Academy sponsor led · Rochdale

Oulder Hill Leadership Academy

11–16Ages
1,152Pupils
SecondaryPhase
148847URN

Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, OL11 5EF

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.8per place

close to Rochdale median (2.7)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Rochdale

579 applications for 210 places · 5th of 13 in Rochdale

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

45.8of 90

Rochdale 43.3 England 46.0

4th of 13 in Rochdale

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 7 January 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.8applications per place, Year 7

close to Rochdale median (2.7) 0.5 above England median (2.2)

579 applications · 210 places offered · 175 named it first

2026 2.8; Rochdale median median 2.7
2025 2.1; Rochdale median median 2.3
2024 1.8; Rochdale median median 2.4
2023 1.8; Rochdale median median 2.4
2022 2.1; Rochdale median median 2.2
2021 2.1; Rochdale median median 2.2; as the previous school
2020 2.4; Rochdale median median 2.4; as the previous school
2019 1.8; Rochdale median median 1.9; as the previous school
2018 1.8; Rochdale median median 1.8; as the previous school
2017 1.6; Rochdale median median 1.7; as the previous school
2016 1.8; Rochdale median median 2.0; as the previous school
2015 2.1; Rochdale median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 2.0; Rochdale median median 1.8; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Rochdale median in 1 of 5 years.

This school
Rochdale median

Dashed bars: as Oulder Hill Community School and Language College (URN 105840), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	210	579	2.8	175	0.83
Sep 2025	225	469	2.1	123	0.55
Sep 2024	300	535	1.8	176	0.59
Sep 2023	294	519	1.8	161	0.55
Sep 2022	178	381	2.1	138	0.78
Sep 2021 *	258	551	2.1	191	0.74
Sep 2020 *	261	617	2.4	175	0.67
Sep 2019 *	298	536	1.8	257	0.86
Sep 2018 *	299	527	1.8	280	0.94
Sep 2017 *	300	493	1.6	251	0.84
Sep 2016 *	297	536	1.8	249	0.84
Sep 2015 *	246	504	2.1	213	0.87
Sep 2014 *	264	535	2.0	243	0.92

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

231 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.84th of 13 in Rochdale

Rochdale 43.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths51%3rd of 13 in Rochdale

Rochdale 41% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths68%

Rochdale 60% England 66%

This school
Rochdale median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.11

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	231	45.8	51%	68%	–
2024/25	221	44.4	46%	66%	–
2023/24	263	42.9	43%	65%	−0.11
2022/23	282	41.1	36%	61%	−0.14

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Oulder Hill Leadership AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.8applications per place 45.8Attainment 8
Falinge Park High School
1.5 km · Rochdale

Remains Good · concerns noted2023

2.2applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
Matthew Moss High School
1.8 km · Rochdale

Remains Good2024

2.8applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
Kingsway Park High School
3.6 km · Rochdale

Some aspects not as strong2025

2.4applications per place 39.2Attainment 8
Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College
4.2 km · Rochdale

2026

3.0applications per place 51.8Attainment 8
Newhouse Academy
4.4 km · Rochdale

Requires improvement2023

1.8applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
4.4 km · Rochdale

Requires improvement2022

2.8applications per place 37.9Attainment 8
Whitworth Community High School
4.5 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2023

2.3applications per place 47.4Attainment 8
Wardle Academy
4.8 km · Rochdale

Remains Good2022

2.1applications per place 44.6Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 148847 · 354/4005
Trust: Star Academies
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,500 pupils · 1,152 on roll
Free school meals: 36.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2022
Replaced: Oulder Hill Community School and Language College (URN 105840)
Address: Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, OL11 5EF
Local authority: Rochdale

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources