Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Sutherland Road, Darnhill, Heywood, OL10 3PDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is a primary school in Heywood for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 105 schools in Rochdale. It ranks 8th of 8 primary schools in Heywood. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 12 September 2023, report published 16 October 2023

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

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 September 2023

Pupils are happy coming to this welcoming and caring school. The school is building positive relationships with families across the school community. Pupils feel safe. They know that staff will listen to them and give them the support that they need. Pupils praise the care offered by the school. Children get off to a flying start in the early years. The school is ambitious for the achievement of all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The majority of pupils achieve well in most subjects. Pupils are polite and have good manners. They speak confidently with visitors. They are proud to take on leadership roles, for example as members of the school council. The school deals with any bullying effectively. There are high expectations for behaviour. Classrooms are calm. This allows pupils to do their best in lessons. Pupils benefit from a wide range of high-quality opportunities that enhance their learning and support their personal development. The school has made many links with outside organisations and this helps to support its vision to raise aspirations. Pupils participate in interesting trips and visits. There is also a wide range of clubs, including arts, crafts and numerous sports.

What the school should improve

  • In some foundation subjects, the school's curriculum development is not as far forward as in others. This means pupils' knowledge in these subjects is not as secure as leaders would wish. The school and trust should sharpen aspects of teaching, which will help pupils to know more and remember more over time.
  • Across some foundation-subject curriculums, teachers' subject knowledge and confidence are not secure. Consequently, sometimes learning activities do not provide pupils with opportunities to deepen and remember their knowledge sufficiently well. The school and trust need to support teachers in improving their subject knowledge and confidence so that teaching enables pupils to know more and remember more.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

29 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths48%

48%, 14 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score101

101, 5 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score99

99, 6 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score101

101, 4 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

202 pupils on roll, with places for 220

Eligible for free school meals39.6%

39.6%, 13.1 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language28.2%

28.2%, 6.6 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support21.8%

21.8%, 7 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan7.4%

7.4%, 1.4 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Heap Bridge Village Primary School0.4 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School0.5 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Woodland Community Primary School0.7 milesOfsted: Good54% met the expected standard
Fairfield Community Primary School0.9 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
East Ward Community Primary School1 mileReport card: Expected standard to strong standard62% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
ST TERESA OF CALCUTTA CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Hollie Aspinall
Address
Sutherland Road, Darnhill, Heywood, OL10 3PD
Local authority
Rochdale
URN
147941

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.