SchoolScoresWardle Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of WATERGROVE TRUST
Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale, OL12 9RD
01706 373911 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 December 2017.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 20 October 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
233 pupils in this year group.
39% — 4 points above the Rochdale average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 39% | 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. | 44.1 | 40.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.9 | 3.5 | 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.
226 pupils in this year group.
96% — 5 points above the Rochdale average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 96% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | Not published | 3% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 38% | 32% | 13% |
| Further education college | 50% | 48% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 2% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 96% |
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 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 264 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 259 |
| Of those, offered a place | 251 (97%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 552 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.0
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Rochdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.9% | 39.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.6% | 3.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5% | 14.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 25.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 39% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.0% | 9.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 32% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 27.1% | 26.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 31.4 | 31.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Lower than 28% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0% | 11.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.37% | 0.58% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6 | 16.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.8 | 10.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Rochdale. Higher than 24% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 9.2% | 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
- Rochdale Islamic Academy 1.5 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Rochdale Islamic Academy 1.5 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024)
- Darul Madinah Rochdale Ltd 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- Falinge Park High School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed with concerns 2023 · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Rochdale Sixth Form College 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B- average A level grade
- Whitworth Community High School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 63% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hollingworth Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kingsway Park High School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), some aspects weaker 2025 · 18% grade 5+ English and maths
- Beech House School 2.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Oulder Hill Leadership Academy 3.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Wardle Academy's Ofsted rating?
Wardle Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 December 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 20 October 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Wardle Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 39% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Wardle Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 259 families put Wardle Academy as their first choice for 264 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 251 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 140055.
- 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.