Holden Clough Primary School

About Holden Clough Primary School

Holden Clough Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 73 applications for just 30 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 2.43. Of those 73 applications, 38 were first-preference choices, and 29 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the Tameside area. The school is a state primary for mixed genders, ages 3 to 11, with a nursery provision attached. Headteacher Adam Porter leads a school of 320 pupils, which is well under its capacity of 414. Just over a quarter of pupils (26.2%) are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average and gives a sense of the school's intake.

Academically, Holden Clough performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Tameside average of 62%. That result places the school 5th out of 57 primary schools in the local authority, putting it in the top 10% regionally and nationally. Pupils also scored well above the national average in individual subjects: a reading average score of 107, maths at 106, and 90% of pupils met the expected standard in maths specifically. At the higher standard, 27% achieved greater depth in maths and 28% in reading. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, rated it Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes and early years provision. This was a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018.

The school offers a solid range of facilities and activities. There is a gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, a sensory room and a forest school. Sports on offer include cricket, tennis, dance, swimming and rounders, while clubs range from chess and coding to gardening, book club, science club and choir. For children with additional needs, the school has provisions for social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Millbrook Primary School, 3.8 km away. Holden Clough suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with strong academic outcomes, a wide range of enrichment, and a clear track record of improvement under its current leadership.

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