Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne, Ashton-under-Lyne

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "The school has high expectations for pupils' attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school's curriculum is broad and ambitious."

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years environment is welcoming and engaging."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school warmly welcomes pupils with a range of different vulnerabilities."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff put pupils' interests and wellbeing at the forefront of their work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a well-thought-out programme to promote pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 2 has been lower than other pupils' nationally."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on the recent improvements to the curriculum so that pupils' success in writing, especially in key stage 2, matches their achievement in reading and mathematics"; "Leaders should ensure that staff's checks on how well pupils remember and build on their prior learning over time are more effective so that gaps in knowledge are identified and rectified and pupils build a secure body"; "Leaders should sharpen their systems and processes for checking on the impact of some aspects of their work so that they and governors are fully assured that their actions are making the intended difference to pupils' experiences".

In its own words: "Our school is a voluntary aided Primary and Nursery school which admits children between the ages of three and eleven years old and we currently have around 240 pupils on roll. This ‘About Us’ section contains pages contain information that describes and defines our school. This includes our objectives, values and how we go about achieving them."

From the headteacher's welcome: "The aims of the Governors, staff and myself are to create an environment that will ensure that your child will progress academically, socially and personally to reach his or her full potential. We value the support and co-operation of parents, and view the education of each child as a partnership between home, school and parish."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, athletics, cross-country, yoga, dance, choir, guitar and philosophy.

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne reached the expected standard in reading and 71% 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 (67% in reading, 70% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne are The Heys Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 86% maths); Hurst Knoll St James' Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 63% reading, 53% maths); St James' Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles, 86% reading, 86% maths); and Parochial CofE Primary and Nursery School, Ashton-under-Lyne (0.3 miles, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths).

Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

46.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (47%), Asian (31%) and Black (9%).

In 2026, 40 pupils (17%) received SEN support and 5 (2.1%) 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.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Ashton-under-Lyne Rail Station, about 720 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Diamond Street (near), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne are Dixons Ashton Academy (0.8 miles), West Hill School (0.9 miles) and St Damian's RC Science College (1.2 miles).