Overall Oxbridge
#642
4 ranked schools · +11 places vs Eng avg #653 of 1,538
Applications
62
Offers
14
Offer rate22.6%
-6.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 28.7%
Schools in Oldham
Surviving cotton mills and Victorian industrial brick-work give Oldham its most distinctive built character, the physical trace of a town that rose through the nineteenth century to become the leading cotton spinning centre in the world, producing more cotton than France and Germany combined at its zenith. The last mill closed in 1998.
Chadderton and Shaw are among the most sought-after pockets for primary school catchments, with Derker long established as a school-competitive corner of the borough. The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham sits on elevated Pennine ground roughly seven miles northeast of Manchester city centre, with a population of around 242,000 at the 2021 census. Metrolink trams connect Oldham town centre to Manchester Victoria and the wider Greater Manchester network.
82
Primary
schools
18
Secondary
schools
2
All-through
schools
2
Post-16
colleges
13
Special
schools
1
Other
schools
of which10sixth forms·40faith118 total
Area Performance
Oldham schools rank in the top 59% of England
Across 105 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.04/10, -0.35 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
7% Elite
Distribution across all Oldham schools
EliteExcellentGoodDevelopingRebuilding
Oldham vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 59%
Across all ranked Oldham schools
Top 60%Primaryavg #8,966 of 14,821
Top 56%Secondaryavg #2,130 of 3,803
Top 46%Sixth formavg #1,163 of 2,523
Primary schools: 78 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.0/10
-0.38 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,966
-10 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 60% of 14,821
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
60%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
4%
-4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.0/10
-0.38 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,966
-10 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 60% of 14,821
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
60%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
4%
-4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 20 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.31 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,130
-6 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 56% of 3,803
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
38%
-18 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
45.1
+6.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.31 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,130
-6 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 56% of 3,803
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
38%
-18 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
45.1
+6.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 7 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.7/10
-0.06 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,163
+4 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 46% of 2,523
% A*-A at A-Level
21%
-4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.7/10
-0.06 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,163
+4 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 46% of 2,523
% A*-A at A-Level
21%
-4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#263
5 ranked schools · -1 places vs Eng avg #262 of 1,866
Applications
40
Offers
4
Offer rate10.0%
-6.6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 16.6%
Cambridge
#681
4 ranked schools · +18 places vs Eng avg #699 of 1,830
Applications
22
Offers
10
Offer rate45.5%
+8.4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 37.0%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Oldham town
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Oldham town
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Oldham town
Local directory
School profiles in Oldham
Browse 66 local profile links across primary schools in oldham town, secondary schools in oldham town, sixth forms in oldham town and other schools. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
70 nurseries in OldhamLoading map…
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