SchoolScoresIndependent school guide

Denton Community Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST

Taylor Lane, Denton, Manchester, M34 3NG

0161 336 2219 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedInadequateInspected 14 December 2022, before conversion
Pupils1,107Room for 1,530
First-choice applications per place0.692 for 142 places, September 2026

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Inadequate at the inspection that started on 14 December 2022. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

Category of concern: Special measures.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationInadequate
Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
Personal developmentInadequate
Leadership and managementInadequate
SafeguardingNot effective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

187 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.

Tameside comparisons use the 7 of its 17 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 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.

StatementThis schoolTamesideEngland
My child is happy at this school
50% 65% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
53% 67% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
50% 57% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 93 parents whose child had been bullied
30% 39% 50%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 166 parents who had raised a concern
33% 48% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
39%said yes 55% 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. Tameside figures pool parents at the Tameside 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.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

MeasureThis schoolTamesideEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths Not published 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. Not published 43.6 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. Not published 3.8 4.1

"Not published": No figure published.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 26%This school 2023/24: 44% This school England 45% 2022/23 26% 2023/24 44% 2024/25 –

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.

268 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 135122), before it changed to its current form.

83% — 6 points below the Tameside average, and 9 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolTamesideEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 83% 89% 92%
School sixth form 2% 3% 34%
Sixth form college 19% 36% 13%
Further education college 52% 43% 37%
Apprenticeship 7% 3% 3%
Work 3% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
85%83%

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 Tameside. 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 offered142
Families who put it first92
Of those, offered a place92 (100%)
Families who listed it at all245

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2026: 0.6

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Tameside

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolTamesideEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
 42.0% 38.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
 2.3% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
 16.7% 15.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
 10.4% 13.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
 15.8% 9.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
 41.9% 24.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
 154.3 46.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
 31.5% 13.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded10 pupils 0.78% 0.43% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
 21.9 16.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
 14.4 11.4 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
 16.7% 12.9%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Denton Community Academy's Ofsted rating?

Denton Community Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 December 2022.

How did Denton Community Academy do in its GCSEs?

DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. No figure published.

Would parents recommend Denton Community Academy?

39% of the 187 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Denton Community Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Denton Community Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 92 families put Denton Community Academy as their first choice for 142 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 92 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.