This schoolOther secondary schools in Manchester
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 14 March 2023Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 5 November 2014Graded inspection: Good
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 entry533 applications · 247 places offered · 177 named it first
- 2026 2.2; Manchester median median 2.5
- 2025 1.8; Manchester median median 2.6
- 2024 1.8; Manchester median median 2.6
- 2023 1.8; Manchester median median 2.6
- 2022 1.7; Manchester median median 2.1
- 2021 1.7; Manchester median median 2.1
- 2020 1.9; Manchester median median 2.4
- 2019 1.8; Manchester median median 2.3
- 2018 1.7; Manchester median median 2.1
- 2017 1.7; Manchester median median 2.1
- 2016 2.0; Manchester median median 2.0
- 2015 1.7; Manchester median median 1.8
- 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.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 247 | 533 | 2.2 | 177 | 0.72 |
| Sep 2025 | 286 | 511 | 1.8 | 167 | 0.58 |
| Sep 2024 | 318 | 564 | 1.8 | 203 | 0.64 |
| Sep 2023 | 326 | 592 | 1.8 | 259 | 0.79 |
| Sep 2022 | 323 | 535 | 1.7 | 290 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2021 | 328 | 572 | 1.7 | 317 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2020 | 321 | 605 | 1.9 | 336 | 1.05 |
| Sep 2019 | 324 | 594 | 1.8 | 363 | 1.12 |
| Sep 2018 | 289 | 493 | 1.7 | 259 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2017 | 299 | 493 | 1.7 | 258 | 0.86 |
| Sep 2016 | 208 | 418 | 2.0 | 215 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2015 | 179 | 295 | 1.7 | 178 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2014 | 127 | 205 | 1.6 | 104 | 0.82 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 319 | 43.5 | 36% | 57% | – |
| 2024/25 | 324 | 44.9 | 37% | 57% | – |
| 2023/24 | 316 | 43.0 | 40% | 56% | −0.02 |
| 2022/23 | 322 | 42.1 | 31% | 50% | −0.22 |
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
- Co-op Academy ManchesterThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20232.2applications per place 43.5Attainment 8
- 0.9 km · Manchester20252.8applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
- 2.1 km · Manchester20262.3applications per place 52.7Attainment 8
- 2.1 km · Manchester20262.3applications per place 38.8Attainment 8
- 2.2 km · ManchesterRemains Good20242.8applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
- 3.0 km · BuryGraded · no overall grade20251.7applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
- 3.0 km · ManchesterGood20242.2applications per place 44.9Attainment 8
- 3.2 km · ManchesterGraded · no overall grade20241.9applications per place 37.6Attainment 8
- 3.3 km · BuryGood20232.2applications per place 45.4Attainment 8
- 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
- 136174 · 352/6914
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,650 pupils · 1,554 on roll
- Free school meals
- 52.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2010
- Replaced
- Plant Hill Arts College (URN 105559)
- Address
- Plant Hill Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester, M9 0WQ
- Local authority
- Manchester
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources