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Waterhead Academy
Huddersfield Road, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL4 3NY, Oldham
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
1.8 / 100
Bottom 2%
Better than 2% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Requires improvement
Pupils
947
Capacity
1,500
Ages
11–16
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
63%
Summary
With a GCSE Attainment 8 score of 34.0, the school is performing in the top 96% nationally, but it currently requires improvement according to Ofsted. Only 39% of students achieve a grade 4 or higher in English and Maths, which may be a concern for parents prioritizing academic success. Parent satisfaction appears low, with only 47% recommending the school, indicating potential areas for enhancement in community engagement and support.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 14 January 2025Quality Of Education: Requires improvementPersonal Development: GoodBehaviour & Attitudes: Requires improvementLeadership & Management: Requires improvement
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 34.0 | Bottom 4% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 39% | Bottom 3% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 22% | Bottom 5% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 43% | Bottom 32% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 14% | Bottom 32% UK |
Parent View (53 responses)
★★★★★2.4
Good range of extra-curricular
70%
My child is happy
62%
My child makes good progress
60%
Good range of subjects
60%
Progress is communicated
55%
My child feels safe
53%
School has high expectations
49%
I'd recommend this school
47%
School keeps me informed
43%
School supports development
42%
Behaviour is good
40%
School responds to concerns
32%
Pupil Ethnicity
White British42.1%
Asian Pakistani26.8%
Black African8.4%
White Other4.3%
Asian Other4.1%
Other2.4%
Black Other1.7%
Mixed W+Asian1.6%
Gypsy/Roma1.6%
Mixed Other1.5%
Mixed W+B Carib.1.3%
Asian Bangladeshi1.3%
Mixed W+B African1.0%
Asian Chinese1.0%
Asian Indian0.6%
Black Caribbean0.2%
Location
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53.55060, -2.07064 · OL4 3NY
School details
Local authorityOldham
RegionNorth West
URN144508
School typeAcademy sponsor led
Websitewww.waterheadacademy.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Waterhead Academy rated by Ofsted?
Waterhead Academy was rated "Requires improvement" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 14 January 2025.
Is Waterhead Academy a good school?
Waterhead Academy scores 1.8/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the bottom 2% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
What do parents say about Waterhead Academy?
Based on 53 Ofsted Parent View responses, Waterhead Academy receives a satisfaction score of 48% across all parent survey questions.
How do pupils perform at Waterhead Academy in GCSEs?
Waterhead Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 34.0. 39% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near OL4 3NY?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near OL4 3NY with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.