Wardle Academy
Rochdale, OL12 9RD · Rochdale · secondary school
4th of 11 secondary schools in Rochdale we can score, 13 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 — 3.4/10 against 826 of them, against 3.0/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 39.1 · 38 | 30% | 1.14 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.49 · 16 | 25% | 0.41 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 44.1 · 40 | 10% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. The school is rated Good by Ofsted (inspected 2022-12). In 2024/25, 39.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.49 in 2023/24, meaning 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 (3.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh award and Student Parliament. Sports include netball, football, rugby, trampolining, handball, rowing, cheerleading, and dance. Drama productions are staged, and trips are planned for Iceland and the Italian Alps in 2026.
Getting in. There are 1364 pupils in a school with 1200 places, leaving it over capacity by 164. The school is over its stated capacity, so places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the pressure of being 164 pupils over capacity? What support is available for pupils whose Progress 8 score is below the national benchmark? How are the 2026 trips funded for families?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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