Best Secondary Schools in Manchester

Levenshulme High School is an outstanding all-girls secondary school located in Levenshulme, Manchester. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence and positive attitudes towards learning, the school offers a well-thought-out and ambitious curriculum for students aged 11-16. The school has a high student-teacher ratio of 14:1, ensuring personalized attention and support for each student. With exceptional behavior and a clear vision shared by all stakeholders, Levenshulme High School provides a safe and nurturing environment for girls to thrive academically and personally.

Trinity CofE High School is an outstanding Church of England secondary school located in Manchester. With exemplary academic achievement and expert teachers, the school provides a secure and diverse environment for students to thrive. It offers well-supported programs for students with special needs and disabilities, ensuring every student receives the support they need. With exceptional leadership and management, Trinity CofE High School fosters a safe and high-achieving learning community.

Burnage Academy for Boys is an outstanding secondary school located in Manchester. With a student to teacher ratio of 12:1, the school provides high-quality teaching and support for boys aged 11-16. The school focuses on enhancing emotional welfare, promoting healthy lifestyles, and ensuring the safety and well-being of its students. With effective leadership and governance, Burnage Academy for Boys ensures that pupils make excellent progress academically and personally. It offers a well-planned curriculum and has achieved outstanding results in exams, with 43% of students achieving Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs in 2019.

Southern Cross School is a calm and purposeful co-ed school in Manchester, providing a strong focus on learning and personal development. With a high-quality therapeutic provision and a well-structured PSHE curriculum, the school prioritizes the wellbeing of its students. The positive relationships between staff and pupils ensure a supportive learning environment. However, some areas for improvement include utilizing additional support staff effectively and reducing the proportion of pupils with regular absences. Overall, the school offers a good education with a dedicated staff and resources to support student success.

Manchester Communication Academy is a secondary school located in Harpurhey, Manchester. With a strong vision that social disadvantage should never be a barrier to learning, the school offers high-quality PSHE education and a broad and balanced curriculum. The school has made significant improvements in the quality of teaching and has a strong culture of safeguarding. Although there are areas for improvement, such as mathematics progress and expectations of students, the school has shown good outcomes for pupils and has steadily improved attendance over the years. With a focus on personal development, positive attitudes to learning, and a commitment to inclusivity, Manchester Communication Academy strives to provide a supportive and engaging environment for its students.

Manchester Enterprise Academy is a co-ed secondary school located in Manchester. With a student-teacher ratio of 14:1 and a focus on excellent manners and hard work, the school offers a fantastic future for all students. The academy provides outstanding SMSC provision, a Fantastic Futures Curriculum, and new learning experiences. The school has a good overall effectiveness rating from Ofsted and offers a range of facilities including science labs, sports facilities, and modern classrooms. With a track record of improving achievement and a commitment to student well-being, Manchester Enterprise Academy is an excellent choice for parents seeking high-quality education for their children.

Dean Trust Ardwick is a secondary school in Manchester that provides an inclusive and ambitious education for students aged 11-16. With an outstanding leadership team, good outcomes for pupils, and strong progress made by most groups of students, it is a school that prioritizes personal development and welfare. While occasional low-level disruption may occur, the school excels in teaching, learning, and assessment. The governance is also outstanding, ensuring a quality education for all students.

Co-op Academy Manchester is a secondary school located in Higher Blackley, Manchester. With a strong focus on fairness, ambition, and respect, the academy provides a high-quality education for students aged 11-16. The school maintains good academic standards, with a student-teacher ratio of 17:1 and a dedicated team of teachers. It offers excellent pastoral care, effective safeguarding, and has invested heavily in careers education and guidance to ensure students have the best opportunities for their future. The school has demonstrated good progress, particularly in English, and has passionate governors who support its clear sense of purpose and direction. While improvements are needed in mathematics and science, the leadership and management of the school are outstanding. Co-op Academy Manchester is committed to helping students achieve their full potential and prepares them well for their next stage of education.

Meade Hill School is a caring secondary school located in Higher Blackley, Manchester. With a student-teacher ratio of 5:1, the school provides personalized education and has high expectations for both staff and pupils. The school offers a well-designed curriculum with academic and vocational opportunities. Safety is prioritized, with effective safeguarding procedures in place. Despite some challenges, the school has a good overall effectiveness rating and prepares students well for their next stages of education.

Loreto High School Chorlton is a successful Catholic coeducational high school in Manchester. With effective teaching and good leadership, the school ensures that all students make progress and achieve personal GCSE results to be proud of. The school has a strong focus on developing well-rounded individuals through extracurricular activities and encourages students to aspire for their future goals. With a supportive and nurturing environment, Loreto High School Chorlton aims to provide top-notch education and instill values of inclusivity and diversity.

Our Lady's RC High School is a Roman Catholic secondary school in Manchester, North West. With an excellent student-teacher ratio of 13:1 and a dedicated team of educators, we prioritize the individual development and potential of each student. Our school promotes a strong sense of community and holds everyone to high standards of performance. We offer a diverse and dynamic learning environment, ensuring students enjoy their time at Our Lady's while achieving good progress and graduating as well-educated and responsible individuals. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our Good Ofsted rating and strong exam results, with 33% of students achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is a co-ed Roman Catholic secondary school located in Manchester. With a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, the school offers a nurturing learning environment for students aged 11-16. The school has shown significant improvements in teaching and leadership, ensuring that pupils make good progress and successfully transition to their next steps. Strong teaching is observed in English, geography, history, French, and Spanish. The school promotes positive values, fosters responsible behavior, and maintains a strong safeguarding culture. Although teaching weaknesses were previously identified in mathematics and science, they have been addressed. The school aims to provide a quality education and supports students' personal development, behavior, welfare, and academic outcomes. Exam results indicate a 36% achievement of grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, showcasing the school's commitment to academic excellence.

William Hulme's Grammar School is an all-through Christian co-ed school in Manchester, offering a well-planned curriculum and effective teaching. With consistent progress across all key stages, the school emphasizes personal development and offers extensive extra-curricular programs and leadership opportunities. The school has achieved good results in exams, with high attainment and progress of disadvantaged pupils. However, there are some areas for improvement, such as enhancing critical thinking skills for sixth form students and addressing writing skills at key stage 3.

St Peter's RC High School is a Roman Catholic secondary school in Manchester. With a student-teacher ratio of 17:1 and an overall attendance rate of 97%, it provides a supportive and nurturing environment for students. The school has received numerous honours and achieved a good Ofsted grade, with a focus on academic achievement, quality teaching, and the safety of pupils. With a strong emphasis on the individual, St Peter's RC High School is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education that is rooted in the values of the Catholic faith.

Eden Boys' Leadership Academy in Manchester is a secondary school for boys aged 11-18. With a student-teacher ratio of 20:1, the school provides a focused learning environment. The academy has an outstanding record in behaviour and personal development, ensuring a safe and nurturing atmosphere. It offers excellent resources and leadership, with a good overall effectiveness rating by Ofsted.

Co-op Academy North Manchester is a secondary school located in Blackley, Manchester. With expert and determined leadership, the school promotes positive values and offers effective subject leadership. Opportunities for literacy development are provided, and additional funding is managed well. However, the school acknowledges that pupils' outcomes require improvement, particularly in science. Overall, Co-op Academy North Manchester is a good school with a focus on personal development, behaviour, and welfare.

Manchester Academy is a secondary school located in Moss Side, Manchester. With a student-teacher ratio of 13:1 and a strong emphasis on personal development and academic achievement, it provides a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students aged 11-16. The school has a good overall rating from Ofsted, offering a wide range of resources and opportunities for students to excel in their education. Manchester Academy's commitment to high standards, partnerships with universities and businesses, and dedication to transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people make it an excellent choice for parents seeking a quality education for their child.

Saint Paul's Catholic High School is a co-ed secondary school located in Manchester. With a student-teacher ratio of 14:1, the school offers a nurturing and supportive environment for its 900 students. As a Roman Catholic school, spiritual growth is at the heart of everything they do, fostering love for God and neighbour. With a strong focus on personal development and good behaviour, the school provides a well-rounded education. Furthermore, with a good overall effectiveness rating from Ofsted and excellent resources, Saint Paul's Catholic High School is dedicated to providing a high-quality education for its students.

The East Manchester Academy is a successful secondary school located in the center of East Manchester. With a student-teacher ratio of 14:1 and a focus on achieving the best results for its students, the academy offers a supportive and inclusive learning environment. It has a good rating for behavior, attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The academy is part of the Education and Leadership Trust, providing access to shared best practices and resources for enhanced learning. The academy also benefits from its location near the Etihad Stadium, offering various sports facilities and a multi-use space for events and performances.

Cedar Mount Academy is a reputable secondary school in Manchester, known for its commitment to providing a high-quality education. With a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, students receive individual attention and support. The school focuses on personal development and preparing students for the future, offering a wide range of educational options. Cedar Mount Academy is part of the Bright Futures Educational Trust, ensuring a strong foundation for students' success.