Northmoor Academy

Northmoor Academy is an above-average-sized primary academy in Oldham and part of The Harmony Trust. Inspected in September 2024, it was judged good in each area inspected: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This was its first routine inspection since the pandemic. Pupils are described as happy, cared for and proud of their work, and the school's 'believe, succeed, achieve' vision is evident in everyday life. The school has an ambitious curriculum that helps most pupils achieve well, with reading a clear priority and effective support for pupils who join mid-year, pupils with SEND and pupils learning English as an additional language. Behaviour is exemplary, pupils are highly respectful and inclusive, attendance is improving, and a wide range of enrichment and leadership opportunities bring learning alive. Governance and trust support are effective, staff feel well supported, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. Inspectors identified two main areas for improvement. The school's ambition for pupils' vocabulary is not fully realised, particularly for some early years children, older pupils at an earlier stage of language development and some pupils with SEND. In a few subjects, the important knowledge and concepts pupils need are not identified clearly enough, so some pupils find it harder to connect and remember their learning.

Strengths

• A caring and inclusive culture helps pupils feel happy, safe and respected.
• The ambitious curriculum motivates pupils and supports achievement across most subjects.
• Reading is a priority, with effective staff training and strong support for early reading.
• Pupils' behaviour and conduct are exemplary, supported by high expectations and routines.
• Pupils benefit from leadership roles, enrichment activities and cultural experiences.
• Attendance is improving because pupils enjoy learning and want to attend school.
• Staff, including those new to the profession, are well supported by leaders and the trust.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Vocabulary development is not fully realised for some early years children, older pupils earlier in language development and some pupils with SEND.
• In a few subjects, important knowledge and concepts are not identified clearly enough, limiting what some pupils can connect and remember.

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 Northmoor Academy attended 93.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 22.3% 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, 0.3% of pupils at Northmoor Academy 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 Northmoor Academy had 23.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 24.4% 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, 21.1% of pupils at Northmoor Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has a SEN unit with 10 pupils.

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 2024–25 Northmoor Academy received £8,491 and spent £8,449 for each of its 345 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £951,000 (£2,757 per pupil).

Across all 17 schools of The Harmony Trust Ltd, income was £7,256 and spending £7,263 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

Northmoor Academy is part of The Harmony Trust Ltd, which runs 17 schools. The nearest others:

• Richmond Academy Oldham
• Westwood Academy Oldham
• Greenhill Academy Oldham
• Alt Academy Oldham
• Spotland Primary Academy Rochdale
• Norden Primary Academy Rochdale
• Greenfield Primary Academy Cheshire
• Reigate Park Primary Academy Derby
• Hackwood Primary Academy Derby
• Cavendish Close Junior Academy Derby

What is Northmoor Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Northmoor Academy is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Northmoor Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Northmoor Academy was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Northmoor Academy have?

Northmoor Academy has 346 pupils on roll.

What age range does Northmoor Academy cover?

Northmoor Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Northmoor Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Northmoor Academy?

Northmoor Academy is at Alderson Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL9 6AQ.