Hodge Clough Primary School

About Hodge Clough Primary School

Hodge Clough Primary School in Oldham is a larger-than-average state primary, currently home to 451 pupils against a capacity of 420, meaning it is running above its official headroom. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: 29.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 23%. Demand for places is strong and the school is clearly popular with local families. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 67 applications for 60 total places, with 46 first-preference applications exactly matching the number of first-preference offers made. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.46, meaning for every place available, nearly one and a half families wanted it. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age 3 through to 11, with nursery provision on site. Headteacher Stella Hodkinson leads a mixed-gender, non-selective school that draws from the immediate Oldham area.

Academically, Hodge Clough sits in the bottom half of Oldham’s primary schools, ranked 43rd out of 67 in the local authority. Its key stage 2 results for 2023/24 show 52% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Oldham local authority average of 58%. The school’s strongest individual subject at expected level is writing, at 69%, followed by maths at 65% and reading at 61. At the higher standard, the picture is more mixed: 18% of pupils achieved a higher score in reading, 8% in writing and just 5% in maths, with only 3% hitting the higher threshold across all three subjects. Average scaled scores were 102 in reading and 101 in maths. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2015, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, though with a note of concerns.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a primary, including a library, sports hall, ICT suite, sensory room, art studios and a chapel, plus outdoor playgrounds and playing fields. Sports provision includes swimming, athletics, cricket, rounders, gymnastics and tennis, and there are clubs such as art, science, eco, choir and chess. For children with additional needs, the school has designated provision for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. Oversubscription means families applying from outside the immediate catchment should have a realistic second choice in mind. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Glodwick Infant and Nursery School, 3.2 km away. Hodge Clough suits families who want a well-subscribed community primary with a broad extracurricular offer and a clear focus on supporting pupils with SEND, but who are comfortable with results that sit below the local average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Hodge Clough Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents