Holden Clough Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Holden Clough Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Different groups of pupils progress well through the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance rates continue to improve."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious and rich curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders work well with families to ensure that children have a successful start to their education."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff make sure that pupils who face barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing experience success at Holden Clough."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are fully committed to pupils' social, emotional and academic success."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a well-thought-out personal development and wellbeing offer."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum provides pupils of all ages, including children in the early years, with more opportunities to write at greater depth"; "Leaders should continue their work to build pupils' resilience so that they are better equipped to resolve conflict and disagreements without over-reliance on adults".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, dance, Lego, cooking, gardening, sewing and debating.

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 91% of Year 6 pupils at Holden Clough Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Tameside and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (88% in reading, 90% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 38 families put Holden Clough Primary School as their first choice and 63 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Holden Clough Primary School are St Christopher's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.5 miles); Oasis Academy Broadoak (0.6 miles, Good, 73% reading, 68% maths); Rosehill Methodist Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 57% reading, 59% maths); and Hurst Knoll St James' Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 63% reading, 53% maths).

Holden Clough Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Holden Clough Primary School is one of 15 schools run by Victorious Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

85 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Holden Clough Primary School (as of April 2026): 95% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (93%).

The nearest railway station is Ashton-under-Lyne Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Exeter Drive (opposite), 80 metres away.

In 2024/25, Holden Clough Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Holden Clough Primary School are Dixons Ashton Academy (0.3 miles) and St Damian's RC Science College (0.3 miles).