Rochdale's primary school performance: Just over half meet national standards

Primary school pupils in Rochdale are performing above the 50% mark in core subjects of reading, writing, and maths, according to newly released education attainment figures.

However, the borough falls short of the national average, with only 56% of 11-year-olds meeting all three Key Stage 2 standards during the 2023/24 academic year.

The data reveals that Rochdale's performance is better than some of its neighbouring boroughs, but still lags behind other parts of Greater Manchester and the rest of England.

Rochdale ranks just above Oldham, where only 54% of students met the expected standards, but below Salford (58%) and Tameside (59%).

The national average for England stands at 60%, meaning that Rochdale's primary school pupils are trailing behind by 4%.

Rochdale's 56% pass rate places it in the middle of the Greater Manchester pack, where educational performance varies widely across the ten boroughs.

While Trafford boasts a 70% attainment rate, the highest outside of Londo. areas like Rochdale highlight the challenges some local authorities face in ensuring more students reach the expected standards.

Despite this, the picture in Rochdale is not as bleak as in some parts of the country. For example, only 51% of children in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight achieved the necessary standards in reading, writing, and maths. Similarly, areas like Central Bedfordshire and Norfolk also fell short, with just 52% of pupils meeting the benchmark.

Across Greater Manchester, five of the ten local authorities failed to meet the national average. In addition to Rochdale, Oldham, Salford, and Tameside were among those below the 60% mark.

Conversely, boroughs such as Bolton (62%), Bury (63%), and Wigan and Stockport (both 64%) surpassed the national average.

The regional star performer, Trafford, led the pack with a 70% attainment rate, putting it on par with some of the top London boroughs like Tower Hamlets, Camden, and Kensington and Chelsea. London's Richmond upon Thames had the highest rate in the country, with 75% of pupils meeting the expected standards.

Although Rochdale’s figures show there is still room for improvement, the fact that more than half of local pupils are meeting national standards in core subjects is a positive step.

Local education authorities will be keen to build on this progress to ensure more students in Rochdale have the skills they need to succeed as they move on to secondary school.

Chris Gee, Local Democracy Reporter

Additional reporting: Rochdale Online