Freehold Community Academy

Freehold Community Academy continues to perform well, maintaining its 'good' rating from the previous inspection. The evidence collected during this ungraded inspection indicates that the school is poised to potentially achieve an 'outstanding' designation if a graded inspection were conducted at this time. The headteacher, along with the support of Focus Academy Trust, fosters an environment where pupils feel valued and listen to, contributing to their happiness and success at school. The school offers a rich and ambitious curriculum that effectively meets the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). With strong emphasis on academic achievement and personal development, students demonstrate impressive recall of knowledge and enthusiasm for learning. The school's commitment to high standards in behavior, alongside a positive and inclusive culture, positions it as a confident and nurturing community for its learners.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious curriculum that supports exceptional pupil achievement.
• Strong emphasis on developing positive relationships between staff and pupils.
• Pupils demonstrate eagerness and enthusiasm for their learning.
• Effective early years provision, helping children thrive from nursery onwards.
• High-quality reading programs tailored to support all learners.
• Strong leadership and governance contribute to a positive working environment for staff.
• Close connection with parents enhances student support at home.

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 Freehold Community Academy attended 94.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.4% 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, 2.2% of pupils at Freehold Community 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 Freehold Community Academy had 20.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.7% 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, 11.6% of pupils at Freehold Community Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.7% 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 2024–25 Freehold Community Academy received £7,142 and spent £6,603 for each of its 437 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £294,000 (£674 per pupil).

Across all 15 schools of Focus Academy Trust (Uk) Ltd, income was £7,160 and spending £6,808 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

Freehold Community Academy is part of Focus Academy Trust (Uk) Ltd, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

• Coppice Primary Academy Oldham
• Lyndhurst Primary and Nursery School Oldham
• Roundthorn Primary Academy Oldham
• Deeplish Primary Academy Rochdale
• Manor Green Primary Academy Manchester
• Old Trafford Community Academy Manchester
• Shibden Head Primary Academy Bradford
• Thornton Primary School Bradford
• Boothroyd Primary Academy Dewsbury
• Thornhill Junior and Infant School Dewsbury

What is Freehold Community Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Freehold Community Academy is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Freehold Community Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Freehold Community Academy was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Freehold Community Academy have?

Freehold Community Academy has 447 pupils on roll.

What age range does Freehold Community Academy cover?

Freehold Community Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Freehold Community Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 55% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Freehold Community Academy?

Freehold Community Academy is at Sidmouth Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL9 7RG.