Norden Primary Academy

About Norden Primary Academy

Norden Primary Academy sits within the Rochdale local authority, a borough with 69 primary schools of which only seven hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. The school itself is rated Good, placing it in the solid middle tier of local provision. Among its closest peers in the area, the top-ranked primary is All Souls Church of England Primary School, followed by Hollin Primary School and Healey Foundation Primary School. For families prioritising an Outstanding grade, the nearest such school is Caldershaw Primary School, just 0.8 kilometres away. Norden Primary Academy is a mixed, state-funded primary for children aged 3 to 11, with no religious character. It has a nursery provision, making it a convenient option for families with younger children. The school is led by headteacher Rachael Bentham and has a capacity of 420 pupils, though current enrolment figures are not provided in the available data.

In its most recent graded inspection in 2012, Norden Primary Academy was rated Good overall, with Good marks for both leadership and management and the quality of education. An ungraded inspection in March 2023 confirmed that the school remains Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2009, when the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, with a Requires Improvement rating for leadership and management and a Satisfactory rating for early years provision. The school does not have published Key Stage 2 SATs results in the available data, so it is not possible to compare its academic performance against the Rochdale local authority average of 58. However, the Ofsted trajectory shows a school that has stabilised and maintained a Good rating for over a decade. Parents looking for a reliable, well-led primary with a consistent track record will find reassurance in this pattern.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, dining hall, playing fields, sports hall, and a chapel. Sports provision includes rounders, cricket, netball, dance, and athletics, while extracurricular clubs cover gardening, science club, and book club. For families with children who have special educational needs or disabilities, the data does not specify SEND provisions, so it is worth contacting the school directly to discuss individual needs. The school is not oversubscribed in the available data, which may make it a more accessible option for families who are not within the immediate catchment area. Norden Primary Academy suits families who value a Good-rated, community-focused primary with a nursery, a broad range of sports, and a stable leadership team, all within the Rochdale borough.

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