School Chooser

Northmoor Academy

Primary · ages 2-11MixedAcademy346 pupilsNursery Free breakfast clubOldham
School Chooser Score
26
Below
similar schools
Likely range 15 to 45
Out of 100. Better than 31% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, September 2024
Reached the expected level at 1153%England 63%
Attendance93.0%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families49%Far more than most schools
Places284 spare346 pupils, 630 places
Pupils per teacher23.2School workforce census

Northmoor Academy is a sponsored academy in Oldham for boys and girls aged 2 to 11. It has 346 pupils and room for 630. About 49 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 26 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 31% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.

Alderson Street, Oldham, OL9 6AQ0161 260 0482Ms Rachel Beesley executive principalAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 24 September 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

56 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1153%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level4%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score102.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score104.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 62%62%20172018: 29%29%20182019: 61%61%20192023: 45%45%20232024: 44%44%20242025: 53%53%2025
Since 2017: -9%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017OldhamEngland
Pupils tested565556463813
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths53%44%45%61%29%62%59%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths4%2%2%4%0%0%4%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score102.0101.0102.0101.0100.0101.0104.5105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score104.0102.0103.0105.0105.0104.0103.8104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score105.0105.0105.0107.0106.0104.0105.0105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard59%49%57%61%29%69%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard68%67%71%80%63%77%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)76%60%45%72%68%69%
Reading progressReading progress score+0.7-0.6-1.9+7.1
Maths progressMaths progress score+2.9+2.3+2.9+5.9
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged50%35%31%68%12%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged56%57%59%56%43%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 3 of the 4 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
50%56%
Gap 6 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
58%48%
Gap 10 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
53%53%
No gapEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%4%
Gap 4 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Plenty of spare places331 pupils for 630 places, 2024/25
53% full

299 places were empty (48% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 20% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

In 2025 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2025. Every child who applied got a place.

EntryPlacesHow far the last child livedSource
2025 Primary60all offeredLA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll346Census January 2026
Places63055% full
Pupils from low-income families43%49% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English75%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support21%73 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%15 pupils with a plan
Average class size21.614 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils14%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)49%£230,950 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls180 / 166
White British pupils7%

Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 13 pupils and a SEN unit with 13 pupils, for autism, speech, language and communication.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Oldham with autism provision.

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 24.7 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 28.5 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (45), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (20), Autistic spectrum disorder (11), emotional and mental health (8), Hearing impairment (1), Moderate learning difficulty (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll346365374407454460
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals43%43%45%46%39%35%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language75%73%77%80%87%89%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support16%21%17%16%14%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans4%3%2%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.0% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance93.0%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school22.3%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.32024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.1%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence7.0%6.3%7.8%6.4%4.5%4.8%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.9%4.1%4.8%4.0%2.5%3.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.1%2.2%2.9%2.4%2.0%1.6%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence22.3%20.2%27.9%22.6%12.1%15.4%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.30.30.00.00.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers14.1full-time equivalent, 16 people
Pupils per teacher23.2Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants15.4full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£52,301
Teachers who left in the year24%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher9.22024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,896England £7,128. Total £2.7m
Income per pupil£7,962England £7,587. Total £2.7m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,183England £3,405
Money in reserve35%A lot put by: £951k, £2,757 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£23kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,896spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m112 months to June 2026, mostly other theft
Local crime rate0 per 1,000 people100% lower than the England average
Typical house price£208,000Oldham
Nearest bus stop160 mRochdale Road, 38 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Richmond AcademyAcademy400 m389Good 202314Compare
St Hilda's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England450 m377Good 202437Compare
Westwood AcademyAcademy450 m242Outstanding 202489Compare
St Patrick's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyAcademy660 m166Requires improvement 20231Compare
Holy Cross Ceva Primary SchoolChurch of England790 m412Not inspected44Compare
St Thomas CofE Primary SchoolAcademy0.6 miles491Good 201923Compare
Burnley Brow Community SchoolCouncil0.7 miles473Good 202377Compare
Beever Primary SchoolCouncil0.7 miles221Good 202220Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Northmoor Academy with the 48 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats31%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 26 is 17 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 4 · middle 43 · highest 96100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 48 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Northmoor Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Westwood AcademyAcademy450 m242Outstanding 202489Compare
Ashton West End Primary AcademyAcademy4.2 miles432Good 202332Compare
St John's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England6.9 miles455Good 202045Compare
Mauldeth Road Primary SchoolCouncil8.4 miles410Good 202366Compare
Essa Primary AcademyFree school13.4 miles387No overall grade 202440Compare
Brandwood Primary SchoolCouncil13.7 miles463Good 202367Compare
Haslam Park Primary SchoolCouncil13.9 miles306Good 202375Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 26 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 26% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 15 to 45. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%below
-0.17
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 56 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 2.0 years old
Progress pupils make20%above
+0.07
DfE progress measure; 56 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.02
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.13
2024/25; 328 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.10
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 56 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Northmoor Academy a good school?

The figures are weak. Northmoor Academy scores 26 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 31% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 15 to 45, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Northmoor Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Northmoor Academy not judged at its last full inspection on 24 September 2024.

How good are Northmoor Academy's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 53% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 4% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Northmoor Academy have?

346 pupils aged 2 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 630 places, so it is 55% full.

Is Northmoor Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 299 places were empty in 2024/25 (48% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Northmoor Academy?

Pupils were in school 93.0% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 22% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Northmoor Academy?

The average class had 21.6 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 14% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Northmoor Academy have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has sen unit for autism, speech, language and communication. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

Does Northmoor Academy have a breakfast club?

Yes. It is on the government's free breakfast club programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Alderson Street, Oldham, OL9 6AQ
Telephone
0161 260 0482
Executive Principal
Ms Rachel Beesley
Free breakfast club
Yes: on the government's programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school (listed since September 2026).
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 2-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
The Harmony Trust Ltd (17 schools)
Local authority
Oldham
Ward
Coldhurst
Constituency
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2016 (new provision)
URN
142412 · LAESTAB 3532016 · UKPRN 10057888

Where these figures come from