Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School

Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School is performing well, achieving a 'Good' rating across all areas of inspection. This marks a notable shift from its previous 'Outstanding' grade received 14 years ago. The school has a strong commitment to high expectations for both academic performance and pupil behavior, with a focus on inclusivity, particularly for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Many pupils leave the school well-prepared for the next stage of their education, and the supportive community contributes to a positive school environment where pupils feel safe and happy. However, there are some areas for improvement in curriculum planning. While most subjects have been well organised, a few have not defined the essential knowledge pupils should acquire, which can hinder the overall progression in their learning. Additionally, some staff inconsistently enforce behavior expectations, which can lead to variability in pupil conduct. Overall, the school is encouraged to enhance its curriculum further and ensure consistent modeling of behavioral expectations among staff.

Strengths

• High ambitions for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Broad range of extracurricular opportunities.
• Strong support for pupils’ emotional development.
• High-quality reading resources and phonics support.
• Effective engagement with parents to support home learning.
• Skilled staff in early years supporting language development.
• Pupils develop a deep understanding of British values.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum lacks clarity in some subjects regarding essential knowledge.
• Inconsistent reinforcement of behavior expectations by some staff.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.7% of pupils at Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School had 22.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 11.7% of pupils at Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School received £6,442 and spent £6,414 for each of its 402 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £245,000 (£609 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Rochdale · Rochdale local authority: places and applications

What is Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School have?

Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School has 402 pupils on roll.

What age range does Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School cover?

Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School?

Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School is at Bridgenorth Drive, Littleborough, OL15 0ES.