St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford, Heywood
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Heywood. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 8 schools in Heywood with published results, and 4,333rd of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Rochdale (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford in detail
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford in its own words
In its own words: "St. Michael's C of E Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. My teachers are amazing. I love them. My friends are great. School makes me go ... WOW! (Y2) It's a wonderful place to learn. It has nice children and teachers. (Y2)"
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include netball, yoga, dance and drama.
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 2pm, an open day on Thursday 19 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Monday 11 January 2027 at 9.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Rochdale
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Rochdale and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 97% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford
For September 2026 entry, 35 families put St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford as their first choice and 143 named it as one of their preferences, for 31 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford are St Luke's Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 83% maths); All Souls Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 87% reading, 90% maths); Bamford Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 77% reading, 68% maths); and Harwood Park Primary School (1 mile, Good, 69% reading, 59% maths).
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St Luke's Church of England Primary SchoolAll Souls Church of England Primary SchoolBamford AcademyHarwood Park Primary School
Who goes there
6.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Asian (11%).
In 2026, 22 pupils (9.6%) received SEN support and 4 (1.8%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Heywood (East Lancashire Railway), about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Queens Park Road (near), 10 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford issued 0 suspensions, 0 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford are Matthew Moss High School (1.2 miles), Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College (1.3 miles) and Newhouse Academy (1.6 miles).
Matthew Moss High SchoolHoly Family Roman Catholic and Church of England CollegeNewhouse Academy
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); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
6.6%
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 97% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 87% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 87% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.5
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford.
- NEST Woodland Adventures750m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Rochdale's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford is in Rochdale; for families living there:
- Rochdale's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy
- How to apply: Apply for school travel expenses
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Rochdale is 10 (the median across 106 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 St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford
Will you get a place at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Rochdale, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Rochdale 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
206 pupils
210 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Heywood
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Heywood
Across Rochdale council
Places available
3,242
Applications
2,831
Got 1st preference
89.2%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across Rochdale council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
22
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
11.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
228
Total Pupils
113
Boys
115
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
19.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,792
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,116
Per pupil
£1135k
Total funding
£17k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.9%
Overall absence
5.1%
Persistent absence
178
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
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford
Questions parents ask about St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford
What are SATs results like at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
Of the pupils at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford's Ofsted rating?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
No fixed boundary. When St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford is oversubscribed, Rochdale allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
Classes at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford average 28.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford has around 228 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
3.9% of sessions were missed at St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford in 2024/25. 5.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
Apply through Rochdale's coordinated admissions process, naming St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford 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.
Does St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford: NEST Woodland Adventures (750m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Rochdale is 10 (the median across 106 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford is at Bury and Rochdale Old Road, Heywood, Lancashire, OL10 4BB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)