The Blue Coat CofE School
108%
Capacity
1,669
Pupils
7.1x
Demand
About The Blue Coat CofE School
The Blue Coat CofE School is a Church of England secondary in Oldham that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local standing. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 1,605 applications for 227 places, with 597 families listing it as their first preference. It made 222 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of just over seven applicants per place. The school currently has 1,669 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,550, meaning it is operating above its official limit. Around 15.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively less disadvantaged intake compared with many schools in the Oldham local authority area. The school is mixed and non-selective by ability, with an 11-18 age range and a dedicated sixth form centre on site.
Academically, Blue Coat is the top-performing school in Oldham by Progress 8, ranking first out of 12 schools in the local authority and in the top 25% nationally. Its Progress 8 score of 0.5 is well above average, meaning pupils typically achieve half a grade more per subject than similar pupils nationally. This is a strong contrast to the Oldham local authority average Progress 8 of -0.13. At GCSE, 84.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 63.7% achieved a grade 5 or above. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 56.1, and its EBacc average point score is 5.21. In the sixth form, the average points per entry is 36.95, equivalent to a B- grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B-. The sixth form value added score is -0.09, which is in the average banding, suggesting students make expected progress at A-level.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, art studios, music rooms, a sports hall, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a chapel. Sports on offer include hockey, cricket, netball, rugby, and swimming, while clubs range from debate and Model UN to choir, orchestra, and eco club. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Blue Coat was rated Outstanding in all areas in its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022, a grade it has held consistently across its previous inspection as well. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, oversubscribed state secondary with a strong academic record and a Christian character, where demand far outstrips supply.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Egerton Street, Oldham, Oldham, OL1 3SQ |
| Headteacher | Rob Higgins |
| Local Authority | Oldham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,669 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,669 / 1,550 (108% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.50)
492nd of 3,141
Nationally
49th of 445
In North West
1st of 12
In Oldham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.9
'22/23
35.7
'23/24
37.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2348%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 269 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)48%
- Sixth form college25%
- FE college16%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Not sustained3%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2369%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 195 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
37%
Russell Group
39%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)69%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Other education2%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Chemistry87
- Biology82
- Mathematics74
- Psychology66
- History39
- Sociology28
- Physics25
- Government and Politics21
- Religious Studies21
- Economics20
- English Literature19
- Geography17
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed227
1,605
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
597 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:20
Source: blue-coat.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British63.5%
- Asian20.3%
- Mixed4.9%
- Black1.4%
- White (other)1.1%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
23
Total schools
18
Oversubscribed
19
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Blue Coat CofE 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
Egerton Street, Oldham
Oldham, OL1 3SQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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