Roundthorn Primary Academy

About Roundthorn Primary Academy

Roundthorn Primary Academy is a state primary school in Oldham, serving 253 pupils aged 3 to 11 under headteacher Joelle Hardman. It sits within a local authority that includes 86 primary schools, where the top-performing peers are Christ Church CofE Primary School, St Martin's CofE Junior Infant and Nursery School, and St Anne's CofE Lydgate Primary School. Roundthorn itself ranks 19th out of 67 primaries in Oldham on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it in the top 28% locally and the top 40% nationally. The school is noticeably oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 82 applications for 29 places, with 47 first-preference applications and an oversubscription ratio of 2.83. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation, though the school has no religious character and is not one of the four Outstanding-rated primaries in the borough. The nearest Outstanding school is Glodwick Infant and Nursery School, 0.6 km away.

Academically, Roundthorn performs well above the Oldham average. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 assessments, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the local authority average of 58%. Individual subject results were stronger: 93% met the expected standard in maths, 77% in writing and 73% in reading. Higher-standard attainment was more modest — 3% achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, with 23% reaching it in maths and 10% in reading. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2023 rated it Good overall, with an Outstanding grade for personal development. The previous inspection in 2011 had awarded Outstanding overall, so the current rating represents a slight decline, though inspectors noted behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and the quality of education are all Good, with early years provision also Good.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a library, music rooms, gymnasium, ICT suite, forest school and a chapel. Sports provision covers netball, tennis, rounders, cross country, cricket, swimming and dance, while clubs include drama, book club, coding, choir and science club. SEND support is well-developed, with provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With nursery provision on site, it suits families looking for a full primary journey from age 3. The oversubscription means applicants need to apply early and list it as a first preference to have a realistic chance — 29 of 47 first-preference applicants received offers in the most recent round.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Roundthorn Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents