Ofsted: Special Measures trending_up Places Available emoji_events #10 in Oldham public Top 43% UK

Waterhead Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr James Wilson

corporate_fareSOUTH PENNINE ACADEMIES

location_onOldham, OL4 3NY

language Visit Website phone 1616205859

verified

Ofsted

Special Measures

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,261

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in Oldham

#3,068 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Waterhead Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Oldham, serving ages 11-16.

article

School Summary

Waterhead Academy is an academy sponsor led in Oldham, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of SOUTH PENNINE ACADEMIES. The school has approximately 947 pupils on roll, of whom 52% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 34, placing the school #10 in Oldham and #3,068 of 3,216 nationally. 22.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 6.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Special Measures. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.6× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 7 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 18.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

22.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)6.6%

Entering EBacc42.90%

EBacc APS2.98

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.72

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38.30%

EBacc APS3

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.75

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS2.84

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.89

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc4%

EBacc APS2.7

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.5

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS3.02

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.88

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS2.83

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships2%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

ApprenticeshipsSP%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 January 2025

Inspection Report

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24 September 2024

Inspection Report

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18 October 2023

Inspection Report

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18 October 2022

Inspection Report

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03 April 2019

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-01-14

Special Measures S5 ReInspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2022-10-18

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Inadequate

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Inadequate

2019-04-03

Academy First Section 5 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-06-21

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

16.2%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

9.5%(90 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 947 pupils. During this period, there were 153 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 16.2%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	947	153	16.2%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	954	194	20.3%	7.8%	5
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,122	304	27.1%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,128	311	27.6%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,132	352	31.1%	8.2%	5
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,267	195	15.4%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,261	204	16.2%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,245	348	28.0%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,353	150	11.1%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,358	263	19.4%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,344	106	7.9%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,411	46	3.3%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,375	18	1.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,378	42	3.0%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,360	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,360	73	5.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,328	80	6.0%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,308	147	11.2%	3.1%	3
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,302	177	13.6%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,304	43	3.3%	3.8%	4
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,263	54	4.3%	3.4%	4
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,254	38	3.0%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,249	24	1.9%	3.7%	7
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,247	111	8.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	0	146	-	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	0	159	-	3.1%	3

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 81 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 55 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 54 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

60.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

52.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

12.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree18%

agree22%

disagree18%

strongly disagree34%

don't know8%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree18%

agree22%

disagree32%

strongly disagree26%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree16%

agree16%

disagree18%

strongly disagree30%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes36%

no64%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree17%

agree6%

disagree11%

strongly disagree67%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree24%

agree28%

disagree20%

strongly disagree22%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree24%

agree34%

disagree16%

strongly disagree26%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree16%

agree36%

disagree22%

strongly disagree26%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree26%

agree36%

disagree12%

strongly disagree16%

don't know10%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree28%

agree42%

disagree10%

strongly disagree6%

don't know14%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree20%

agree20%

disagree28%

strongly disagree22%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes46%

no54%

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Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Good

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Good

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Oldham

The Blue Coat CofE School

E-ACT the Oldham Academy North

The Crompton House Church of England Academy

North Chadderton School

Oasis Academy Oldham

Co-op Academy Failsworth