Oldham
Waterhead Academy
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 34.0 is significantly below the national average. Progress 8 and pupil context may still indicate positive value-added.
- 34.0
- Attainment 8
- 35%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2024/2025
- 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
Admissions and catchment
Council allocation figures
Add a postcode to see where you would sit against past cut-offs.
We have not collected Oldham council’s allocation figures for this school yet. We only show a verdict when we can cite the council’s published figures. Check Oldham’s allocation booklet, or the school’s website.
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)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 259 | 34.0 | — | 34.7% | 42.9% | 3.0 |
| 2023/2024 | 274 | 33.9 | -0.72 | 40.1% | 38.3% | 3.0 |
| 2022/2023 | 282 | 33.1 | -0.75 | 30.0% | 31.0% | 2.8 |
| 2021/2022 | 277 | 33.4 | -0.89 | 32.0% | 4.0% | 2.7 |
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 |
| Latest pupils | 259 |
| FSM eligible | 49.6% |
Contact and identifiers
Huddersfield Road, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL4 3NY
www.waterheadacademy.co.ukView local authority page1616205859| 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 | 2024/2025 |
| 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 |