Ss Aidan and Oswald's Roman Catholic Primary School Review 2026: Catholic primary with strong KS2 outcomes and a busy wraparound offer

This Royton primary combines clear academic ambition with a distinctly Catholic identity, and it does so at scale. Capacity is 400, and Ofsted lists 399 pupils on roll, so it runs close to full.

Behaviour and routines are treated as core learning infrastructure. Doors open at 8.35am, registration is 8.45am, lessons begin at 8.50am, and the day ends at 3.15pm, a rhythm repeated across recent school newsletters. For many families, the practical headline is the wraparound: Care Club is available before school, and after school until 5.30pm most weekdays (5.00pm on Fridays).

The latest Ofsted inspection (10 to 11 December 2024) concluded that the school had taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection, and safeguarding arrangements were effective.

The school’s Catholic character is not limited to assemblies or a RE timetable. Its published mission places worship and prayer at the centre of school life, and frames learning as formation of the whole child, spiritual, moral, intellectual, and physical. That emphasis matters for fit: families who value an explicitly Catholic environment often find the language and expectations familiar, while families who prefer a more secular approach should read the admissions policy carefully before assuming the ethos is a light touch.

Pupil responsibility is a visible strand. Pupils are given roles ranging from caring for the school tortoise, Ozzie, to acting as “stewards of creation” focused on the outdoor environment. Those details are useful because they show how personal development is structured: leadership is not reserved for a handful of older pupils, it is distributed through concrete, age appropriate jobs.

Relationships across age groups are also designed, not left to chance. Year 6 pupils are paired with Reception pupils as “special friends”, supporting settling in and modelling routines. For younger pupils, that can reduce the early weeks anxiety; for older pupils, it formalises kindness into habit.

Leadership stability is another anchor. The headteacher is Catherine Brogan, and the governing information on the school website records her headteacher role beginning on 16 November 2018. That length of tenure usually shows up in consistent systems: a shared approach to behaviour, clear curriculum sequencing, and a stable relationship with governors and the parish community.

Key Stage 2 outcomes are a clear strength in the school’s current data picture. In 2024, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 25% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%, which points to genuine stretch at the top end as well as secure core attainment.

Subject level figures reinforce that sense of balance. In 2024, 79% met the expected standard in reading and 75% in mathematics, while 82% met the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Science is also strong in the data, with 92% meeting the expected standard.

FindMySchool’s primary ranking places the school above England average overall. Ranked 2,503rd in England and 11th in Oldham for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), it sits comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for this phase. For parents comparing nearby options, the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison view is the quickest way to sanity check how this profile looks against other Royton and Oldham primaries, using the same measures side by side.

The curriculum is framed around the National Curriculum, with a clear list of core and foundation subjects and foreign languages beginning from age 7. Early reading is treated as a priority thread that runs through the school. Reading is described as central to the curriculum, and older pupils have structured daily reading time, including a sustained reading block in Year 6. The practical implication is that families who want strong literacy routines, including explicit vocabulary and comprehension work, are likely to find the approach reassuring.

Teachers revisit prior learning as a deliberate strategy, using checks such as quizzes before starting new topics. This matters because it supports pupils who need repetition to secure knowledge, including pupils who join mid year. It also reduces the risk that pupils progress with gaps that only surface later, which is a common problem in fast paced primary curricula.

The main development point sits in the wider curriculum. In some subjects, additional content has made parts of the curriculum too large, and the effect can be breadth without depth, making it harder for pupils to recall and use prior learning. For parents, this is not a red flag, it is a practical question to explore on a visit: how leaders are trimming and sequencing content so that pupils remember the key ideas over time, especially in humanities and the wider foundation subjects.

Nursery provision integrated into school life

Nursery is part of the school’s offer, and the admissions information states that children can start the term after their third birthday, with entitlement to 15 or 30 funded hours for eligible families. Nursery sessions are structured as full day (8.45am to 3.15pm), morning (8.45am to 11.45am), or afternoon (12.15pm to 3.15pm).

That structure suits families who want a nursery that mirrors school routines. It also makes transition into Reception simpler because timings, expectations and relationships are already familiar. For nursery fee details beyond funded entitlement, families should rely on the school’s published information rather than second hand sources.

As a 3 to 11 school, the main transition is into Year 7. What is helpful here is that Oldham’s coordinated secondary application timeline is made explicit in the admissions information provided by the school, including the opening of applications from 1 August 2025 and the deadline of 31 October 2025 for secondary places. This is the operational reality for parents: planning the Year 6 autumn term is easier when key deadlines are visible early.

The school’s internal preparation is described as strong for the general move to secondary, with Year 6 pupils well prepared for the next phase. For families who want a specifically Catholic secondary pathway, the best next step is to ask the school which destinations are most common in a typical year, since published destination lists are not always shared publicly at primary level.

This is a voluntary aided Catholic school, and the governing board acts as the admissions authority, while Oldham coordinates the admissions process. The admissions policy is direct about ethos: Catholic doctrine and practice are expected to permeate school life, and families are asked to support that ethos, while non Catholic families can still apply under the published criteria.

Reception intake size for September 2026 is set at 45 places. If applications exceed places, priority starts with baptised Roman Catholic looked after and previously looked after children, then baptised Roman Catholic children resident in the parish, then other baptised Catholic children (with sibling priority within categories), followed by looked after and previously looked after children, children of certain staff, siblings, then other applicants.

Two practical details matter for families. First, if you want your application considered under the religious criteria, you must complete the supplementary form as well as the local authority preference form. Second, tie break is distance, measured as a straight line from home to school using a computerised system; if distances are identical, places can be allocated by random lottery.

Demand looks real. In the latest available admissions data, there were 48 applications for 35 offers, with an oversubscribed status. Because last distance offered is not published here, families considering a move should treat proximity as helpful but not determinative, and use mapping tools to understand realistic travel time to Roman Road rather than assuming a place is likely.

Key deadlines for September 2026 Reception entry

Oldham’s primary application window and deadlines are spelled out on the school’s admissions information. Applications open from 1 September 2025, the deadline is 5pm on 15 January 2026, late applications are accepted from 19 January 2026, significant change notifications close on 22 January 2026, and offers are issued on 16 April 2026.

Pastoral care is framed through both Catholic life and day to day systems. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on achievements and develop resilience and confidence through structured opportunities. The pupil responsibility model also supports wellbeing indirectly: roles like wellbeing champions, health champions, and school council are part of how pupils learn agency.

Support for pupils with additional needs is described as effective, including the use of staff expertise and encouragement to help pupils achieve well. There is also a leadership workload point in the inspection narrative, where the complexity of some processes can add to leader workload and reduce impact. For parents of pupils with SEND, the practical question is how support plans are kept simple and responsive, and how communication works when a pupil needs adjustments.

The school publishes a detailed extra curricular map for 2025 to 26, which gives a more concrete picture than generic “lots of clubs” claims. Several clubs stand out because they connect directly to academic and personal development priorities.

One strand is structured academic extension. A Year 6 Maths Club and a Year 4 Maths Club signal that stretch is offered beyond core lessons, and that it begins before the final SATs year. The implication is that higher attaining pupils can be kept engaged without relying solely on extra homework.

A second strand is Catholic life lived through action. “Stewards of Creation” appears both as a pupil responsibility role and as a club or group, linking faith to environmental care. A Rosary Club is also listed in the programme in specific months, which signals that devotional practice is normalised for pupils who want it.

A third strand is wellbeing and creativity. Art and Well being Club appears in the map, and there are explicit wellbeing roles including Wellbeing Warriors. Choral Speaking is a specific performance and confidence building activity that often suits pupils who may not be drawn to sports but still enjoy public presentation.

Sport is present with named offers rather than vague labels, including football provision and Year 5 to 6 netball. The extracurricular picture suggests a school that uses clubs to reinforce priorities, maths stretch, Catholic formation, wellbeing roles, and structured opportunities for pupil voice.

The published school day structure is consistent across recent communications: doors open 8.35am, registration 8.45am, lessons begin 8.50am, and the day ends 3.15pm. Punctuality is treated as essential because late arrival cuts directly into teaching time.

Wraparound care is a practical strength. The Out of School Care Club information for 2025 to 26 states it runs from 7.30am on weekdays, and after school until 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 5.00pm on Friday, with holiday club options also available.

On travel and logistics, newsletters include reminders about considerate parking, which usually indicates tight roads at drop off and pick up. Families who can walk part of the route, or use a park and stride approach, often find the day to day less stressful.

• Faith criteria are real. The admissions policy expects families to support a Catholic education, and religious criteria can shape priority order for places. Families who do not want a faith framed school experience should weigh that carefully before applying.

• Competition for Reception places. Reception is set at 45 places for September 2026, and the latest available admissions figures show more applications than offers. If you are relying on this school, treat admission as uncertain and keep realistic alternatives in mind.

• Wider curriculum depth is a work in progress. Some foundation subjects can feel content heavy, which can lead to superficial recall at times. Ask how leaders are simplifying and sequencing these subjects so pupils remember the essential knowledge.

• High demand amplifies routines. Strong results and a clear ethos can bring a purposeful tone, which suits many children, but can feel brisk for pupils who need slower transitions. Explore how classrooms handle pace, reassurance, and scaffolding for pupils who need it.

Ss Aidan and Oswald’s is best understood as a large Catholic primary that combines clear routines, pupil responsibility, and strong KS2 outcomes. The data points to secure core attainment and meaningful stretch at the top end, while the latest inspection narrative suggests leaders are maintaining standards and tightening curriculum clarity in some foundation subjects.

It suits families who want an explicitly Catholic ethos, value structured behaviour and punctuality, and want wraparound care that extends the usable school day. The main challenge is admission, particularly for Reception, where published capacity is fixed and demand can exceed places.