Best Primary Schools in Rochdale 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 68 schools across Rochdale. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Rochdale has 68 open primary schools. Of the 65 with a published Ofsted inspection, 6 (9%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 89% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Caldershaw Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Rochdale follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

68
Total schools
6
Outstanding (historic grade)
9%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60.4%
Avg KS2 SATs
35.4
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Caldershaw Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 All Souls Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
🥉 St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
4. Bowlee Park Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
5. Kentmere Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
6. Ashfield Valley Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
7. Hopwood Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 82 View school
8. Heap Bridge Village Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
9. Norden Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
10. St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. St Thomas' Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
14. St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
15. St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 78 View school
16. Whittaker Moss Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
17. Heybrook Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
18. Alkrington Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
19. Healey Foundation Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
20. Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Rochdale

Best primary schools in RochdaleTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in RochdaleTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in RochdalePrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in RochdaleYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in OldhamCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BuryCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SalfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in TamesideCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Rochdale?
There are 68 open primary schools in Rochdale (closed schools are excluded). 6 of the 65 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Rochdale?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Rochdale is Caldershaw Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Rochdale?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Rochdale?
Primary and secondary applications in Rochdale are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Rochdale council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.