Academy converter · Bury

Philips High School

11–16Ages
868Pupils
SecondaryPhase
151027URN

Higher Lane, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7PH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2022 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.4per place

0.3 above Bury median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bury

435 applications for 180 places · 5th of 12 in Bury

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

46.2of 90

Bury 43.2 England 46.0

5th of 12 in Bury

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 14 June 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	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 entry

2.4applications per place, Year 7

0.3 above Bury median (2.1) close to England median (2.2)

435 applications · 180 places offered · 165 named it first

2026 2.4; Bury median median 2.2
2025 2.6; Bury median median 2.0
2024 2.2; Bury median median 1.7; as the previous school
2023 2.5; Bury median median 1.8; as the previous school
2022 2.5; Bury median median 1.7; as the previous school
2021 2.4; Bury median median 1.6; as the previous school
2020 2.5; Bury median median 1.7; as the previous school
2019 2.5; Bury median median 1.2; as the previous school
2018 2.6; Bury median median 1.0; as the previous school
2017 2.9; Bury median median 1.1; as the previous school
2016 2.7; Bury median median 1.1; as the previous school
2015 2.4; Bury median median 1.3; as the previous school
2014 2.3; Bury median median 1.1; as the previous school

This school
Bury median

Dashed bars: as Philips High School (URN 105360), the previous school.

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	180	435	2.4	165	0.92
Sep 2025	166	427	2.6	146	0.88
Sep 2024 *	182	399	2.2	135	0.74
Sep 2023 *	186	469	2.5	177	0.95
Sep 2022 *	182	448	2.5	200	1.10
Sep 2021 *	180	423	2.4	170	0.94
Sep 2020 *	167	417	2.5	133	0.80
Sep 2019 *	174	440	2.5	152	0.87
Sep 2018 *	172	448	2.6	189	1.10
Sep 2017 *	175	507	2.9	199	1.14
Sep 2016 *	177	475	2.7	177	1.00
Sep 2015 *	171	403	2.4	168	0.98
Sep 2014 *	174	399	2.3	152	0.87

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

170 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.25th of 12 in Bury

Bury 43.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths39%7th of 12 in Bury

Bury 39% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths61%

Bury 59% England 66%

This school
Bury median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.01

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	170	46.2	39%	61%	–
2024/25	172	50.3	55%	73%	–
2023/24 *	165	47.4	46%	66%	+0.01
2022/23 *	166	44.3	36%	63%	−0.38

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

Philips High SchoolThis school
This school

Requires improvement2022

2.4applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
The Heys School
1.9 km · Bury

Good2024

2.9applications per place 33.1Attainment 8
Parrenthorn High School
2.4 km · Bury

Good2023

2.2applications per place 45.4Attainment 8
Star Radcliffe Academy
2.5 km · Bury

Not yet inspected

1.7applications per place
Unsworth Academy
2.5 km · Bury

Improved significantly2025

2.2applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
Manchester Mesivta School
2.8 km · Bury

Requires improvement2024

1.1applications per place 41.2Attainment 8
St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
3.1 km · Bury

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
The Derby High School
4.1 km · Bury

Remains Good2023
Co-op Academy Swinton
4.3 km · Salford

Good2024

1.5applications per place 47.5Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 151027 · 351/4025
Trust: Oak Learning Partnership
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 880 pupils · 868 on roll
Free school meals: 37.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2024
Replaced: Philips High School (URN 105360)
Address: Higher Lane, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7PH
Local authority: Bury

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