Oulder Hill Leadership Academy
Rochdale, OL11 5EF · Rochdale · secondary school
Check the area around this school
2nd 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 — 7.2/10 against 606 of them, against 5.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 50.6 · 64 | 46% | 2.94 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.11 · 42 | 38% | 1.61 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.8 · 49 | 15% | 0.75 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Oulder Hill Leadership Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 46.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.11 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,152 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8 above the national median?
What Ofsted said about Oulder Hill Leadership Academy
Overview
Oulder Hill Leadership Academy is described as a “harmonious and welcoming school community” founded on a “culture of respect.” The report highlights that pupils are “considerate and kind,” contributing to a “calm and orderly” environment where they feel safe and valued. Since joining its multi-academy trust, the school has taken “effective action to improve the quality of education,” with most pupils achieving highly in the majority of subjects.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate strong behaviour, conducting themselves well and valuing the school’s rules and routines.
- The curriculum is “logically ordered” with “ambitious” subject content, and teachers possess “strong subject knowledge.”
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) has been “greatly strengthened,” allowing them to learn well alongside peers.
- Safeguarding processes are “rigorous,” and attendance has “rapidly increased.”
- Pupils develop confidence through a wide range of extra-curricular activities and opportunities to serve the local community.
Areas to improve
- Some teachers do not use agreed learning strategies effectively, meaning some pupils do not “embed their learning as securely as they could.”
- Assessment strategies are not always used effectively to “identify and rectify any gaps and misconceptions in pupils’ knowledge,” impacting future learning.
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 | 42.9 |
| 2024/25 | 44.4 |
| 2025/26 | 45.8 |
| 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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