Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College

Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic/Church of England

Pot Hall, Wilton Grove, Heywood, OL10 2AA

01706 360607 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card6 expectedSafeguarding met · 31 March 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 12 state secondary schools in Rochdale.
Higher than 51% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils768Room for 750 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 682 in 2019, 736 in 2021, 750 in 2022, 750 in 2023, 749 in 2024, 763 in 2025, 768 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.3181 for 142 places, September 2026
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 85% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 31 March 2026 , published 22 June 2026.

In short: 6 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

112 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school
Higher than 74% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Higher than 78% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Higher than 82% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 18 parents whose child had been bullied
Higher than 48% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
44% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 91 parents who had raised a concern
Higher than 85% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
84% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND
Higher than 79% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Higher than 70% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90%said yes 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 15%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

149 pupils in this year group.

44% — 9 points above the Rochdale average, and 1 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolRochdaleEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 44% 35% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 43.4 40.6 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.6 3.5 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 48%This school 2023/24: 52%This school 2024/25: 44% This school England 45% 2022/23 48% 2023/24 52% 2024/25 44%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

148 pupils in this year group.

96% — 5 points above the Rochdale average, and 4 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 28%57%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolRochdaleEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 96% 91% 92%
School sixth form 2% 3% 34%
Sixth form college 28% 32% 13%
Further education college 57% 48% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 3% 3%
Work 4% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%96%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Rochdale. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered142
Families who put it first181
Of those, offered a place135 (75%)
Families who listed it at all424

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.3

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Roman Catholic/Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Rochdale

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolRochdaleEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
23.5% 39.2%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.3% 3.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.3% 14.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.1% 25.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Lower than 66% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.5% 9.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.1% 26.1%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Lower than 38% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
20.2 31.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Lower than 38% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.3% 11.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.26% 0.58% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 36% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.2 16.1 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.9 10.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Heywood.
Higher than 5% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
5.1% 14.1%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College's Ofsted rating?

Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 31 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 44% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 1 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College?

90% of the 112 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 181 families put Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College as their first choice for 142 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 135 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.