Academy sponsor led · Rochdale

St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy

11–16Ages
1,023Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
149873URN

Shaw Road, Thornham, Rochdale, OL16 4RX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2022 Previous framework

Requires improvement

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

352 applications for 127 places · 4th of 13 in Rochdale

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

37.9of 90

Rochdale 43.3 England 46.0

13th of 13 in Rochdale

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 29 March 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement

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)

352 applications · 127 places offered · 103 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

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 2.3; Rochdale median median 2.4; as the previous school
2022 2.3; Rochdale median median 2.2; as the previous school
2021 2.3; Rochdale median median 2.2; as the previous school
2020 1.8; Rochdale median median 2.4; as the previous school
2019 1.6; Rochdale median median 1.9; as the previous school
2018 1.6; Rochdale median median 1.8; as the previous school
2017 1.7; Rochdale median median 1.7; as the previous school
2016 1.7; Rochdale median median 2.0; as the previous school
2015 1.7; Rochdale median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 1.6; Rochdale median median 1.8; as the previous school

This school
Rochdale median

Dashed bars: as St Cuthbert's RC High School (URN 105845), 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	127	352	2.8	103	0.81
Sep 2025	182	385	2.1	131	0.72
Sep 2024	215	391	1.8	149	0.69
Sep 2023 *	161	372	2.3	121	0.75
Sep 2022 *	178	416	2.3	148	0.83
Sep 2021 *	166	383	2.3	139	0.84
Sep 2020 *	226	410	1.8	167	0.74
Sep 2019 *	225	348	1.6	189	0.84
Sep 2018 *	238	375	1.6	205	0.86
Sep 2017 *	196	323	1.7	184	0.94
Sep 2016 *	179	303	1.7	154	0.86
Sep 2015 *	193	327	1.7	172	0.89
Sep 2014 *	165	270	1.6	156	0.95

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

197 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)37.913th of 13 in Rochdale

Rochdale 43.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths23%13th of 13 in Rochdale

Rochdale 41% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths41%

Rochdale 60% England 66%

This school
Rochdale median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	197	37.9	23%	41%	–
2024/25	224	39.7	29%	47%	–
2023/24					–
2022/23					–

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

St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary AcademyThis school
This school

Requires improvement2022

2.8applications per place 37.9Attainment 8
Kingsway Park High School
1.5 km · Rochdale

Some aspects not as strong2025

2.4applications per place 39.2Attainment 8
The Crompton House Church of England Academy
2.3 km · Oldham

Remains Good2024

2.9applications per place 50.5Attainment 8
Hollingworth Academy
3.2 km · Rochdale

Good2022

2.7applications per place 50.6Attainment 8
E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy
3.4 km · Oldham

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 38.4Attainment 8
E-ACT the Oldham Academy North
3.5 km · Oldham

Improved significantly2025

1.8applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
Matthew Moss High School
3.6 km · Rochdale

Remains Good2024

2.8applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
North Chadderton School
4.0 km · Oldham

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.0applications per place 44.4Attainment 8
Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School
4.1 km · Rochdale

2026

2.9applications per place 46.0Attainment 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: 149873 · 354/4006
Trust: St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 1,200 pupils · 1,023 on roll
Free school meals: 43.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 November 2023
Replaced: St Cuthbert's RC High School (URN 105845)
Address: Shaw Road, Thornham, Rochdale, OL16 4RX
Local authority: Rochdale

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