Waterloo Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Waterloo Primary School 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. "Pupils attend school regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Since the previous inspection, leaders have refined the design and implementation of the curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a welcoming and purposeful early years provision."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders work closely with parents and carers to identify pupils' special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders across the school show genuine care for their community and a clear commitment to doing the best for their pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a personal development programme that is inclusive, coherent and responsive to pupils' needs."

Achievement - Needs attention. "The proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard in the phonics screening check is below average."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should make sure that pupils build the important basic knowledge they need across the curriculum, so that more pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education"; "Leaders should make sure that teachers use their knowledge of pupils to pitch work at the right level, so that higher-attaining pupils reach greater depth in their learning"; "Leaders should make sure that phonics is taught to the same high standard across the early years and key stage 1, so that pupils build secure foundations in reading".

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Waterloo Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Tameside and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 57% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Waterloo Primary School as their first choice and 57 named it as one of their preferences, for 38 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 Waterloo Primary School are Canon Burrows CofE Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 78% reading, 71% maths); Canon Johnson CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 79% maths); Oasis Academy Broadoak (0.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 68% maths); and Holy Trinity CofE Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 83% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Waterloo Primary School.

Waterloo Primary School is one of 10 schools run by Prestolee Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

43% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 31.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%), Asian (32%) and Mixed (11%).

In 2026, 51 pupils (17.4%) received SEN support and 8 (2.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Waterloo Primary School had 22 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Ashton West (Manchester Metrolink), about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Taunton Road, 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Waterloo Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Waterloo Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 3.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Waterloo Primary School are Dixons Ashton Academy (1 mile) and Laurus Ryecroft (1.3 miles).