Alder Grange School, Rossendale

Secondary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.0km)Possible (~2.8km)Unlikely (~3.7km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Joanna Griffiths
Pupils:899 / 902 capacity
LA:Lancashire
Phone:01706223171
Address:Calder Road, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, BB4 8HW
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 6 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 10 March 2026View full report
URN:119722
UKPRN:10014787
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Rossendale and Darwen
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Alder Grange School excels at supporting all pupils to thrive, particularly those facing barriers to learning. The school creates a respectful, inclusive community where pupils are proud to attend and feel safe. Staff have high aspirations for every child and provide targeted, well-planned support to help disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs make real progress from their starting points.

Key Strengths

  • Strong safeguarding culture with open, positive approach to keeping pupils safe
  • Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, who make sound progress
  • Well-planned personal development programme including comprehensive careers guidance and enrichment activities
  • Calm, orderly environment with clear behaviour expectations that are valued and celebrated by pupils
  • Effective reading support that quickly identifies gaps and helps pupils read with confidence

Areas for Improvement

  • Gaps in pupils' learning are not identified or addressed quickly enough in some cases, slowing progress
  • Inconsistency in teaching quality and how teachers adapt teaching to meet individual needs
  • Overall achievement in national examinations is not as strong as it could be
  • Pupils' knowledge of citizenship, finances and the legal system is less detailed than other areas

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Student council, sports equipment enhancement, medicine enrichment, international trips, student union, charity work, diversity days, assemblies, workshops

Alder Grange School is an inclusive secondary school that has taken smart action to improve its curriculum and support for all pupils. While safeguarding is effective and the school creates a calm, respectful environment, achievement in national examinations needs further attention due to inconsistency in teaching quality.

At a Glance

23.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

18.3

Avg class size

47

Total classes

5 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Alder Grange CSS (by)
91m · 1 min walk
Mitton Avenue (by)
291m · 5 min walk
Rockcliffe Street (opp)
333m · 5 min walk
Prospect Road (by)
361m · 6 min walk
Hollin Lane (by)
387m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

100%

Over capacity

899 pupils

902 capacity

3 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Rossendale

High pressure
New homes approved:828
Projected new pupils:149

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Rossendale

Admissions Demand - Lancashire

Low demand0.93x oversubscription

Places available

14,786

Applications

13,820

Got 1st preference

86.3%

Got preferred school

96.8%

Secondary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)

Inspection History(8)

10 March 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
11 January 2022
14 March 2017
Leadership & ManagementGood

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

7.50037%

Overall absence

20.49934%

Persistent absence

761

Enrolments

Authorised5.70833%
Unauthorised1.79205%
Persistent (10%+)20.49934%
Severe (50%+)3.15375%

Absence trend

6.03076%
18/19
5.35109%
20/21
8.56509%
21/22
8.41048%
22/23
9.58901%
23/24
7.50037%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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