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Academy sponsor led · Manchester

Manchester Communication Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,240Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 136105URN

Silchester Drive, Harpurhey, Manchester, M40 8NT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2024 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.2per place
0.3 below Manchester median (2.5)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Manchester

624 applications for 287 places · 22nd of 32 in Manchester
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
44.9of 90
22nd of 31 in Manchester
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 May 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
2.2applications per place, Year 7
0.3 below Manchester median (2.5) close to England median (2.2)

624 applications · 287 places offered · 207 named it first

  1. 2026 2.2; Manchester median median 2.5
  2. 2025 2.5; Manchester median median 2.6
  3. 2024 2.1; Manchester median median 2.6
  4. 2023 2.4; Manchester median median 2.6
  5. 2022 2.0; Manchester median median 2.1
  6. 2021 1.9; Manchester median median 2.1
  7. 2020 2.0; Manchester median median 2.4
  8. 2019 1.9; Manchester median median 2.3
  9. 2018 2.0; Manchester median median 2.1
  10. 2017 2.1; Manchester median median 2.1
  11. 2016 2.2; Manchester median median 2.0
  12. 2015 1.8; Manchester median median 1.8
  13. 2014 1.6; Manchester median median 1.7
  • This school
  • Manchester median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262876242.22070.72
Sep 20252345802.51780.76
Sep 20242946132.12290.78
Sep 20232626232.42230.85
Sep 20222364802.02260.96
Sep 20212394521.92080.87
Sep 20202484862.02150.87
Sep 20192364441.91690.72
Sep 20182304642.02020.88
Sep 20172354982.11860.79
Sep 20162375322.22060.87
Sep 20152384341.81920.81
Sep 20142283541.61670.73

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

249 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)44.922nd of 31 in Manchester
Grade 5 or above in English and maths42%21st of 31 in Manchester
Grade 4 or above in English and maths63%
  • This school
  • Manchester median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.15
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)24944.942%63%–
2024/2526244.536%60%–
2023/2422144.043%64%+0.15
2022/2322251.353%70%+0.69

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
136105 · 352/6913
Trust
Greater Manchester Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,200 pupils · 1,240 on roll
Free school meals
63.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2010
Address
Silchester Drive, Harpurhey, Manchester, M40 8NT
Local authority
Manchester

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources