Waterhead Academy

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 16

Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Huddersfield Road, Oldham, OL4 3NYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Waterhead Academy is a secondary school in Oldham for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 126 schools in Oldham. It ranks 9th of 9 secondary schools in Oldham. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 14 January 2025, report published 12 February 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes: Requires improvement
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Requires improvement
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

259 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score34.0

34.0, 12.1 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths22%

22%, 23.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths39%

39%, 25.8 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc42.9%

42.9%, 2.4 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score2.98

2.98, 1.11 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

761 pupils on roll, with places for 1,500

Eligible for free school meals54.3%

54.3%, 27.8 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language36.9%

36.9%, 15.3 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support21.3%

21.3%, 6.5 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.6%

2.6%, 3.4 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Waterhead Academy

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Oasis Academy Leesbrook	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 41.5
Sapience Girls Academy	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 43.7
The Blue Coat CofE School	2 miles	Ofsted: Outstanding	Attainment 8: 59.1
Westwood Boys School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Not published
E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy	2 miles	Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding	Attainment 8: 38.7

School details

School type: Academy sponsor led
Sector: Academy
Trust: THE CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMIES TRUST
Age range: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Mrs Tracy Foy
Phone: 01616205859
Website: waterheadacademy.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Huddersfield Road, Oldham, OL4 3NY
Local authority: Oldham
URN: 144508

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.