Waterhead Academy

About Waterhead Academy

Waterhead Academy is a mixed 11-16 secondary school in Oldham that currently serves 947 pupils against a capacity of 1,500, meaning it is significantly under-enrolled. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals stands at 49.6%, which is notably high and reflects the school's role in serving a disadvantaged community. Despite the spare capacity, the school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 admissions, receiving 153 applications for 117 places, with 82 first-preference offers made. This demand suggests that for many local families, Waterhead remains a key option, even with the challenges it faces. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Tracy Foy. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 judged the school as Requires Improvement overall, a step up from its previous Inadequate rating in 2022. The inspection noted that personal development is now Good, while behaviour and attitudes, quality of education, and leadership and management all require improvement.

Academically, Waterhead's performance is well below average compared to other schools nationally. Its Progress 8 score of -0.72 places it in the bottom 50% of schools across England, ranking 2,862 out of 3,141. In the North West region, it sits at 386 out of 445 schools. Within Oldham, it ranks 12th out of 12 secondary schools, with a Progress 8 score significantly below the local authority average of -0.13. The school's Attainment 8 score is 33.9, and only 22.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. The EBacc entry rate is 38.3%, but just 5.1% achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school's Progress 8 banding is classified as 'Well below average', with particularly weak scores in English (-0.89) and maths (-0.73). These outcomes place Waterhead among the lowest-performing schools in Oldham, and the data suggests significant work is needed to improve academic standards.

Waterhead offers a range of facilities including science labs, art studios, music rooms, a theatre, and a gymnasium, plus sports such as swimming, tennis, and rowing. Clubs include Model UN, debate, choir, and a newspaper club. The school provides support for a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. However, the Parent View survey, based on 53 responses, paints a challenging picture: only 47% of parents would recommend the school, and 65% strongly disagreed that SEND children receive the support they need. Behaviour is a concern, with 34% strongly disagreeing that pupils are well behaved. The school is oversubscribed, but with a ratio of 1.31 applications per place, competition is not fierce. Waterhead may suit families who live nearby and value its broad extracurricular offer, but the academic and behavioural data suggests it is a school in the early stages of improvement, and parents should weigh the Ofsted progress and parent feedback carefully.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterhead Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents