Westwood High Review 2026: Islamic all-through education with a small sixth form

For families seeking an Islamic all-through education in Oldham, Westwood High offers a distinctive mix: early years through sixth form on one site, a clear faith foundation, and a very small cohort size by local standards. The latest standard inspection outcome is Good (inspection dates 3 to 5 October 2023), with Good judgements across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, early years, and sixth form.

Academic performance at GCSE level sits above England average, placing Westwood High 957th in England and 3rd in Oldham for GCSE outcomes in the FindMySchool ranking, which is based on official outcomes data. That position corresponds to being above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for GCSE outcomes. Sixth form outcomes, by contrast, sit below England average on the same framework, and the school’s very small sixth form is an important context point when interpreting post 16 measures.

Faith identity is woven into daily life rather than presented as an add-on. Islamic studies, Qur’anic studies, and Arabic form a defined part of the curriculum offer, and earlier inspection evidence describes content that covers both beliefs and practical understanding, including topics such as wudu (ablutions) and Hajj (pilgrimage), with the programme linked to wider personal development learning.

The school’s culture is framed around high expectations and a strong sense of responsibility to others. Recent inspection evidence describes pupils who feel safe and happy, who know there are trusted adults to share worries with, and who show respect and tolerance. There is also a clear thread of civic participation, with examples including charitable projects and leadership opportunities for older pupils.

A practical nuance for parents is that registration and reality do not align perfectly. Although the school is registered as a girls’ school, the most recent inspection record states it has admitted boys from Nursery to Year 6, operating as co-educational in the younger years. Families considering early years entry should ask the school how this is structured in practice, including how classes are organised and how progression works into the secondary years.

Westwood High is an independent school, so there is no required Key Stage 2 SATs publication in the same way as state primaries. Where the available performance picture becomes clearer is at GCSE level.

GCSE outcomes and ranking

Ranked 957th in England and 3rd in Oldham for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official outcomes data), Westwood High sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for GCSE performance.

The school’s most recent Attainment 8 score is 52.8. EBacc performance indicators show an EBacc average points score of 4.88, and 30.8% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above across the EBacc measure reported. These indicators point to a curriculum where the academic core is taken seriously, even in a small setting.

Sixth form outcomes and ranking

At A-level, the FindMySchool ranking places the school 2,630th in England and 6th in Oldham, which sits below England average and falls within the lower tier nationally. This is a school with a very small sixth form cohort, so published measures can swing sharply year-to-year depending on subject mix and cohort size.

A consistent theme in formal inspection evidence is that curriculum ambition is real and largely well-implemented. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and or disabilities, are described as learning an ambitious curriculum, with staff adapting delivery so pupils can access the full range of opportunities. The most recent report also highlights strong assessment practice in many areas, with teachers using assessment information to design and adapt future learning.

Early reading is a key focus, and it is one of the areas where the latest inspection identifies improvement work that matters to parents. Phonics is taught from the start of Reception, and reading books are matched to phonics knowledge, but the report notes that some staff lacked sufficient depth of knowledge to deliver the phonics programme as intended, which can slow early fluency for a small number of pupils.

For older pupils and students, the sixth form is described as having a sharper focus on next steps, with work experience positioned as part of preparation for higher education, training, or employment. The small scale can work in students’ favour when it comes to individual guidance, but it also means breadth of courses and peer group size may feel different from a larger sixth form college.

Because the school is all-through, many families will be thinking about continuity rather than transition at Year 6 and Year 11. The inspection record describes the school as comprising a high school, preparatory school, kindergarten (Nursery and Reception), and a sixth form, which points to a through-route that can reduce disruption for pupils who do best with consistency.

Published destination statistics are limited, and the sixth form is very small, which makes it harder for families to benchmark typical pathways using aggregated figures alone. Earlier inspection evidence described Year 11 leavers securing places at local sixth form colleges for A-level routes, and also referenced vocational learning and work experience placements.

If university pathways are a priority, parents should ask for the most recent leavers information in a clear, comparable format, for example, which courses students progressed to, how many continued internally into Year 12, and how the school supports applications for competitive post 18 routes.

For families in Oldham, it is useful to anchor planning around the local authority timetable, even when considering independent options, because it shapes family decision-making and fall-back planning.

For Year 7 entry in September 2026, Oldham’s published timetable sets the application window as 1 August 2025 to 31 October 2025 (5pm deadline), with offers notified on 2 March 2026.

For Reception entry in September 2026, Oldham’s published timetable shows applications opening 1 September 2025 and closing 15 January 2026 (5pm deadline), with decisions notified on 16 April 2026.

Westwood High’s own website is currently in a maintenance mode and does not publish detailed admissions arrangements or open event dates, so families should contact the school directly to confirm entry points, the assessment process (if any), and whether applications are handled directly by the school or via a local authority route for any age group.

If you are weighing the school on proximity, FindMySchool’s Map Search can help you plan realistically by comparing your location to typical local patterns, while keeping in mind that independent schools may not allocate by distance in the same way as state schools.

The latest inspection evidence indicates a calm, orderly climate in classrooms and a culture where pupils feel comfortable seeking help. Pupils are described as having trusted adults to share worries with, with behaviour described as kind and considerate. The report also describes a strong emphasis on pupils’ wellbeing, including understanding emotions, mental health, and online safety.

Safeguarding is described as effective in the latest report, which is an important baseline for any school choice.

For parents of very young children, early years routines and expectations are described as quickly established, helping children settle and understand boundaries. For older pupils and students, the key pastoral question is how the school supports progression decisions when cohort size is small, including subject choices, careers advice, and work experience access.

Extracurricular life appears to be structured around a blend of enrichment, practical skills, and community contribution rather than an arms race of niche activities. Earlier inspection evidence references a mathematics club as part of the extra-curricular offer, suggesting a culture that supports academic extension for pupils who want it.

A later inspection report describes wider opportunities that included drama club, football, baking, and science club, which gives a useful sense of the balance between creative, physical, and practical options.

The most recent inspection evidence also points to leadership opportunities and charitable projects in the community, and to residential experiences as part of building confidence and independence. This matters for fit, since some families want a setting where personal responsibility is explicitly taught and practised, not just discussed.

STEM

STEM learning is reflected both in curriculum ambition and in enrichment signals. The mathematics club referenced in earlier inspection evidence is the clearest named example, and recent inspection evidence reinforces the idea that many subjects are carefully structure-sequenced, with assessment used to shape future learning. Where this will matter most is for pupils who benefit from cumulative learning and clear progression, particularly in mathematics and science where knowledge gaps can compound quickly.

As an independent school, Westwood High charges fees. However, the school’s website is currently not publishing a fee schedule for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

For context only, the most recent standard inspection documentation records an annual day fee range of £1,400 to £2,750 at the time of inspection (October 2023). Parents should confirm current 2025 to 2026 fees directly with the school and ask for a clear breakdown by phase (early years, prep, secondary, and sixth form) and what is included, for example, meals, books, trips, and any faith-related curriculum materials.

Financial aid information, including bursaries or scholarships, is not currently published on the school’s website due to the maintenance status, so families should ask specifically what support exists, how it is assessed, and whether awards are means-tested, merit-based, or a combination.

Westwood High is based in Chadderton, Oldham (postcode OL9 6HR). The closest Metrolink stop for many families is Westwood tram stop (Middleton Road, OL9 6BG), which can make public transport a realistic option for older pupils and students depending on start and finish times.

The school’s website is currently under maintenance and does not publish day-to-day operational details such as school hours or wraparound care information, so parents should request current timings directly, including arrangements for early years and any breakfast or after-school provision.

• Website information gap. The school website is in a maintenance mode, which limits access to practical details that many parents rely on, including admissions steps, open events, hours, and current fees. Plan to gather this directly from the school before committing.

• Very small sixth form. A small cohort can mean more individual guidance, but it can also affect course breadth and peer group size. Families should ask how many students are currently in Years 12 and 13, which subjects are available, and whether any teaching is shared across year groups.

• Early reading development work. The latest inspection highlights phonics delivery as an improvement priority for a small number of pupils. Parents of younger children may want to understand how the school has strengthened staff training and consistency.

• Registration versus practice in younger years. Although registered as a girls’ school, the school has admitted boys from Nursery to Year 6. Families should ask how this works day-to-day, and what the transition looks like into the girls-only secondary years.

Westwood High will suit families who want an Islamic all-through setting, value a high-expectations culture, and prefer a smaller school environment where pupils can be well-known by staff. GCSE performance sits above England average on the FindMySchool ranking, and the latest inspection outcome is Good across all key areas, including early years and sixth form.

It is less well suited to families who need a wide published information trail, or who want a large sixth form with broad subject choice and extensive published destinations data. The practical work is to confirm current admissions steps, timings, and 2025 to 2026 fees directly with the school, because these are not currently available on the school website.