Free schools · Manchester

Didsbury High School

11–18Ages
1,220Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
143729URN

4 The Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2ET · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2024 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

6.1per place

3.6 above Manchester median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Manchester

1,270 applications for 207 places · 1st of 32 in Manchester

Every year since 2020

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

57.8of 90

Manchester 48.5 England 46.0

2nd of 31 in Manchester

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 30 January 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Sixth form provision	Outstanding

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

6.1applications per place, Year 7

3.6 above Manchester median (2.5) 3.9 above England median (2.2)

1,270 applications · 207 places offered · 365 named it first

2026 6.1; Manchester median median 2.5
2025 6.2; Manchester median median 2.6
2024 5.8; Manchester median median 2.6
2023 5.7; Manchester median median 2.6
2022 4.0; Manchester median median 2.1
2021 4.6; Manchester median median 2.1
2020 4.4; Manchester median median 2.4

More applications per place than the Manchester median in 7 of 7 years.

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	207	1,270	6.1	365	1.76
Sep 2025	206	1,275	6.2	390	1.89
Sep 2024	203	1,186	5.8	346	1.70
Sep 2023	202	1,143	5.7	348	1.72
Sep 2022	203	802	4.0	325	1.60
Sep 2021	209	961	4.6	368	1.76
Sep 2020	209	924	4.4	378	1.81

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

209 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)57.82nd of 31 in Manchester

Manchester 48.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths62%4th of 31 in Manchester

Manchester 48% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths80%

Manchester 67% England 66%

This school
Manchester median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.67

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	209	57.8	62%	80%	–
2024/25	218	57.1	61%	80%	–
2023/24	206	57.3	60%	80%	+0.67
2022/23	0				–

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

Didsbury High SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2024

6.1applications per place 57.8Attainment 8
Loreto High School Chorlton
0.9 km · Manchester

Requires improvement2024

3.3applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
CHS South
1.0 km · Manchester

Good2023

3.3applications per place 47.2Attainment 8
Chorlton High School
1.2 km · Manchester

2025

3.2applications per place 54.5Attainment 8
Whalley Range 11-18 High School
1.5 km · Manchester

Remains Good2022

2.2applications per place 52.1Attainment 8
William Hulme's Grammar School
1.8 km · Manchester

Improved significantly2025

5.9applications per place 49.7Attainment 8
The Barlow RC High School
2.6 km · Manchester

Remains Good2024

3.5applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
Burnage Academy for Boys
3.0 km · Manchester

Remains Outstanding2024

2.2applications per place 51.9Attainment 8
Parrs Wood High School
3.2 km · Manchester

Standards maintained2025

2.9applications per place 48.7Attainment 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: Free schools
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 143729 · 352/4009
Trust: The Laurus Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,350 pupils · 1,220 on roll
Free school meals: 41.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 2 September 2019
Address: 4 The Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2ET
Local authority: Manchester

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