Most sought-after schools in Rochdale

Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.

This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.

This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.

#	School	First preferences per place	Newest intake	Latest Ofsted
1	Caldershaw Primary School Rochdale, primary	2.47	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
2	Kentmere Primary Academy Rochdale, primary	1.76	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
3	All Souls Church of England Primary School Heywood, primary	1.43	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
4	St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale Manchester, primary	1.43	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
5	St Luke's Church of England Primary School Heywood, primary	1.41	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
6	Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School Manchester, secondary	1.37	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
7	Parkfield Primary School Manchester, primary	1.34	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
8	Bowlee Park Community Primary School Manchester, primary	1.29	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
9	Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College Heywood, secondary	1.27	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
10	St John Fisher Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	1.23	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
11	Alkrington Primary School Manchester, primary	1.22	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
12	St Gabriel's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale Rochdale, primary	1.17	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
13	St Anne's Church of England Academy Manchester, secondary	1.16	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
14	Ashfield Valley Primary School Rochdale, primary	1.13	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
15	Hopwood Community Primary School Heywood, primary	1.13	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
16	St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford Heywood, primary	1.13	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
17	Heap Bridge Village Primary School Bury, primary	1.08	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
18	Hollingworth Academy Rochdale, secondary	1.06	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
19	St Thomas' Church of England Primary School Rochdale, primary	1.05	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
20	St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone Rochdale, primary	1.03	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
21	Whittaker Moss Primary School Rochdale, primary	1.02	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
22	All Saints Church of England Primary School Rochdale, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
23	Healey Foundation Primary School Rochdale, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
24	Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School Littleborough, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
25	Littleborough Community Primary School Littleborough, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
26	Matthew Moss High School Rochdale, secondary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
27	Moorhouse Academy Rochdale, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
28	Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Rochdale, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
29	Falinge Park High School Rochdale, secondary	0.98	2026	School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
30	Greenbank Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.98	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
31	Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School Littleborough, primary	0.98	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
32	St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Middleton Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
33	St Peter's Church of England Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.98	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
34	Wardle Academy Rochdale, secondary	0.98	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
35	St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
36	Belfield Community School Rochdale, primary	0.96	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
37	St James' Church of England Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.96	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
38	St John's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Rochdale, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
39	St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Littleborough, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
40	St Patrick's Roman Catholic Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.96	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
41	Crossgates Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
42	Sandbrook Community Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.95	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
43	Heybrook Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.94	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
44	Marland Hill Community Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.94	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
45	Milnrow Parish Church of England Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.94	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
46	Broadfield Community Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
47	Shawclough Community Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
48	Castleton Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.92	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
49	Deeplish Primary Academy Rochdale, primary	0.92	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
50	Elm Wood Primary School Manchester, primary	0.92	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
51	St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School, Middleton, Rochdale Manchester, primary	0.92	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
52	Stansfield Hall Church of England / Methodist Church Primary School Littleborough, primary	0.92	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
53	Lowerplace Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
54	Newhey Community Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.91	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
55	St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery Rochdale, primary	0.91	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
56	Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Rochdale, primary	0.90	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
57	Kingsway Park High School Rochdale, secondary	0.90	2026	Some aspects not as strong (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
58	Spotland Primary Academy Rochdale, primary	0.88	2026	Inadequate (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
59	St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham Slattocks, primary	0.88	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
60	St Edward's Church of England Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.85	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
61	St Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Rochdale, primary	0.84	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
62	Brimrod Community Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.83	2026	School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
63	Oulder Hill Leadership Academy Rochdale, secondary	0.83	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
64	Our Lady & St Paul's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Heywood, primary	0.81	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
65	St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy Rochdale, secondary	0.81	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
66	Boarshaw Community Primary School MANCHESTER, primary	0.80	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
67	Hamer Community Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.80	2026	School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
68	Harwood Park Primary School Heywood, primary	0.79	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
69	Hollin Primary School Manchester, primary	0.78	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
70	Meanwood Community Nursery and Primary School Rochdale, primary	0.76	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
71	St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Rochdale, a Voluntary Academy Heywood, primary	0.75	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
72	St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Alkrington Manchester, primary	0.74	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
73	Dixons Middleton Academy Manchester, secondary	0.73	2026	School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
74	Rhodes Green CE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.70	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
75	Edgar Wood Academy Heywood, secondary	0.68	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
76	Alice Ingham Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Rochdale, primary	0.67	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
77	Bamford Academy Manchester, primary	0.65	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
78	Woodland Community Primary School Heywood, primary	0.65	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
79	Newhouse Academy Heywood, secondary	0.63	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
80	Norden Primary Academy Rochdale, primary	0.62	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
81	Middleton Parish Church School Manchester, primary	0.60	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))

Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 81 schools in Rochdale have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Rochdale · How we compare schools.