Fir Bank Primary School
About Fir Bank Primary School
Fir Bank Primary School in Oldham is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 61 applications for just 29 places, with 30 of those applications listing it as a first preference. This demand is notable given the school already operates above its official capacity of 210, currently teaching 235 pupils. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.9%, which is below the national average for primary schools, suggesting a relatively less deprived intake compared with many schools in the Oldham local authority area. The school is a mixed, non-religious state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision available, and is led by headteacher Rachael McLaughlin.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 May 2023Latest monitoring visit (18 May 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 11 Mar 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:30-08:45
After-school care
15:15-18:00
Source: firbankprimary.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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