Dixons Middleton Academy
Manchester, M24 2GT · Rochdale · secondary school
Check the area around this school
7th of 13 secondary schools in Rochdale we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.8/10 against 714 of them, against 3.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 40.7 · 39 | 30% | 1.18 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.44 · 19 | 25% | 0.47 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.9 · 28 | 10% | 0.28 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dixons Middleton Academy overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2024-09. In 2024/25, 33.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.44 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,319 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,350. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific interventions are in place to improve Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Dixons Middleton Academy
Overview
This ungraded inspection confirms the school remains ‘good’, though inspectors noted that a graded inspection might yield a lower judgement. The report highlights a ‘calm and orderly’ atmosphere where pupils feel a strong sense of belonging, but identifies inconsistencies in curriculum delivery and reading support as key challenges.
Strengths
- Pupils value the friendships they forge and benefit from a ‘feeling of belonging’ within the large school community.
- The curriculum is ‘suitably ambitious’, with clear identification of important knowledge and the order in which it should be taught.
- Most teachers possess ‘strong knowledge’ of their subjects and explain new concepts clearly to pupils.
- The school provides a ‘suitable programme of personal development’, including careers guidance and lessons on healthy relationships.
- Trustees and governors are ‘committed to improving the school’ and have an accurate understanding of necessary improvements.
Areas to improve
- Teachers require better training and guidance to deliver the curriculum effectively, as some lack the ‘pedagogical understanding’ needed for consistent implementation.
- Staff must use effective assessment strategies to check pupil understanding before moving on, preventing gaps in subject knowledge.
- The approach to supporting pupils who struggle to read, particularly in key stage 4, is ‘underdeveloped’ and requires sharper focus and monitoring.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.0 |
| 2024/25 | 40.3 |
| 2025/26 | 41.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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