The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy
60%
Capacity
719
Pupils
5.0x
Demand
About The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy
The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy was judged Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection, but the detail tells a more striking story. Inspectors rated the school Outstanding in three of the four graded categories: personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The quality of education was judged Good. This is a secondary school in Oldham for pupils aged 11 to 16, with a current roll of 719 against a capacity of 1200, meaning there is room to grow. The most informative exam metric available is the local authority’s average Progress 8 score, which stands at -0.13. While the school’s own Progress 8 score is not published in this data, the fact that it sits in a local authority where the average is below zero gives context for how schools in the area typically perform. The school is oversubscribed by a ratio of nearly 5 to 1, with 1134 applications for 228 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 461 of those were first-preference choices.
Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with 91% of respondents saying they would recommend the school. In the Parent View survey, 72% of parents strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and 73% strongly agreed that their child can take part in clubs and activities. On behaviour, 61% strongly agreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 63% strongly agreed that their child feels safe. The school’s Ofsted report backs this up with an Outstanding rating for behaviour and attitudes. However, the picture is more mixed for SEND support: while 36% of parents strongly agreed that children with special educational needs get the support they need, 24% strongly disagreed, and 20% disagreed. This is a significant split that prospective parents of SEND children will want to explore further during visits.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, art studios, a chapel, and a sixth form centre, though it does not have a sixth form of its own. Clubs range from coding and Young Enterprise to orchestra and gardening, and sports include swimming, martial arts, and hockey. The school’s SEND provisions cover nine categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 40.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is one of 16 state secondary schools in Oldham, and the nearest Outstanding-rated school is The Blue Coat CofE School, 1.1 km away. This is a school that suits families who value strong pastoral care and high expectations, but those with SEND children should ask detailed questions about how support is delivered day to day.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Bloom Street, Oldham, Oldham, OL9 6BP |
| Headteacher | Allison Ash |
| Local Authority | Oldham |
| Number of Pupils | 719 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.1% |
| School Capacity | 719 / 1,200 (60% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Jun 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 23 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Ofsted Parent View
88 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed228
1,134
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
461 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian51.9%
- White British25.9%
- Mixed7.4%
- White (other)1.1%
- Black0.8%
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.
75% 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.
20
Total schools
18
Oversubscribed
16
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 Brian Clarke Church of England Academy
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
Bloom Street, Oldham
Oldham, OL9 6BP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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