Healey Learning Centre

  • Special
  • Independent
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted: Good

Unit 16, Hollow Works, Shawclough Road, Rochdale, OL12 6LNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Healey Learning Centre is a special school in Rochdale for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 105 schools in Rochdale. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 23 April 2025, report published 19 May 2025

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 April 2025

Positive relationships and mutual respect are at the heart of everything that this school does. Pupils appreciate that staff take the time to get to know them. Pupils develop a trusting rapport with staff which helps them to feel happy and safe. Despite disrupted and often negative experiences of education previously, pupils flourish here. Their attendance typically improves considerably when they join this school. This helps pupils to meet the school's high expectations for their achievement. Pupils benefit from the meticulous thought that is given to promoting their personal development. The school's ethos, the 'Apex way', prioritises supporting and inspiring pupils to flourish and succeed. This ethos is threaded through every aspect of school life. It informs a carefully tailored programme that helps pupils to rapidly develop their self-esteem and resilience. Parents and carers said that this school has given their children a new lease of life. Many described it as 'a lifeline'. As pupils grow in confidence, they begin to recognise and celebrate their successes, big and small. Pupils quickly come to take pride in behaving and learning well. Class rewards encourage them to champion the positive behaviour of their peers. Pupils are delighted to add their 'catch me being good' cards to the class collection.

What the school should improve

  • In a few subjects, the school has not clearly defined the important knowledge that it wants pupils to know and remember. This makes it difficult for teachers to emphasise this knowledge when they design learning activities and make checks on pupils' learning. The school should clarify the essential knowledge that pupils should acquire in these subjects so that teachers can help pupils to build a secure body of knowledge over time.

Pupil numbers and mix

34 pupils on roll, with places for 70

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Healey Learning Centre

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Whitehall Academy0.7 milesReport card: Expected standardNot published
Willow View School0.9 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Redwood1 mileOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 1.1
Springside1 mileReport card: Strong standard0% met the expected standard
Great Howarth School1 mileOfsted: GoodNot published

School details

School type
Other independent special school
Sector
Independent
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mr Robert Cochrane
Address
Unit 16, Hollow Works, Shawclough Road, Rochdale, OL12 6LN
Local authority
Rochdale
URN
150845

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.