Overall Oxbridge
#107
1 ranked schools · +546 places vs Eng avg #653 of 1,538
Applications
36
Offers
12
Offer rate33.3%
+4.6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 28.7%
Schools in Rochdale
The largest town in Greater Manchester's Pennine fringe, Rochdale grew from a Domesday-era settlement into a royal charter town and, by the 19th century, a driving force in textile manufacturing and cooperative trade. The River Roch cuts the valley floor, giving the town both its name and its distinctive shape.
Rochdale station serves the Calder Valley line. Trains reach Manchester Victoria in around thirty minutes, supplemented by the Metrolink tram network into the city. Norden, curving into the hills to the north, has become one of Rochdale's most school-competitive corners, drawing families weighing primary places across the borough. Milnrow to the south-east is similarly sought-after for catchments, with Smallbridge and Castleton occupying the valley between them. Around 111,000 people live in the town proper, part of a wider Metropolitan Borough of more than 220,000.
43
Primary
schools
9
Secondary
schools
1
All-through
schools
1
Post-16
colleges
6
Special
schools
1
Other
schools
of which2sixth forms·19faith·1nursery schools62 total
Area Performance
Rochdale schools rank in the top 58% of England
Across 52 primary and secondary schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.19/10, -0.17 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
9% Elite
Distribution across all Rochdale schools
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Rochdale vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 58%
Across all ranked Rochdale schools
Top 56%Primaryavg #8,276 of 14,821
Top 69%Secondaryavg #2,608 of 3,803
Primary schools: 41 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.13 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,276
-6 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 56% of 14,821
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
62%
0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
5%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.13 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#8,276
-6 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 56% of 14,821
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
62%
0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
5%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 11 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.31 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,608
-19 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 69% of 3,803
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
44.3
+5.2 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
#2,608
-19 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 69% of 3,803
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
44.3
+5.2 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Oxford
#88
1 ranked schools · +174 places vs Eng avg #262 of 1,866
Applications
22
Offers
7
Offer rate31.8%
+15.2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 16.6%
Cambridge
#731
1 ranked schools · -32 places vs Eng avg #699 of 1,830
Applications
14
Offers
5
Offer rate35.7%
-1.3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 37.0%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Rochdale town
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Rochdale town
Local directory
School profiles in Rochdale
Browse 52 local profile links across primary schools in rochdale town, secondary schools in rochdale town and other schools. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
61 nurseries in RochdaleLoading map…
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