North Chadderton School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE OAK TRUST

Chadderton Hall Road, Chadderton, Oldham, OL9 0BN

0161 624 9939 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 5 November 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%England 45% · 2024/25
9th highest of 12 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 21% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,524Room for 1,656 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,493 in 2019, 1,571 in 2021, 1,582 in 2022, 1,599 in 2023, 1,578 in 2024, 1,569 in 2025, 1,524 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1288 for 262 places, September 2026
4th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 74% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 5 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

100 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Oldham comparisons use the 10 of its 14 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 4 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.

StatementThis schoolOldhamEngland
My child is happy at this school
6th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham.
Higher than 17% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 84% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
6th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham.
Higher than 16% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71% 85% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
6th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham.
Higher than 14% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
54% 79% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 43 parents whose child had been bullied
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham.
Higher than 29% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
42% 52% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 78 parents who had raised a concern
6th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham.
Higher than 20% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
55% 69% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 25 parents of children with SEND
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham.
Higher than 7% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
32% 66% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
6th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham.
Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
65%said yes 81% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 6%). 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. Oldham figures pool parents at the Oldham 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.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

269 pupils in this year group.

32% — 5 points below the Oldham average, and 13 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOldhamEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 32% 37% 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. 43.8 42.3 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 3.7 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 40%This school 2023/24: 44%This school 2024/25: 32% This school England 45% 2022/23 40% 2023/24 44% 2024/25 32%

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.

278 pupils in this year group.

95% — 5 points above the Oldham average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 36%19%32%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolOldhamEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 95% 90% 92%
School sixth form 36% 13% 34%
Sixth form college 19% 35% 13%
Further education college 32% 35% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 3% 3%
Work 4% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%95%

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

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

89 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolOldhamEngland
Average A level grade C C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 10% 21% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 37% 51% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 30.9 32.3 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 27.0This school 2023/24: 34.5This school 2024/25: 30.9 This school England 35 2022/23 27.0 2023/24 34.5 2024/25 30.9

A level subjects, 2024/25

14 subjects, 176 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 29 0% 17% 19%
Sociology 28 0% 4% 20%
Business Studies:Single 20 5% 15% 16%
Economics 16 0% 0% 26%
Mathematics 14 0% 0% 40%
Chemistry 11 0% 0% 30%
Biology 10 0% 20% 27%
English Literature 10 0% 20% 23%
Geography 8 0% 0% 23%
Physics 8 0% 0% 31%
English Language 7 0% 29% 13%
Accounting / Finance 6 0% 0% 15%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), History.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

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

127 students in this year group.

86% — 11 points above the Oldham average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOldhamEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 86% 75% 79%
Apprenticeship 10% 7% 7%
Work 23% 20% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%86%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

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

89 students in this year group.

60% — 5 points below the Oldham average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOldhamEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 60% 65% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 10% 13% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
61%60%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 Oldham. 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 offered262
Families who put it first288
Of those, offered a place237 (82%)
Families who listed it at all779

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 1.1

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Oldham

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 25 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolOldhamEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
10th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.3% 37.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 58% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.3% 2.9%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.6% 12.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
17.8% 27.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
7th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Lower than 54% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.1% 7.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Lower than 63% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
20.8% 21.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Lower than 70% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.3 17.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Lower than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.5% 7.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils 0.25% 0.24% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
6th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 47% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.7 16.6 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.4 11.1 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham.
Higher than 91% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
25.1% 16.9%* 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is North Chadderton School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 5 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did North Chadderton School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 13 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend North Chadderton School?

65% of the 100 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend North Chadderton School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is North Chadderton School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 288 families put North Chadderton School as their first choice for 262 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 237 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.