SchoolScoresThe Brian Clarke CofE Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Church of England
Part of CRANMER EDUCATION TRUST
Bloom Street, Shaw, Oldham, OL9 6BP
0161 785 5085 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 24 June 2025, 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
88 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.
| Statement | This school | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham. Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 84% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham. Higher than 80% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 85% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham. Higher than 91% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 79% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 33 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham. Higher than 88% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 52% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 61 parents who had raised a concern Joint 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham. Higher than 82% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 69% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 25 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham. Higher than 30% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 66% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oldham. Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91%said yes | 81% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 12%). 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.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 2 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 224 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 458 |
| Of those, offered a place | 146 (32%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 1,241 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 2.1 · 2025: 2.0 · 2026: 2.0
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.
This is a 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 41.5% | 37.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.9% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5% | 12.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.7% | 27.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 96% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.7% | 7.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 21.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 78% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.3 | 17.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 72% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.2% | 7.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 11th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 18% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.1 | 16.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5 | 11.1 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 11th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 31% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Oldham Sixth Form College 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C average A level grade
- Westwood High 0.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 0% A*/A at A level
- Darul Hadis Latifiah Northwest 0.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Ellen House Secondary 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Westwood Boys School 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- The Blue Coat CofE School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 74% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hulme Grammar School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 32% A*/A at A level
- Sapience Girls Academy 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- E-ACT the Oldham Academy North 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), improved significantly 2025 · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Brian Clarke CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 24 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend The Brian Clarke CofE Academy?
91% of the 88 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Brian Clarke CofE Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Brian Clarke CofE Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 458 families put The Brian Clarke CofE Academy as their first choice for 224 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 146 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 149137.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.