Great Howarth School
Great Howarth Road, Rochdale, OL12 9HJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Great Howarth School is a special school in Rochdale for ages 7 to 18. It is one of the 105 schools in Rochdale. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 May 2024, report published 25 June 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 8 May 2024
Pupils feel safe and happy at Great Howarth School. Many pupils come to this school following a considerable period of time struggling to engage with education. Here, pupils build strong relationships with staff. Pupils appreciate how their individual needs are at the centre of the school's decisions. Parents and carers speak highly of the positive difference that the school has made to their child's well-being. The school has high expectations for all pupils, including students in the sixth form. Skilled staff ensure that pupils receive support to regulate their feelings when needed. This helps them to be able to settle to their work. Most pupils achieve well. Pupils behave well. They move around school sensibly and show respect for adults and one another. The school's clear routines help pupils to manage their behaviour effectively. Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities to enrich their learning. They visit places of worship and museums to help them to understand the wider world. Pupils enjoy artistic, musical and dramatic experiences which help to develop their talents and interests. Pupils are proud when they are elected to represent their class on the school council.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, the curriculum does not identify the knowledge that pupils will learn in sufficient detail. As a result, some pupils' learning is variable in these subjects. The school should ensure that the curriculum clearly identifies the knowledge that pupils will learn.
- The school's checks on how well the curriculum is delivered in some subjects are not specific enough. This prevents the school from making further improvements to the curriculum in these subjects, if necessary. The school should ensure that the checks that they make identify where the curriculum is working well and where improvements are required.
- At times, pupils do not receive enough information about their next steps in education, employment or training. This means that some pupils are less able to make informed choices about their next steps. The school should ensure that pupils receive appropriate careers education, information, advice and guidance.
Pupil numbers and mix
35 pupils on roll, with places for 75
Schools near Great Howarth School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 2.2 |
| Springside | 0.6 miles | Report card: Strong standard | 0% met the expected standard |
| Whitehall Academy | 1 mile | Report card: Expected standard | Not published |
| Healey Learning Centre | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Willow View School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 7 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Catherine Proud
- Phone
- 01706631804
- Address
- Great Howarth Road, Rochdale, OL12 9HJ
- Local authority
- Rochdale
- URN
- 135753
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.