Elm Wood Primary School, Manchester

In its own words: "At Elm Wood Primary School, our mission is to foster an inclusive and nurturing environment where every child's unique talents, abilities, and potential are recognised and celebrated. With a focus on creativity, imagination, and academic excellence, we are dedicated to providing a rich and engaging curriculum that empowers our children to succeed in both their educational journey and personal development."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am Mrs Holt, the Headteacher of Elm Wood Primary School. I am very much looking forward to getting to know all the children and the school community and working with you all to move our school forward. You can also keep up to date with everything by signing up to our school Class Dojo Page."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include choir, cooking, sewing and forest school.

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Elm Wood Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Rochdale and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 54% in reading and 48% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 55 families put Elm Wood Primary School as their first choice and 118 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Elm Wood Primary School are St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 77% maths); Mills Hill Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 84% maths); St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale (0.7 miles, Good, 78% reading, 75% maths); and St John Fisher Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.8 miles).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Elm Wood Primary School.

8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (75%), Black (8%) and Mixed (6%).

The nearest railway station is Mills Hill (Manchester) Rail Station, about 350 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Baytree Lane (near), 240 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Elm Wood Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Elm Wood Primary School issued 19 suspensions, 4.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Elm Wood Primary School are Dixons Middleton Academy (0.2 miles), The Radclyffe School (0.9 miles), North Chadderton School (1.1 miles) and Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School (1.1 miles).