SchoolScoresThe Hathershaw College
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE PINNACLE LEARNING TRUST
Bellfield Avenue, Hathershaw, Oldham, OL8 3EP
0161 770 8555 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 14 April 2026 , published 7 June 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
213 pupils in this year group.
27% — 10 points below the Oldham average, and 19 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 27% | 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. | 39.3 | 42.3 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 3.7 | 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.
211 pupils in this year group.
87% — 3 points below the Oldham average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 6% | 13% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 52% | 35% | 13% |
| Further education college | 27% | 35% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 87% |
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 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 200 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 167 |
| Of those, offered a place | 158 (95%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 403 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 0.9 · 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.
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 | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 48.9% | 37.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.4% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 70% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.5% | 12.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 48.0% | 27.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 62% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.6% | 7.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 46% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 24.2% | 21.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 44% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1 | 17.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Lower than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 7.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.48% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 29% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8 | 16.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 12th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.0 | 11.1 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Oldham. Higher than 46% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5% | 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
- Hulme Grammar School 0.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 32% A*/A at A level
- Oasis Academy Oldham 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- Sapience Girls Academy 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Oldham Sixth Form College 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C average A level grade
- Darul Hadis Latifiah Northwest 1.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Westwood Boys School 1.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- The Brian Clarke CofE Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Westwood High 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 0% A*/A at A level
- Oasis Academy Leesbrook 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Blue Coat CofE School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 74% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Hathershaw College's Ofsted rating?
The Hathershaw College was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 14 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Hathershaw College do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 27% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 19 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Hathershaw College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 167 families put The Hathershaw College as their first choice for 200 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 158 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 137039.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.