Diggle School, Oldham
Diggle School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Oldham, part of Dovestone Learning Partnership. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 11th-highest of the 68 schools in Oldham with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 86% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Oldham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Diggle School in detail
Diggle School in its own words
In its own words: "Welcome to Diggle School, where we aim to give pupils the best possible start in life. It is a happy vibrant school because it is a community where the partnerships between governors, staff, parents, pupils and the wider community are valued."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include orchestra and forest school.
The school runs after-school care until 6:00pm.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at Diggle School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 74% in Oldham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (86% in reading, 81% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Diggle School
For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Diggle School as their first choice and 62 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Diggle School are St Chad's Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths); Delph Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 83% reading, 67% maths); Holy Trinity CofE Dobcross Primary School (1.4 miles); and Greenfield Primary School (2.3 miles, Outstanding, 65% reading, 81% maths).
Diggle School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
St Chad's Church of England Primary SchoolDelph Primary SchoolHoly Trinity CofE Dobcross Primary SchoolGreenfield Primary School
The trust
Diggle School is one of 3 schools run by Dovestone Learning Partnership, an academy trust.
Who goes there
7.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 23 pupils (13.6%) received SEN support and 1 (0.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Greenfield Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Carr Lane (adjacent), 130 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Diggle School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from March 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Diggle School creates a warm, supportive environment where children thrive and feel safe. The school excels at teaching reading through expert phonics instruction and fostering a love of books, while also ensuring pupils with additional needs receive excellent tailored support. Enrichment activities like visits to The Bridgewater Hall and outdoor learning bring the curriculum to life and help develop curious, engaged learners.
Key Strengths
- Strong reading programme with expert phonics teaching and library club that helps pupils become confident, fluent readers
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, with leaders swiftly identifying needs and ensuring they access the same curriculum as peers
- Wide range of enrichment activities including trips and guest speakers that build curiosity and interest in learning
- Effective approach to behaviour management with low disruption to learning
- Good safeguarding arrangements with regular staff training and clear reporting procedures
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, curriculum knowledge is not fully identified, leaving gaps in what pupils should learn and remember
- A small number of teachers do not deliver curriculum aspects as leaders intend, meaning some pupils miss key knowledge
- Some subjects are in early stages of curriculum development without clear organisation of how learning builds over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with regular staff training, clear reporting procedures, and timely responses to concerns through specialist support agencies.
Extracurricular Activities
Library club, orchestra visit to The Bridgewater Hall, outdoor learning activities, community fundraising opportunities, before- and after-school care
Diggle School is a good primary school with a friendly and supportive atmosphere where pupils are polite, well-mannered, and enjoy strong relationships with their teachers. The school has high expectations for behaviour and achievement, underpinned by core values of respect, responsibility, and resilience.
At a Glance
7.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 86% to 90% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 76% to 87% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.1
Avg class size
21.7
Infant (KS1)
26.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Diggle School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Diggle School.
- Diggle Holiday ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Diggle School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Diggle School is in Oldham; for families living there:
Apply to Oldham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Oldham is 14 (the median across 129 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Diggle School
Will you get a place at Diggle School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Diggle School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Diggle School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Diggle School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Oldham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Diggle School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Oldham got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
86%
Available places
180 pupils
210 places
30 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Oldham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Oldham
Across Oldham council
Places available
3,927
Applications
2,814
Got 1st preference
92.0%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All primary applications across Oldham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
23
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
14.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
169
Total Pupils
96
Boys
73
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
16.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,252
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,208
Per pupil
£1000k
Total funding
£21k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.6%
Overall absence
3.8%
Persistent absence
158
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Diggle School
Questions parents ask about Diggle School
What are SATs results like at Diggle School?
Of the pupils at Diggle School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Diggle School's Ofsted rating?
Diggle School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Diggle School?
No fixed boundary. When Diggle School is oversubscribed, Oldham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Diggle School?
Diggle School was not full in 2025: it ran at 86% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Diggle School?
Classes at Diggle School average 24.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Diggle School?
Diggle School has around 169 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Diggle School?
3.6% of sessions were missed at Diggle School in 2024/25. 3.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Diggle School?
Apply through Oldham's coordinated admissions process, naming Diggle School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Diggle School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Diggle Holiday Club (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Diggle School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Oldham is 14 (the median across 129 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Diggle School?
Diggle School is at Sam Road, Diggle, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL3 5PU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)