Woodland Community Primary School

About Woodland Community Primary School

Woodland Community Primary School in Rochdale holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement. The school’s most recent inspection in February 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained, with leadership, management and early years provision all rated Good. However, the school’s academic outcomes tell a more complicated story. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, just 45% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is well below the local authority average of 58% and places Woodland 42nd out of 52 primary schools in Rochdale. Only 2% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, and individual subject scores show reading at 62% expected and maths at 55% expected, while writing fared better at 78% expected. The school’s average scaled scores were 102 in reading and 101 in maths, both slightly below the national benchmark.

The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, with 49.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, more than double the national average. This context is important when interpreting the results. Ofsted’s graded inspection in 2015, which awarded the Good rating, noted that pupils make good progress from their starting points. The parent view survey, based on 34 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 85% of parents agree or strongly agree that their child is happy at the school, and 91% feel their child is safe. However, concerns about behaviour management and SEND support are more mixed: 73% agree the school ensures good behaviour, but 18% disagree, and 36% disagree that SEND children receive the support they need. On the question of whether concerns are dealt with properly, 33% disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Woodland is a mixed, non-denominational primary school for children aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 567 pupils against a capacity of 630. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 112 applications for 68 places, with 63 first-preference offers made. The school offers a range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, forest school, playing fields and a chapel. Sports include gymnastics, rounders, netball and athletics, and there are clubs for chess, science and art. SEND provision covers autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a school that has made progress in its Ofsted rating but faces clear challenges in academic attainment. It may suit families who value the school’s inclusive ethos and wide range of facilities, particularly those with children who benefit from strong early years provision and a broad club offer.

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