SchoolScoresIndependent school guide

St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic

Part of ST TERESA OF CALCUTTA CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST

Shaw Road, Thornham, Rochdale, OL16 4RX

01706 647761 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 29 March 2022, before conversion
Grade 5 or above in English and maths29%England 45% · 2024/25
Pupils1,023Room for 1,200
First-choice applications per place0.8103 for 127 places, September 2026

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 29 March 2022. 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

224 pupils in this year group.

29% — 6 points below the Rochdale average, and 16 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolRochdaleEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 29% 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. 39.7 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

Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time

2022/232023/242024/25
Not publishedNot published29%

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.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 105845), before it changed to its current form.

90% — about the same as the Rochdale average, and 3 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 30%54%
England 36%13%35%
MeasureThis schoolRochdaleEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 90% 91% 93%
School sixth form 0% 4% 36%
Sixth form college 30% 33% 13%
Further education college 54% 45% 35%
Apprenticeship 4% 4% 3%
Work 1% 4% 4%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2023/24 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered127
Families who put it first103
Of those, offered a place103 (100%)
Families who listed it at all352

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.8

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 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
 43.8% 39.2%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
 2.5% 3.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
 19.1% 14.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
 29.5% 25.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
 10.6% 9.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
 32.7% 26.1%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
 105.7 31.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
 25.8% 11.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded24 pupils 2.27% 0.58% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
 15.7 16.1 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
 11.1 10.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
 25.3% 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 St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?

St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 March 2022.

How did St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 29% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points below the England average of 45%.

Is St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 103 families put St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 127 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 103 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.