.1%

    2.0 miles away

  • Parrenthorn High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Manchester · M25 2BW · Bury

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM29.9%

    2.0 miles away

  • Dixons Middleton Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Manchester · M24 2GT · Rochdale

    Ages 11–16

    • Att842.0
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence10.1%

    2.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Paul Jones
Telephone
01616769620
Website
www.edgarwood.org

Official links