Waterhead Academy
Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Ages 11–16 · Oldham
Waterhead Academy is a secondary school in Oldham for ages 11–16 (academy sponsor led). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Not judged, from the inspection on 14 January 2025. Oldham has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2022 to 2026 entry.
Open on the map Unlock with a pass · £9.99
Key facts
- Address
- Huddersfield Road, Oldham, OL4 3NY
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–16
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Council
- Oldham
- Pupils on roll
- 761 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 54.3% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 15.1
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Not judged Inspected 14 January 2025
Strengths
- “Most pupils are happy to be part of this very welcoming school community.”
- “Pupils from a wide range of backgrounds mix well with each other.”
- “Staff care for pupils’ well-being and safety.”
To improve
- “However, pupils learn better in some lessons than in others.”
- “This is because the curriculum is not delivered consistently well.”
- “As a result, pupils do not achieve as well as they should.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 13 February 2025 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 22% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 34 | 46 |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 61 first-preference applications, 83 offers in total, 61 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Last distance offered and catchment
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- Last distance offered for Year 7 2022 to 2026, as Oldham published it, drawn on the map
- Earlier years of applications and offers
- Earlier years of exam results
- Where pupils go after they leave
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Oldham.
- Oasis Academy Leesbrook 1.2 mi Good Last distance published
- The Blue Coat CofE School 1.5 mi Outstanding Last distance published
- E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy 1.8 mi Not judged Last distance published
- The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy 2.2 mi Not judged Last distance published
- E-ACT the Oldham Academy North 2.3 mi Improved significantly Last distance published
- The Hathershaw College 2.6 mi No Ofsted grade
- The Crompton House Church of England Academy 2.6 mi School remains Good
- Saddleworth School 2.8 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published