Dowson Primary Academy, Hyde

Ofsted's report card from its 21 July 2026 inspection grades Dowson Primary Academy on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have high expectations for pupils' attendance and respond quickly when a pupil's absence is becoming a cause for concern."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders provide a curriculum that builds on pupils' knowledge successfully over time."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders prioritise the identification of any barriers to pupils' learning."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders use their detailed understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development to drive improvement across all aspects of the school's work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders provide a comprehensive programme for pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "In 2025, pupils' attainment in national tests at the end of Year 6 was around the national average."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders use their accurate understanding of the quality of provision in the early years to bring about improvement when needed."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further strengthen teaching throughout the school so that more pupils achieve the higher standard in national tests at the end of Year 6"; "Leaders should ensure that provision in the early years maximises the opportunities for children's learning and development so that they are even better prepared for Year 1".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Dowson, we are privileged to educate in excess of 480 children whose parents and carers entrusted us with their most prized possession to begin their journey of education in the best way possible. Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make and we take that very seriously."

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Dowson Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Tameside and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 80% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 65 families put Dowson Primary Academy as their first choice and 124 named it as one of their preferences, for 58 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 12 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Dowson Primary Academy are Gee Cross Holy Trinity CofE Primary School (0.3 miles); Greenfield Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 57% maths); St George's CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, 62% reading, 69% maths); and Endeavour Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 77% reading, 77% maths).

Dowson Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Dowson Primary Academy is one of 32 schools run by The Enquire Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 76 pupils (15.9%) received SEN support and 13 (2.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Dowson Primary Academy had 17 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Hyde Central Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marlborough Road (n-bound), 130 metres away.

In 2024/25, Dowson Primary Academy issued 12 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.