Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College

Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College is a smaller-than-average secondary school with a dual religious character and an above-average proportion of pupils with EHC plans; it serves an area with above-average deprivation. Following a full section 5 inspection in March 2026, the school is performing at the expected standard across all inspected areas, and safeguarding standards are met. Inspectors found a caring, inclusive school where pupils feel safe and known, behave appropriately, and benefit from a broad and ambitious curriculum. Strengths include effective teaching, strong inclusion and support for pupils with SEND or other barriers, and a well-developed personal development programme. Pupils generally attain in line with national averages, attendance is improving and slightly above average, and most pupils move on to suitable education, training or employment. Leadership and governance are effective, with clear improvement plans and positive staff and parental regard. Concerns remain around persistently high absence among disadvantaged pupils, which limits their achievement. Some pupils are not well prepared for life in modern Britain because their knowledge of fundamental British values and protected characteristics is not detailed enough. Assessment checking is occasionally inconsistent, allowing gaps to persist, and older pupils' handwriting difficulties are not always identified promptly. Leaders have appropriate plans to address these issues.

Strengths

• Caring and inclusive culture where pupils feel known, valued and safe.
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture and concerns managed effectively.
• Pupils typically behave appropriately and the school day is calm and orderly.
• Broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum that is logically ordered and accessible to all pupils.
• Teaching is typically effective, with clear explanations and opportunities for independent application.
• Strong inclusion practice that reduces barriers and supports pupils with SEND and other needs.
• Comprehensive personal development offer, including diversity education, leadership roles, clubs and careers guidance.
• Effective leadership and governance, with clear improvement plans and strong staff support.
• Attendance is improving and is slightly above the national average.
• Most pupils attain in line with national averages and progress to ambitious next steps.
• Pupils benefit from positive relationships, and bullying or discrimination is rare and dealt with quickly.
• Leaders work well with parents, external professionals and partners to support pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Persistent absence among disadvantaged pupils remains too high and hampers their achievement.
• Some pupils lack detailed knowledge of fundamental British values and protected characteristics, limiting preparation for life in modern Britain.
• Assessment checks are occasionally not sharp enough, allowing gaps in knowledge to persist.
• Inconsistencies in older pupils' handwriting accuracy are not identified quickly enough.
• A small number of pupils do not always show self-discipline at social times.
• Disadvantaged pupils' attainment and progress gaps remain a concern, including below-average progress in 2023/24 and lower attainment in 2024/25.

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 Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College attended 92.5% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 22.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

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, 8.3% of pupils at Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 2 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 Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College had 16.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

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, 13.2% of pupils at Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College received £8,374 and spent £8,292 for each of its 772 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £325,000 (£421 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 Heywood · Rochdale local authority: places and applications

What is Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College last inspected by Ofsted?

Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College have?

Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College has 768 pupils on roll.

What age range does Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College cover?

Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 51.8, and 63% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College?

Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College is at Pot Hall, Wilton Grove, Heywood, Lancashire, OL10 2AA.