Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth, Rochdale

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our Lady and Saint Anselm’s school was originally established in the latter half of the 19th century for the growing Catholic community of Whitworth and surrounding areas. The school is housed in two buildings that have now been joined together with an extension, on Lime Grove, off John Street. We currently have 206 children on roll."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cadets and cheerleading.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

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

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth are St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 82% reading, 75% maths); St John With St Michael Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, 82% reading, 82% maths); Tonacliffe Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 80% reading, 77% maths); and Britannia Community Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 83% maths).

Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

15.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 29 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Smithy Bridge Rail Station, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Civic Hall (by), 200 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 39 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

In 2024/25, Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth issued 3 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.