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Medlock Valley Primary School

Oldham, OL8 2PNPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2024
KS2 Results
55%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
22 1st-choice / 32 places
Ranking
#9,285
of 13,686 nationally

About Medlock Valley Primary School

Medlock Valley Primary School is a state-funded, mixed primary school in Oldham for children aged 3 to 11, and it is currently operating close to capacity with 322 pupils against a total capacity of 341. The school serves a community with a notably high level of socio-economic disadvantage: 62.6% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure far above the national average and one of the highest in the local authority. Demand for places is strong, with the school oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake: it received 42 applications for 32 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.31, and all 22 first-preference applicants were offered a place. The school has no religious character and is led jointly by headteachers Michael Ball and Joanne Backhouse. It also offers nursery provision, which will be a practical consideration for families with younger children looking for a single-site route through to Year 6.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDeanshut Road, Oldham, Oldham, OL8 2PN
HeadteacherMichael Ball & Joanne Backhouse
Local AuthorityOldham
Number of Pupils322
Free School Meals (FSM)62.6%
School Capacity322 / 341 (94% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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.

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    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
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    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
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    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
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    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

13 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 20 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Art StudiosLibraryDining HallForest SchoolSports HallICT SuiteMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

TennisAthleticsSwimmingNetballGymnasticsCross CountryCricket

Clubs & Activities

DramaEco ClubBook Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced Provision

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

08:00-08:45

Source: medlockvalley.oldham.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Medlock Valley Primary School

Medlock Valley Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.