SchoolScoresNorden Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE HARMONY TRUST LTD
Shawfield Lane, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7RQ
01706 641013 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 October 2012. 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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 30 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
53 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 105774), before it changed to its current form.
53% — 5 points below the Rochdale average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 53% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 72% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 60% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 70% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 39 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 24 |
| Of those, offered a place | 24 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 139 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.6
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 a SEN unit with 22 places for speech, language and communication needs; Autism. 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 38th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.0% | 32.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 22nd highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 24th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.9% | 14.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 27th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 60% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.5% | 27.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 25th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 29% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 16th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 42% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.1% | 14.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 35th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 37th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 22nd highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 47% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.4 | 21.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 36th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 15% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.5 | 9.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 29th highest of 41 state primary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 24% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 12.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools
- Whittaker Moss Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Caldershaw Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024, before conversion) · 90% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bamford Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meanwood Community Nursery and Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Spotland Primary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2024, before conversion)
- Shawclough Community Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Primary School, Bamford 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Tonacliffe Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Healey Foundation Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Norden Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Norden Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 October 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Norden Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Norden Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 24 families put Norden Primary Academy as their first choice for 39 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 24 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 151320.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.