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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 144508

Waterhead Academy

Academy sponsor led · Oldham · OL4 3NY

Ages 11–16 · 761 pupils · Oldham

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

33.9

Overall absence

12.2%

Admissions demand

0.83 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-01-14

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.72
−20+2
Attainment 833.9
English & maths grade 5+23%
English & maths grade 4+42%
EBacc entry38%

EBacc APS: 3.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence12.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)37.5%
Unauthorised7.0%
Authorised absence
5.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.4%
Enrolments in measure
1,194

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

0.83 · Often has places

1st preferences

96

Places offered

150

1st-preference offers

95

Total preferences (any rank)
212
Preferred offers (top 3)
116
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

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 fill51%

761 pupils · 1,500 places

Pupils on roll
761
Boys / girls
365 / 396
School capacity
1,500
Capacity fill
761 / 1,500 (51%)
Free school meals
54.3%
FSM pupils
413
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: SOUTH PENNINE ACADEMIES
Academy trust
SOUTH PENNINE ACADEMIES
Sponsor
SOUTH PENNINE ACADEMIES
Headteacher
Mrs Tracy Foy

Location

Address
Huddersfield Road
Postcode
OL4 3NY
Town
Oldham
County
Greater Manchester
Local authority
Oldham
District
Oldham
Constituency
Oldham East and Saddleworth
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 academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Oldham, Oldham, 761 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy. Free school meals: 54.3%.

Open schools in Oldham
115
Secondary schools in Oldham
13
Academies among open schools in Oldham
52% (60)
Open schools in OL4
19
Secondary in OL4
2
Open schools in Oldham LA
128
Secondary in Oldham LA
14

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 OldhamNear OL4

  • Oasis Academy Leesbrook

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Oldham · OL4 5JE · Oldham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.7
    • P80.1
    • EM5+38%
    • Absence9.9%

    1.2 miles away

  • The Blue Coat CofE School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Oldham · OL1 3SQ · Oldham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.1
    • P80.5
    • EM5+64%
    • Absence5.0%

    1.5 miles away

  • E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Oldham · OL2 6NT · Oldham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att837.2
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+25%
    • Absence8.9%

    1.8 miles away

  • E-ACT the Oldham Academy North

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Oldham · OL2 5BF · Oldham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att846.9
    • P80.4
    • EM5+48%
    • Absence7.5%

    2.3 miles away

  • The Hathershaw College

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Oldham · OL8 3EP · Oldham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.0
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+38%
    • Absence7.8%

    2.6 miles away

  • Saddleworth School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Oldham · OL3 5NU · Oldham

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM23.7%

    2.8 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Tracy Foy
Telephone
01616205859
Website
www.waterheadacademy.co.uk

Official links