SchoolScoresDean Trust Ardwick
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE DEAN TRUST
345 Stockport Road, Ardwick, Manchester, M13 0LF
0161 972 2988 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 May 2018.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 July 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
65 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Manchester comparisons use the 14 of its 30 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 16 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 8th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 80% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 6th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 81% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 43% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 76% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 65 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 11th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 37% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 65 parents who had raised a concern Joint 3rd highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 82% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 68% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 5th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 64% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 76% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Manchester figures pool parents at the Manchester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
271 pupils in this year group.
37% — 4 points below the Manchester average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 37% | 41% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 46.6 | 44.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
234 pupils in this year group.
85% — 4 points below the Manchester average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 85% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 14% | 15% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 24% | 30% | 13% |
| Further education college | 45% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 90% | 85% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Manchester. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 208 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 144 |
| Of those, offered a place | 144 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 504 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.7
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 59.3% | 49.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 18th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 4.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 24th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 66.9% | 44.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 10th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 76% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 15th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 66% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.3% | 21.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 21st lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 24.5 | 26.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 22nd lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.0% | 9.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils | 0.45% | 0.25% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 23rd highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 10% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4 | 15.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 22nd highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.8 | 10.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 26th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 26% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 15.1%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- St Peter's RC High School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Co-op Academy Belle Vue 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- The Manchester Grammar School 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 74% A*/A at A level
- Progress Schools - Gorton 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected
- Sol Christian Academy 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Manchester Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Manchester Enterprise Academy Central 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Manchester High School for Girls 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 56% A*/A at A level
- The East Manchester Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Trinity CofE High School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dean Trust Ardwick's Ofsted rating?
Dean Trust Ardwick was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 May 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 July 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Dean Trust Ardwick do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 37% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 9 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Dean Trust Ardwick?
85% of the 65 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Dean Trust Ardwick to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Dean Trust Ardwick oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 144 families put Dean Trust Ardwick as their first choice for 208 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 144 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 141884.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.