Delph Primary School
97%
Capacity
204
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Delph Primary School
Delph Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families, with 68 applications for just 30 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.27. Of those, 35 families put it down as their first preference, and 28 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the community, though the school doesn't publish a parent-view survey score to back that up directly. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site, and is led by headteacher Rachael Swaby. Its most recent graded inspection was in 2013, when it was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, meaning the quality hasn't slipped since that last full look.
Academically, Delph performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an Oldham average of 58%. That puts the school 8th out of 67 primary schools in the borough, comfortably in the top 25% nationally. Reading is a particular strength: 89% hit the expected standard and 46% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 109. Maths also looks solid, with 75% at expected and an average score of 104, though 25% reached the higher threshold. Writing is slightly behind, with 82% at expected and 18% at higher. Progress scores aren't available in the data, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds, but the raw outcomes are strong.
The school offers a decent range of facilities for a primary, including a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, art studios, an ICT suite and a gymnasium, plus playing fields and even a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, dance, football, netball, cricket and tennis, and there are clubs for chess, drama, coding and book club. For SEND, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and other difficulties. With 12.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it's not a particularly disadvantaged intake. Delph suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with strong academic outcomes, a broad enrichment offer, and a nursery to start from age three.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Denshaw Road, Oldham, Oldham, OL3 5HN |
| Headteacher | Rachael Swaby |
| Local Authority | Oldham |
| Number of Pupils | 204 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.7% |
| School Capacity | 204 / 210 (97% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (20 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (75%)
2575th of 13,686
Nationally
355th of 2,065
In North West
8th of 67
In Oldham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
75%
Expected Standard
7%
Higher Standard
'22/23
73%
'23/24
75%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed30
68
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
35 families put this school as their 1st choice (51% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British95.6%
- Mixed3.5%
- White (other)0.5%
- Asian0.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Delph Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Denshaw Road, Oldham
Oldham, OL3 5HN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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