Oldham
Waterhead Academy
GCSE results 2026: every Oldham school ranked · how England did
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 37.9 is significantly below the national average. Progress 8 and pupil context may still indicate positive value-added.
- 37.9
- Attainment 8
- 27%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made below-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely below zero.
- -0.72
- Progress 8
- [-0.91, -0.54]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 83 | 61 | 61 (100%) | 199 |
| September 2025 | 117 | 82 | 82 (100%) | 153 |
| September 2024 | 150 | 96 | 95 (99%) | 212 |
| September 2023 | 148 | 117 | 117 (100%) | 230 |
| September 2022 | 194 | 146 | 146 (100%) | 280 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Oldham’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 181 | 37.9 | — | 26.5% | 7.7% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 259 | 34.0 | — | 22.0% | — | 42.9% | 3.0 |
| 2023/2024 | 274 | 33.9 | -0.72 | 22.6% | — | 38.3% | 3.0 |
| 2022/2023 | 282 | 33.1 | -0.75 | 18.1% | — | 30.9% | 2.8 |
| 2021/2022 | 277 | 33.4 | -0.89 | — | — | 4.0% | 2.7 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Oldham for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 144508 |
| Local authority | Oldham |
| Region | North West |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy sponsor led |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Principal Tracy Foy |
| Trust | SOUTH PENNINE ACADEMIES |
| Admissions | — |
| Religious character | None |
| Postcode | OL4 3NY |
| Pupils | 947 |
| FSM eligible | 49.6% |
Contact and identifiers
Huddersfield Road, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL4 3NY
www.waterheadacademy.co.uk1616205859| DfE number | 4004 |
| UKPRN | 10063182 |
| Opened | 1 Sept 2016 |
| GIAS updated | 13 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 12 Feb 2025 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | Special Measures S5 ReInspection |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 14 Jan 2025 |
| Publication date | 12 Feb 2025 |