Edgar Wood Academy, Heywood
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Edgar Wood Academy has successfully created a much more positive environment where pupils feel safer and happier. The school's new leadership team has raised behaviour expectations and introduced consistent routines that help learning happen without disruption. Most importantly, pupils themselves recognize the improvements the school has made.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour and attendance have improved significantly with new routines helping pupils feel safer and more prepared to learn
- New leadership team has strengthened the school and raised expectations for pupil conduct
- Curriculum has been expanded to include key stage 4 with clearer learning goals
- Teaching strategies are becoming more consistent, particularly in subjects with stable staffing
- School is taking an inclusive approach to reducing suspensions through supportive alternatives
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment strategies are not used consistently to check how well pupils are learning
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is still developing and not effective across all staff
- Provision for pupils with reading gaps needs strengthening
- Some planned improvements have been slowed by recruitment difficulties
Safeguarding
Safeguarding was not explicitly graded in this monitoring inspection, but the report notes that new routines are helping pupils feel safer.
Edgar Wood Academy has made progress in improving school leadership and creating a positive climate for learning since its previous inspection in November 2023. However, some aspects of teaching quality and support for pupils with special educational needs still require further development.
At a Glance
42.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
56 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
23.6
Avg class size
24
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
729 pupils
900 capacity
171 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Heywood
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Heywood
Admissions Demand - Rochdale
Places available
3,037
Applications
3,006
Got 1st preference
85.7%
Got preferred school
95.8%
Secondary admissions across Rochdale (2025/26)
Inspection History(103)
House Prices
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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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.72389%
Overall absence
30.73529%
Persistent absence
680
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Edgar Wood Academy
Bowlee Park Community Primary School
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Middleton
Parkfield Primary School
Middleton Parish Church School
Rhodes Green CE Primary School
Hollin Primary School
Newlands School
Hopwood Community Primary School
Boarshaw Community Primary School
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Rochdale, a Voluntary Academy
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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