Co-op Academy Strinesdale, Oldham

In its own words: "We have the highest expectations of our staff, students and parents. We embrace challenge, rather than avoiding it, so our students achieve the exceptional outcomes they are capable of. They become independent, equipped with knowledge and skills needed to become successful adults."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Co-op Academy Strinesdale, we support every student to succeed. We are committed to ensuring that every young person leaves us at the end of Year 11 with exceptional educational outcomes. Alongside these outcomes, students will leave us with a wide range of enrichment experiences, allowing them to make ambitious, informed decisions for their future."

In 2025, pupils at Co-op Academy Strinesdale averaged an Attainment 8 score of 34, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Oldham and 46.8 across England.

22% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 37% in Oldham and 46% in England.

That is in line with 2024, when the score was 33.9.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.72: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2025.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 29.5, against 37.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Art and Design, Combined Science and Statistics.

For September 2026 entry, 61 families put Co-op Academy Strinesdale as their first choice and 199 named it as one of their preferences, for 83 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places, so in 2026 a family who put it first could expect an offer unless the school's other criteria ruled them out.

First-choice demand has fallen from 136 in 2021 to 61 in 2026, while places went from 184 to 83.

Across Oldham, 75% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 95% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2025, families in Oldham lodged 277 appeals against secondary school offers; 248 reached a hearing and 14 succeeded (5.6% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to Co-op Academy Strinesdale are Oasis Academy Leesbrook (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5); The Blue Coat CofE School (1.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 59.1); E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy (1.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38.7); and The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy (2.2 miles).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Co-op Academy Strinesdale.

Co-op Academy Strinesdale is one of 40 schools run by The Co-Operative Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.7 in 2023/24, with a Progress 8 score of -0.34 (zero is the national average).

53 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Co-op Academy Strinesdale (as of September 2025): 47% would recommend the school, 62% say their child is happy there and 31% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (62%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (31%).

Of the 282 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2022/23, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 49% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 0% into work.

49.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 42.1% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (42%), Asian (33%) and Black (10%).

In 2025, 198 pupils (20.9%) received SEN support and 15 (1.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 15.6% and 3.9% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Co-op Academy Strinesdale employed 75 teachers in 2024, roughly one for every 12 pupils. Their average salary was £46,178.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £8,229 per pupil (£8.5 million in total), including £514,925 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest Underground station is Derker (Manchester Metrolink), about 1.3 miles away.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Waterhead Academy (at), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Co-op Academy Strinesdale stands in is among the 40% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 9th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school.

In 2023/24, Co-op Academy Strinesdale issued 352 suspensions, 31.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 2.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Co-op Academy Strinesdale are Hey-with-Zion Primary School (0.6 miles); St Edwards Roman Catholic Primary, a Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles); Littlemoor Primary School (0.6 miles); and Woodlands Primary Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.