Higher Failsworth Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Oldham for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 51 of its 396 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 13 (3.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 396 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Oldham.
12.9% get SEN support
51 of 396 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.3% have an EHC plan
13 of 396 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication23
- Social, emotional and mental health16
- Autism11
- Moderate learning difficulty5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 396 (places for 474)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Samantha Forster
- Free school meals
- 30.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Oldham
- School reference (URN)
- 134784
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Oldham council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, July 2024; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (February 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, February 2023).
Contact and getting there
Stansfield Road, Failsworth, Oldham, M35 9EA
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Hollinwood Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- New Bridge School Special school · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- The Hathershaw College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.6 miles
- Greenside Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St John's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 21.2%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.3 miles
- Co-op Academy Failsworth Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 15.6%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.4 miles
- St Margaret's CofE Junior Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.8%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.7 miles
Questions about Higher Failsworth Primary School
How many pupils at Higher Failsworth Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 51 of the 396 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 13 (3.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Higher Failsworth Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (23 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (16 pupils) and autism (11 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Higher Failsworth Primary School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Higher Failsworth Primary School?
Through Oldham council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Higher Failsworth Primary School?
You can ask for Higher Failsworth Primary School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Higher Failsworth Primary School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is The Hathershaw College, about 1.6 miles away.
Where is Higher Failsworth Primary School?
Stansfield Road, Failsworth, Oldham, M35 9EA, in Oldham.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.