School Chooser

St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademyChurch of England444 pupilsNurseryRochdale
School Chooser Score
52
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 34 to 70
Out of 100. Better than 33% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedAs expected teachingOfsted report card, March 2026
Reached the expected level at 1176%England 63%
Attendance94.8%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families20%A bit fewer than most schools
Parents would recommend86%51 Parent View responses
PlacesFull444 pupils, 360 places

St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery is a converter academy in Rochdale for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 444 pupils, 84 more than it has places for. About 20 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 53 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 33% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in March 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Union Road, Rochdale, OL12 9QA01706 378991standrewsce.rochdale.sch.ukMrs Judith Rainford headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 31 March 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
As expected
Achievement
As expected
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
As expected
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
As expected
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
As expected
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
As expected
Early years
As expected
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
14 January 2022UngradedSchool remains Good

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

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

Reached the expected level at 1176%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level9%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score105.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score106.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 53%53%20172018: 80%80%20182019: 54%54%20192023: 73%73%20232024: 75%75%20242025: 76%76%2025
Since 2017: +23%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017†RochdaleEngland
Pupils tested585960503030
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths76%75%73%54%80%53%60%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths9%3%5%6%3%7%4%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score105.0105.0104.0101.0105.0104.0104.3105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score106.0105.0105.0105.0105.0103.0103.8104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score107.0106.0107.0107.0106.0105.0105.1105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard81%80%82%58%90%70%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard84%80%83%92%90%63%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)78%78%82%78%83%70%
Reading progressReading progress score-0.9-0.6+2.2+1.3
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.8+3.1+2.3+0.0
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged59%70%53%39%60%38%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged83%77%83%67%90%71%

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.

† These results are for St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Dearnley, the school this one replaced in September 2017. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

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. 1 of the 3 gaps is 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
59%83%
Gap 24 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
69%83%
Gap 14 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
12%9%
Gap 3 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. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Nearly full406 pupils for 420 places, 2024/25
97% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Rochdale council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

What parents say

Would recommend the school86%England 87%
My child is happy here94%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe92%
Positive overall80%
My child is happy at this school
94%England 89%
My child feels safe at this school
92%England 90%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
82%England 83%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
18% yesEngland 18%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
22%England 50%
My child gets the right support to learn well
82%England 85%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
18% yesEngland 26%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
78%England 71%
The school communicates well with me
79%England 80%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
71%England 69%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
82%England 82%
I would recommend this school
86%England 87%
Overall view of the school is positive
80%England 82%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 51 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.

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 roll444Census January 2026
Places360123% full
Pupils from low-income families19%20% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English6%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support12%55 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan2%9 pupils with a plan
Average class size28.815 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils20%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)19%£114,700 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls220 / 224
White British pupils82%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 27.8 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 30.3 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (21), emotional and mental health (18), language and communications needs (13), Autistic spectrum disorder (5), Hearing impairment (3), Specific learning difficulty (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll444434441451445459
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals19%17%20%22%21%20%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language6%6%3%5%6%7%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support11%11%7%8%7%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%2%2%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

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

Attendance94.8%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school15.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.52024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.3%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence5.2%5.7%5.6%6.8%4.3%4.5%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.0%4.0%4.1%5.0%3.3%3.3%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.3%1.7%1.5%1.7%1.0%1.3%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence15.0%14.7%14.8%19.7%9.3%12.3%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.57.01.61.11.7
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00001

Staff and money

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

Teachers20.0full-time equivalent, 21 people
Pupils per teacher21.7Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers95%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants14.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£52,614
Teachers who left in the year15%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher3.22024/25

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£5,770England £7,128. Total £2.5m
Income per pupil£6,333England £7,587. Total £2.7m
Spent on teachers per pupil£2,963England £3,405
Money in reserve14%A healthy amount put by: £383k, £896 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£240kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£5,770spent 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 violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate0 per 1,000 people100% lower than the England average
Typical house price£207,000Rochdale
Nearest bus stop120 mHalifax Road, 16 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
Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary SchoolFoundation860 m402Good 202330Compare
St James' Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy0.8 miles210Report card 202623Compare
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyAcademy0.8 miles200Good 2021Compare
Kentmere Primary AcademyAcademy0.9 miles353Outstanding 202485Compare
Alice Ingham Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary AcademyAcademy0.9 miles117Good 202424Compare
Hamer Community Primary SchoolCouncil1.0 miles323Good 202449Compare
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England1.1 miles200Good 202450Compare
Littleborough Community Primary SchoolCouncil1.2 miles313No overall grade 202470Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery 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.

Beats33%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 53 is 13 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 10 · middle 66 · highest 100100

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 St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery, 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
Broadstone Hall Primary SchoolCouncil14.5 miles503Good 202262Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 53 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 53% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 34 to 70. 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%in line
+0.07
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 58 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%below
-0.12
Ofsted report card, 0.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.01
DfE progress measure; 58 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.04
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
-0.01
2024/25; 354 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.03
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 58 pupils
What parents say5%in line
0.00
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 51 responses

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 St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery a good school?

It is about average. St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery scores 53 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 33% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 34 to 70, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 31 March 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as as expected, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as as expected.

How good are St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 76% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 9% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery have?

444 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 360 places, so it is 123% full.

Is St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery?

Pupils were in school 94.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 15% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery?

86% of the 51 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 94% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery?

The average class had 28.8 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 20% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

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

Contact and details

Address
Union Road, Rochdale, OL12 9QA
Telephone
01706 378991
Website
www.standrewsce.rochdale.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Judith Rainford
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Manchester
Multi-academy trust
Watergrove Trust (9 schools)
Local authority
Rochdale
Ward
Wardle, Shore & West Littleborough
Constituency
Rochdale
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2017 (academy converter)
URN
144690 · LAESTAB 3543009 · UKPRN 10064814
Formerly
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Dearnley

Where these figures come from