Wardle Academy Catchment Area
Wardle Academy is an academy converter secondary school in Rochdale , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1364 pupils, and a capacity of 1200 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-16
Age range
1,364
Pupils
1,200
Capacity
114%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2018
Wardle Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Wardle Academy?
The catchment area for Wardle Academy is the geographic zone Rochdale uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Rochdale publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Wardle Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Rochdale. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Rochdale publishes the 2027 Wardle Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Rochdale before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Rochdale catchment area documents →Wardle Academy: heavily oversubscribed at 114% capacity
Wardle Academy has a published admission number of 1200 places. 1364 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 114%. At 114% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Rochdale allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 28.9% of pupils at Wardle Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Rochdale.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Rochdale publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Rochdale school admissions →
Wardle Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale, OL12 9RD
- Local authority
- Rochdale
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 28.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 140055
Other Secondary Schools in Rochdale
If Wardle Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Rochdale are the next closest alternatives.
Hollingworth Academy Catchment Area
Academy converter · OL16 3DR
Matthew Moss High School Catchment Area
Academy converter · OL11 3LU
Kingsway Park High School Catchment Area
Academy converter · OL16 4XA
Oulder Hill Leadership Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · OL11 5EF
St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · OL16 4RX
Falinge Park High School Catchment Area
Academy converter · OL12 6LD
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Wardle Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Wardle Academy
What is the catchment area for Wardle Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Wardle Academy is the geographic zone Rochdale uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Rochdale publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Wardle Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Wardle Academy currently has 1364 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1200 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Wardle Academy? ▾
Admission to Wardle Academy is managed by Rochdale. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Wardle Academy cover? ▾
Wardle Academy is a secondary school in Rochdale, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Wardle Academy? ▾
Wardle Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2018. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.