Horton Mill Community Primary School

About Horton Mill Community Primary School

Horton Mill Community Primary School in Oldham is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, and the parent experience is a mixed picture. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 64% of the 14 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That leaves a notable 36% who would not. On the positive side, 93% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 86% felt their child is safe. However, satisfaction dips on communication: only 50% agreed or strongly agreed that the school makes them aware of what their child will learn, and just 35% felt concerns are dealt with properly. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 56 applications for 29 places, giving a ratio of 1.93 applicants per place. Of those, 32 put Horton Mill as their first preference, and 28 first-preference offers were made, suggesting it remains a popular local choice despite the mixed feedback.

Academically, the school is currently rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted following its February 2025 inspection, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2019. The inspection judged quality of education and leadership and management as requiring improvement, while behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision were all rated Good. Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 academic year show that just 38% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well below the Oldham local authority average of 58%. In the local authority rankings, Horton Mill sits 62nd out of 67 primary schools, placing it in the bottom 50% nationally. Average scores in reading and maths both sat at 100, and the proportion of pupils reaching a higher standard in these subjects was low, at 9% in reading and 3% in maths. No pupils achieved the higher standard in writing.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a gymnasium, art studios, a sensory room, an ICT suite, a library and a chapel. There is a nursery provision for younger children, and the school supports pupils with a variety of special educational needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. A wide selection of clubs is available, from book club and science club to gardening and coding, and sports include football, cricket, netball and swimming. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Glodwick Infant and Nursery School, just 0.6 km away, which may be worth considering for families prioritising a top Ofsted grade. Horton Mill is likely to suit families who value a community school with strong early years and personal development provision, and who are comfortable with a school that is still working on improving its academic outcomes and leadership.

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