Crossgates Primary School

About Crossgates Primary School

Crossgates Primary School sits comfortably above the Rochdale local authority average for its key stage 2 results, with 78% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 58%. That twenty-point gap puts the school in a strong position locally, ranking 4th out of 52 primary schools in the borough and placing it in the top 25% nationally. The school’s overall Ofsted rating of Good, awarded in March 2023, is consistent with its previous inspection in 2012, but the detail is worth noting: behaviour and attitudes were judged Outstanding, the only category to break into the top grade. Early years provision, quality of education, personal development, and leadership and management all came out as Good. For parents weighing up options in Rochdale, Crossgates stands out as a school that delivers well above the typical local benchmark without being among the seven primaries in the borough rated Outstanding.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 key stage 2 results, the picture is one of solid performance with some particular strengths. In maths, 96% of pupils reached the expected standard and the average scaled score was 107, well above the national baseline of 100. Reading and writing both saw 80% of pupils meeting expectations, with average reading scores at 105. Where the school really excels is in the proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in maths: 31% achieved that level, compared with 18% in both reading and writing. The combined higher standard across all three subjects was 7%, which is in line with national averages for a school of this profile. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment figures are clearly strong. The school’s ranking score of 78 reflects this, placing it ahead of all but three other primaries in Rochdale.

Crossgates is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with no nursery provision and no sixth form. It is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake there were 90 applications for 39 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.31, and all 38 first-preference applicants were offered a place. The school has a capacity of 315 and currently has 314 pupils on roll, so it is essentially full. Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, library, ICT suite, music rooms, sensory room, and outdoor playground, with playing fields on site. Sports on offer include football, cricket, cross country and gymnastics, and there are clubs for art, science and chess. The school’s SEND provisions cover moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 16.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative catchment. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a well-subscribed local primary, particularly those whose children show an aptitude for maths.

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