SchoolScoresMatthew Moss High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of WATERGROVE TRUST
Matthew Moss Lane, Marland, Rochdale, OL11 3LU
01706 632910 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 April 2018. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 25 April 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
85 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Rochdale comparisons use the 3 of its 9 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 6 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 17% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 71% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 11% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 66% | 76% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 14% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 66% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 57 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 29% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 37% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 77 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 16% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 58% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochdale. Higher than 14% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56%said yes | 63% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Rochdale figures pool parents at the Rochdale schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
254 pupils in this year group.
34% — about the same as the Rochdale average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 34% | 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. | 39.4 | 40.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.1 |
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.
221 pupils in this year group.
88% — 3 points below the Rochdale average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 88% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | Not published | 3% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 45% | 32% | 13% |
| Further education college | 41% | 48% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | Not published | 2% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 88% |
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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 227 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 227 |
| Of those, offered a place | 204 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 627 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.0
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 12 places for hearing impairment. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 43.7% | 39.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.1% | 3.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.6% | 14.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 47.2% | 25.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.4% | 9.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 45% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 24.4% | 26.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 24.0 | 31.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.6% | 11.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.41% | 0.58% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 35% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.1 | 16.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6 | 10.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 77% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 19.1% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Oulder Hill Leadership Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Beech House School 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Rochdale Sixth Form College 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B- average A level grade
- Newhouse Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Falinge Park High School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed with concerns 2023 · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kingsway Park High School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), some aspects weaker 2025 · 18% grade 5+ English and maths
- Darul Madinah Rochdale Ltd 2.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022, before conversion) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Rochdale Islamic Academy 2.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Matthew Moss High School's Ofsted rating?
Matthew Moss High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 April 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 25 April 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Matthew Moss High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 34% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 11 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Matthew Moss High School?
56% of the 85 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Matthew Moss High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Matthew Moss High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 227 families put Matthew Moss High School as their first choice for 227 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 204 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147369.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.