St Damian's RC Science College
Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8BH · Tameside · secondary school
Check the area around this school
1st of 16 secondary schools in Tameside 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 — 9.0/10 against 879 of them, against 8.1/10 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 67.9 · 89 | 30% | 2.67 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.24 · 68 | 25% | 1.70 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 56.0 · 87 | 10% | 0.87 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Damian's RC Science College overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in July 2023. In 2024/25, 60.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 55.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.24 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh, STEM Leaders, and Eco GIFT clubs, or play football, netball, cross country, indoor and outdoor athletics, volleyball, and basketball.
Getting in
The published school roll is 829 pupils against a stated capacity of 825. 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
With the roll exceeding capacity by 4, how does the school manage class sizes for new intakes? How does the STEM Leaders club support pupils in developing specific scientific skills? What support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores further?
What Ofsted said about St Damian's RC Science College
Overview
St Damian's RC Science College continues to be an outstanding school, providing a vibrant and academically stimulating environment where pupils thrive. Leaders maintain exceedingly high expectations for behaviour and achievement, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and personal development.
Strengths
- Pupils behave exceptionally well, work hard, and achieve highly, placing a high value on their education.
- Leaders have designed an exceptionally ambitious curriculum, ensuring pupils are exceptionally well prepared for their next steps.
- Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and use effective assessment strategies to help pupils acquire a rich and secure body of knowledge.
- Reading has a high profile, with well-structured literacy programmes and a ‘literacy hub’ promoting reading for pleasure.
- Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are fully integrated, very well supported, and achieve exceptionally well.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff adhering to a robust policy and maintaining close relationships with external agencies to support pupils at risk.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 52.8 |
| 2024/25 | 55.1 |
| 2025/26 | 56.0 |
| 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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