Holy Cross Ceva Primary School, Oldham
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Oldham. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 30th-highest of the 68 schools in Oldham with published results, and 8,749th of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below 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 26 Oct 2026
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Holy Cross Ceva Primary 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 (78% in reading, 72% in maths).
Getting a place at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 51 families put Holy Cross Ceva Primary School as their first choice and 78 named it as one of their preferences, for 52 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Holy Cross Ceva Primary School are Beever Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 64% reading, 68% maths); St Hilda's CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 63% reading, 63% maths); Northmoor Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 59% reading, 68% maths); and Horton Mill Community Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 67% reading, 70% maths).
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Beever Primary SchoolSt Hilda's CofE Primary SchoolNorthmoor AcademyHorton Mill Community Primary School
Who goes there
52.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 60% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (47%), Black (20%) and White British (18%).
In 2026, 74 pupils (18%) received SEN support and 28 (6.8%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Oldham Mumps (Manchester Metrolink), about 610 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Horsedge Street (se-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Holy Cross Ceva Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Holy Cross Ceva Primary School issued 10 suspensions, 2.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Holy Cross Ceva Primary School are The Blue Coat CofE School (0.1 miles), The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy (0.6 miles) and E-ACT the Oldham Academy North (1.1 miles).
The Blue Coat CofE SchoolThe Brian Clarke Church of England AcademyE-ACT the Oldham Academy North
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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2015, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Holy Cross is a calm, caring school where families from all backgrounds feel welcomed and supported. Teachers are well-trained and provide excellent adaptations for pupils with additional needs. The school sets high expectations for all pupils and uses carefully planned trips and visits to bring learning to life, helping pupils achieve well.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour and positive school culture with pupils caring for each other equally
- High-quality phonics teaching that helps most pupils become confident readers by Year 2
- Well-designed curriculum that builds on prior knowledge and helps pupils achieve well
- Exceptional support for pupils with SEND through early identification and tailored delivery
- Engaging trips and visits that help pupils see their learning in real life
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment strategies need refinement in some subjects so teachers can better identify what pupils have forgotten over time
- Attendance rates remain below national average, causing some pupils to fall behind
- Pupils with poor attendance need better catch-up support when they return to school
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
sports clubs, art clubs
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School is a supportive and safe school where pupils from diverse backgrounds thrive. The school has maintained its good standards with effective teaching, strong behaviour, and high expectations for all pupils.
At a Glance
52.2%
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 declined from 78% to 68% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 72% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 73% to 69% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.5
Avg class size
23.5
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
13
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Holy Cross Ceva Primary School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Holy Cross Ceva Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Holy Cross Ceva Primary 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
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 11 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
5 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 Holy Cross Ceva Primary School
Will you get a place at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Holy Cross Ceva Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Holy Cross Ceva Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Holy Cross Ceva Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Oldham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Holy Cross Ceva Primary 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
394 pupils
420 places
26 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
74
SEN Support
28
EHC Plans
24.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
412
Total Pupils
188
Boys
224
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
22.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,040
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,597
Per pupil
£3004k
Total funding
£318k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.3%
Overall absence
19.0%
Persistent absence
368
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
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School
Questions parents ask about Holy Cross Ceva Primary School
What are SATs results like at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
Of the pupils at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Holy Cross Ceva Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Holy Cross Ceva Primary 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 Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
Classes at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School average 26.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School has around 412 pupils on roll. 52% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
6.3% of sessions were missed at Holy Cross Ceva Primary School in 2024/25. 19% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
Apply through Oldham's coordinated admissions process, naming Holy Cross Ceva Primary 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.
How many road collisions happen near Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 11 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 5 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 Holy Cross Ceva Primary School?
Holy Cross Ceva Primary School is at Ruth Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL1 3EZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)