Co-op Academy Failsworth
Academy sponsor led · 1,434 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.0
Academy converter
The Blue Coat CofE School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,702of 1,550 places
- Free school meals
- 16.5%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 250
- Ofsted
- Outstanding, 29 November 2022Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: The Blue Coat CofE School (URN 105739, until 1 August 2011).
What the data says
Of the 249 pupils who finished Year 11 at The Blue Coat CofE School in 2023, 44% stayed on in The Blue Coat CofE School’s own sixth form (Oldham average 13%), 20% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 209 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 63% went to university (Oldham 41%, England 37%), and 28% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were well above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 59.1 against 46.1 across England and 42.3 in Oldham, with 74% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
German is unusually popular at GCSE: 47% of the year group took it, against 5% of pupils across England.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Oldham and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | The Blue Coat CofE School | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 249 | 3,389 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 97% | 90% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 93% | 85% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 44% | 13% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 28% | 35% | 13% |
| — further education college | 20% | 35% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 2% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | — | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | The Blue Coat CofE School | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 209 | 2,725 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 91% | 75% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 63% | 41% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 28% | 13% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 7% | 7% |
| Employment | 17% | 20% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 19% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | The Blue Coat CofE School | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 59.1 | 42.3 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 74% | 37% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 88% | 58% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 88% | 41% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 5.49 | 3.69 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 16% | 38% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 50.0 | 35.5 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 60.8 | 46.5 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 12% | 31% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 250 | 100% | 88% | 30% | 22% | 91% |
| English Language | 250 | 100% | 89% | 29% | 20% | 87% |
| English Literature | 249 | 100% | 86% | 34% | 21% | 93% |
| Religious Studies | 248 | 99% | 31% | 48% | 32% | 89% |
| Combined Science | 202 | 81% | 65% | 13% | 9% | 78% |
| History | 143 | 57% | 41% | 45% | 26% | 87% |
| German | 117 | 47% | 5% | 19% | 33% | 83% |
| Geography | 112 | 45% | 41% | 30% | 25% | 81% |
| French | 105 | 42% | 18% | 21% | 29% | 82% |
| Design and Technology | 83 | 33% | 11% | 23% | 23% | 86% |
| Sociology | 55 | 22% | 4% | 35% | 21% | 93% |
| Biology | 48 | 19% | 23% | 69% | 45% | 98% |
| Physics | 47 | 19% | 23% | 66% | 46% | 100% |
| Chemistry | 47 | 19% | 23% | 68% | 47% | 100% |
| Business Studies | 45 | 18% | 18% | 22% | 20% | 84% |
| Fine Art | 38 | 15% | 9% | 71% | 28% | 100% |
| Computer Science | 37 | 15% | 13% | 41% | 30% | 86% |
| Media Studies | 24 | 10% | 4% | 38% | 20% | 92% |
| Photography | 21 | 8% | 6% | 38% | 19% | 95% |
| Drama | 21 | 8% | 7% | 38% | 27% | 86% |
| Textiles | 20 | 8% | 2% | 20% | 27% | 90% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 17 | 7% | 8% | 41% | 21% | 100% |
| Physical Education | 16 | 6% | 11% | 56% | 24% | 100% |
| Music | 13 | 5% | 5% | 46% | 33% | 77% |
| Psychology | 2 | 1% | 3% | — | 22% | — |
| Chinese | 2 | 1% | 1% | — | 75% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Studies | 42 | 19% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 21 | 10% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 18 | 8% | — |
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | 17 | 8% | — |
| Additional Mathematics FSMQ | 11 | 5% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | The Blue Coat CofE School | Oldham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 442 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 219 | 1,217 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | B- | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 35.53 | 32.27 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B- | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 17% | 12% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 100 | 46% | 31% |
| Chemistry | 85 | 39% | 17% |
| Biology | 73 | 33% | 20% |
| Psychology | 62 | 28% | 23% |
| Sociology | 41 | 19% | 13% |
| Physics | 30 | 14% | 12% |
| English Language | 28 | 13% | 4% |
| Economics | 24 | 11% | 13% |
| History | 23 | 11% | 13% |
| English Literature | 20 | 9% | 11% |
| Media Studies | 19 | 9% | 4% |
| Geography | 17 | 8% | 10% |
| Religious Studies | 15 | 7% | 4% |
| 3D Design | 15 | 7% | 1% |
| Business Studies | 15 | 7% | 13% |
| Politics | 14 | 6% | 6% |
| Computer Science | 12 | 5% | 5% |
| Further Mathematics | 11 | 5% | 5% |
| Fine Art | 8 | 4% | 3% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Textiles | — | — | 1% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 92 | 42% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 12 | 5% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 10 | 5% | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | 8 | 4% | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 7 | 3% | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 7 | 3% | — |
| Applied Sciences | VRQ Level 3 | 7 | 3% | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| French | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| German | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| French | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| German | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Music | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Music | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Oldham
Co-Op Academy Waterhead
Academy sponsor led · 761 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 34.0
E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy
Academy sponsor led · 975 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 38.7
E-ACT the Oldham Academy North
Academy sponsor led · 1,258 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.2
North Chadderton School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,524 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.8
Oasis Academy Leesbrook
Free schools · 1,349 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.5
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.