Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

About Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

When you look at the headline academic metrics for Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, the picture is notably weaker than the Rochdale local authority average. The school’s Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard attainment sits at 39%, compared with a borough average of 58% — a gap of 19 percentage points. This places the school 46th out of 69 primary schools in Rochdale, firmly in the bottom half of the local league table. Nationally, it ranks in the 92nd percentile, meaning only around 8% of primary schools perform worse on this measure. The school’s ranking score of 39 puts it well behind the top local performers like All Souls Church of England Primary (86) and Hollin Primary (81). However, this data needs to be read alongside the school’s high level of disadvantage: 45.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, more than double the national average, which often suppresses raw attainment figures.

Despite the modest headline results, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023 tells a more encouraging story. The overall effectiveness rating jumped from Inadequate in 2019 to Good, with leadership and management also improving from Inadequate to Good. The early years provision was rated Outstanding, and quality of education, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes all received Good grades. At Key Stage 2, the average reading score was 100 and maths 99, both close to the national benchmark of 100. The proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in maths was 14%, reading 7%, and writing just 4%. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it’s difficult to say how much value the school adds, but the Ofsted turnaround suggests stronger leadership under headteacher Hollie Aspinall.

Our Lady & St Paul’s is a Roman Catholic voluntary academy with a nursery provision for children from age three, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 50 applications for 25 places — a ratio of 2:1. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a chapel, sensory room, ICT suite, sports hall, and playing fields, plus clubs like drama, eco club, coding, and choir. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, visual impairment, and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a school that serves a high-poverty community and has made real progress in recent years, but families prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to look at higher-performing local options. For those who value a supportive, inclusive Catholic environment with strong early years provision, it could be a good fit.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents