St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone is a mainstream primary school in Rochdale for children aged 5 to 11. In January 2026, 39 of its 208 pupils (18.8%) were getting SEN support and 13 (6.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 5–11
- 208 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Rochdale.
18.8% get SEN support
39 of 208 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6.3% have an EHC plan
13 of 208 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication34
- Social, emotional and mental health13
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
- Academy
- Ages
- 5 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 208 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Joanne Brown
- Part of
- Watergrove Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 43.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Rochdale
- School reference (URN)
- 151362
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 Rochdale 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, June 2017; school remains Good (October 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, October 2022).
Contact and getting there
Oldham Road, Rochdale, OL11 2HB
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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
- Deeplish Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Marland Hill Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- Whitehall Academy Independent · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.6 miles
- Brookland School Independent · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Lowerplace Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.7%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.3 miles
- Kingsway Park High School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 17.5%, EHC plans 4.7% 0.4 miles
- Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17.1%, EHC plans 2.7% 0.5 miles
Questions about St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone
How many pupils at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 39 of the 208 pupils (18.8%) were getting SEN support and 13 (6.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (34 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone?
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 St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone?
Through Rochdale 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 St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone?
You can ask for St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone 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 St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone 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 Deeplish Primary Academy, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Balderstone?
Oldham Road, Rochdale, OL11 2HB, in Rochdale.
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.