The Blue Coat CofE School, Oldham

From the headteacher's welcome: "Just as important, you’ll also find, in the newsletters especially, a picture of life in a dynamic community where students grow in confidence, independence, leadership and resilience, not only in their lessons, but in the breadth of Blue Coat’s provision."

In 2026, pupils at The Blue Coat CofE School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 57, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Oldham and 47 across England.

68% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Oldham and 47% in England.

That is down from 59.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.5: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 49.8, against 58.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 611 families put The Blue Coat CofE School as their first choice and 1624 named it as one of their preferences, for 232 places offered. That is 2.6 first choices for every place. 383 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Blue Coat CofE School are The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy (0.7 miles); E-ACT the Oldham Academy North (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.5); Oasis Academy Leesbrook (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.4); and E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38.4).

The Blue Coat CofE School's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.

The Blue Coat CofE School is one of 10 schools run by Cranmer Education Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 259 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 0% into work.

Of the 227 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 67% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 12% into work. 30% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 12.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (62%), Asian (19%) and Black (10%).

In 2026, 106 pupils (6.2%) received SEN support and 63 (3.7%) 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.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Oldham Mumps (Manchester Metrolink), about 470 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Higginshaw Road (near), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Blue Coat CofE School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, The Blue Coat CofE School issued 48 suspensions, 2.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Blue Coat CofE School are Holy Cross Ceva Primary School (0.1 miles), Beever Primary School (0.2 miles), Horton Mill Community Primary School (0.5 miles) and Northmoor Academy (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.