Longdendale High School
87%
Capacity
784
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Longdendale High School
Longdendale High School's Progress 8 score of -0.53 is well below the Tameside local authority average of -0.19, placing it 12th out of 18 secondary schools in the borough. That gap of 0.34 is significant, and the school sits in the bottom quarter nationally. The picture is mixed when you dig into the subject breakdowns. English is a bright spot, with a Progress 8 score of 0.04, essentially in line with national expectations. But maths and the EBacc subjects both sit at -0.86, dragging the overall figure down. The school's Attainment 8 score of 42.5 is modest, and only 37.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. On the plus side, 62.7% of pupils entered the EBacc, which is a decent take-up rate, though just 10.8% achieved the full suite at grade 5 or above.
The most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2025 did not give an overall effectiveness grade, but the breakdown shows some real progress. Leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development were all rated Good, a clear step up from the previous inspection in February 2023, when the school was rated Requires Improvement across the board. The quality of education remains Requires Improvement, which aligns with the academic data. Parent View responses from 105 families are telling: 65% would recommend the school, and 77% agree or strongly agree that the school has high expectations for their child. However, SEND support is a polarising issue, with 33% strongly agreeing and 33% strongly disagreeing that the school gives SEND children the support they need. The school identifies eight categories of SEND provision, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs.
Longdendale is a non-selective, non-religious secondary for 11- to 16-year-olds, with no sixth form. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 321 applications for 172 places, with 131 first-preference offers made. The school serves a community with high deprivation, reflected in 34.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Facilities are a genuine strength: there's a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, art studios, and an ICT suite. Sports include football, netball, hockey, and tennis, while clubs range from coding and Model UN to gardening and drama. For families in Tameside looking for a school that has stabilised its leadership and behaviour but is still working on academic outcomes, Longdendale offers a broad extracurricular programme and a clear sense of direction, though the SEND provision may need careful investigation.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Spring Street, Hyde, Tameside, SK14 8LW |
| Headteacher | Michael Chiles |
| Local Authority | Tameside |
| Number of Pupils | 784 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 34.2% |
| School Capacity | 784 / 900 (87% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 15 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.53)
2638th of 3,141
Nationally
342nd of 445
In North West
12th of 16
In Tameside
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Ofsted Parent View
105 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed172
321
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
132 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.2%
- Mixed3.0%
- White (other)1.5%
- Asian1.1%
- Black0.1%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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 Longdendale High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Spring Street, Hyde
Tameside, SK14 8LW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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