Bare Trees Primary School

About Bare Trees Primary School

Bare Trees Primary School in Oldham is a large state primary that is clearly in demand among local families. With 662 pupils on roll against a capacity of 700, the school is operating close to its limit, and the oversubscription figures for the 2025/26 intake confirm that popularity: the school received 114 applications for just 55 places, with 55 of those applications listing Bare Trees as a first preference. Of those first-preference families, 54 were offered a place, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.07 applicants per place. The school’s intake also reflects the wider community it serves. A third of its pupils (33.3%) are eligible for free school meals, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% and suggests a significant proportion of children come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age three through to eleven, and it offers nursery provision for the youngest children.

Academically, Bare Trees presents a mixed picture. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 43% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is well below the Oldham local authority average of 58% and places the school 56th out of 67 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the bottom half of the local league table. Nationally, it ranks in the 87th percentile, meaning roughly 87% of primary schools in England achieved a higher combined score. However, individual subject results tell a more nuanced story. In reading, 70% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 103; in maths, 67% met the expected standard with an average score of 103 as well. Writing was weaker, with only 52% reaching the expected level. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading (17%) and maths (16%) was modest, and no pupils reached the higher standard in writing or the combined measure. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, rated it Good overall, with Good across all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This represents a downgrade from its previous Outstanding rating in 2012.

For families considering Bare Trees, the school offers a solid range of facilities and activities that go beyond the core curriculum. There is a forest school, a sports hall, a gymnasium, playing fields, and dedicated music rooms, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision includes football, cricket, swimming, cross country, rounders and dance, while after-school clubs cover book club, film club, art club, choir and science club. The school’s SEND provision is notably broad, with support available for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given the high FSM rate and the school’s position in the local rankings, this is a school that serves a diverse and often disadvantaged community, and its oversubscription suggests it is valued by local parents. It is not a selective or faith school, and there is no sixth form. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Westwood Academy, 1.1 km away, which may be worth a look for families who prioritise top-tier Ofsted grades.

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