E-ACT the Oldham Academy North

E-ACT the Oldham Academy North has shown significant improvement since its last inspection, reflecting a strong commitment to providing high-quality education for all pupils, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school boasts a rigorous and well-structured curriculum that promotes high levels of achievement and attendance while fostering an engaging and supportive environment for learning. Pupils report feeling safe, valued, and proud of their school, which actively encourages participation in a wide range of extracurricular activities and personal development opportunities. The leadership at the school, under the new headteacher Jessica Giraud, has effectively addressed any previous concerns and has implemented strategies that enhance educational outcomes. Despite being in the first cycle of inspections post-COVID-19, the school's focus on excellence and its drive for continuous improvement has been commendable, and it is well-prepared for its upcoming graded inspection. Relationships among staff and pupils are respectful, contributing significantly to a positive school culture.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious and well-designed curriculum
• Strong emphasis on reading and literacy development
• High expectations leading to strong pupil achievement
• Pupils enjoy a wide range of extracurricular activities
• Effective support for pupils with SEND
• Exceptional personal development program
• Strong relationships between pupils and 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 E-ACT the Oldham Academy North attended 93.7% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 15.4% 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, 7.1% of pupils at E-ACT the Oldham Academy North were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 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 E-ACT the Oldham Academy North had 19.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.8% 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, 9.2% of pupils at E-ACT the Oldham Academy North were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.7% 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 2024–25 E-ACT the Oldham Academy North received £8,728 and spent £7,728 for each of its 1,285 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,380,000 (£1,074 per pupil).

Across all 37 schools of E-Act, income was £8,727 and spending £8,448 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

E-ACT the Oldham Academy North is part of E-Act, which runs 37 schools. The nearest others:

• E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy Oldham
• E-ACT Blackley Academy Manchester
• E-Act Parkwood Academy Sheffield
• E-ACT Pathways Academy Sheffield
• Willenhall E-ACT Academy Willenhall
• Reedswood E-ACT Academy Walsall
• West Walsall E-ACT Academy Walsall
• E-ACT North Birmingham Academy Birmingham
• Mansfield Green E-ACT Academy Birmingham
• E-ACT Nechells Academy Birmingham

What is E-ACT the Oldham Academy North's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for E-ACT the Oldham Academy North is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was E-ACT the Oldham Academy North last inspected by Ofsted?

E-ACT the Oldham Academy North was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does E-ACT the Oldham Academy North have?

E-ACT the Oldham Academy North has 1,258 pupils on roll.

What age range does E-ACT the Oldham Academy North cover?

E-ACT the Oldham Academy North for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are E-ACT the Oldham Academy North's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 45.5, and 44% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is E-ACT the Oldham Academy North?

E-ACT the Oldham Academy North is at Broadway, Royton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL2 5BF.