Harwood Park Primary School
Heywood, OL10 1DG · Rochdale · primary school
Check the area around this school
40th of 55 primary schools in Rochdale we can score, 69 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.2/10 against 1,414 of them, against 2.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 49.0 · 17 | 40% | 0.69 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 2.0 · 24 | 25% | 0.59 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Harwood Park Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 49.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 2.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. 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 (2.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2024.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 291 pupils against a stated capacity of 330. 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 who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific activities take place during the after-school club? How does the school monitor progress for pupils who have not reached the higher standard?
What Ofsted said about Harwood Park Primary School
Overview
Harwood Park Primary School is described as a "calm and welcoming place where pupils achieve well." The report highlights that pupils are happy, behave well, and make a "tangible contribution to the smooth running of the school" through various roles of responsibility. The curriculum is praised as "ambitious and well thought out," ensuring pupils are "well prepared for the next stages of their education."
Strengths
- The curriculum structure successfully supports teachers to cater for differing prior knowledge, helping pupils build "securely on their prior knowledge."
- Reading is "at the heart of the curriculum," with staff delivering the phonics programme to a "consistently high standard."
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are "well supported by staff," enabling most to access the curriculum successfully.
- Staff deal with minor squabbles "quickly and well," and learning is "rarely disrupted by poor behaviour."
- Governors work closely with leaders to improve education quality while ensuring staff workload is "not adversely affected."
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure systems to identify the needs of pupils with SEND result in providing support "quickly and accurately," as some needs are not identified in a timely manner.
- The school should review its systems for identifying and supporting pupils who do not attend school as regularly as they should, as these pupils "miss out on important learning."
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 59% |
| 2023/24 | 52% |
| 2024/25 | 49% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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