Our Academies and Ofsted
Is Rochdale Sixth Form College outstanding?
Yes. Rochdale Sixth Form College was awarded outstanding status by Ofsted in 2013, and again in 2022, and has developed a national reputation for excellence, having been used in Ofsted case studies for sharing best practice.
When did Edgar Wood Academy join the Altus Education Partnership?
Edgar Wood Academy joined in 2019, when the Trust was successful in its application to open the school as a new free school serving the local community in Middleton and Heywood.
What was the outcome of Edgar Wood Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection?
Edgar Wood Academy was inspected by Ofsted on 2 June 2026 under the renewed inspection framework. The school met the expected standard in all six areas assessed, and safeguarding was found to be met. [Read the full Ofsted news story].
Why don't Ofsted reports say 'Good' or 'Outstanding' any more?
Ofsted's renewed inspection framework, in place since November 2025, no longer gives schools a single overall word grade. Instead, schools are assessed across six separate areas on a five-point scale, with safeguarding judged separately as 'Met' or 'Not met'. Read our full explainer on the Ofsted changes.
Is Altus Education Partnership committed to Ofsted standards across all its academies?
Yes. Our Strategic Plan 2023-26 sets out a clear commitment to ensuring that all academies in the partnership are judged at least Good by Ofsted.