All Souls Church of England Primary School

About All Souls Church of England Primary School

All Souls Church of England Primary School in Rochdale is a standout performer in the local authority, ranking first out of 52 primary schools in the area. Its headline Key Stage 2 metric is a striking 86 per cent of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Rochdale average of just 58 per cent. That 28-point gap is substantial and places the school in the top five per cent nationally. It is one of only seven primary schools in the borough rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its most recent graded inspection in December 2023 awarded top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school has held an Outstanding rating since at least its previous inspection in 2011, so this is not a flash in the pan.

Academically, the school’s performance is consistently strong across all three core subjects. In the 2023/24 KS2 assessments, 93 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 110, while reading and writing both saw 89 per cent of pupils at the expected level. At the higher standard, 50 per cent achieved above the expected level in maths, 43 per cent in reading and 21 per cent in writing, with 18 per cent hitting the higher bar across all three subjects. These figures are well above national norms and reflect a school that pushes pupils without leaving anyone behind. The school does not publish Progress 8 data, but the raw outcomes alone suggest strong value added given the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 18.4 per cent, slightly above the national average.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 136 applications for just 30 places, a ratio of 4.53 applicants per place, with 35 first-preference applications for 28 offers. That tells you how sought-after it is locally. Facilities include a library, playing fields, a sensory room, an ICT suite and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision is broad, with football, cricket, gymnastics, swimming, dance, tennis and netball, while clubs range from chess and book club to gardening and film club. SEND support covers specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With nursery provision on site, this is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes within a supportive, inclusive environment, particularly those who value a faith-based setting.

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