SchoolScoresDidsbury High School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE LAURUS TRUST
4 The Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2ET
0161 507 5600 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 30 January 2024.
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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
223 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 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 Joint 6th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 80% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 10th 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. | 86% | 81% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 5th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 76% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 96 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 88% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 53% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 166 parents who had raised a concern 9th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 57% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 68% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 14 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 62% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%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
218 pupils in this year group.
61% — 19 points above the Manchester average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 61% | 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. | 57.1 | 44.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 5.5 | 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.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
29 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B- | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 30% | 18% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 60% | 39% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 37.5 | 36.4 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
15 subjects, 97 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 17 | 6% | 41% | 40% |
| Chemistry | 15 | 0% | 20% | 30% |
| Biology | 14 | 0% | 29% | 27% |
| Physics | 13 | 8% | 23% | 31% |
| Psychology | 11 | 0% | 27% | 19% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 6 | 17% | 33% | 24% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Economics, Mathematics (Further), Geography, English Language, English Literature, History, Spanish, Logic / Philosophy, Physical Education / Sports Studies.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 about 2 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 207 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 365 |
| Of those, offered a place | 198 (54%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 1,270 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.7 · 2025: 1.9 · 2026: 1.8
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 25th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 40.4% | 49.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 4.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.6% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 19th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.8% | 44.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 22nd lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 52% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.2% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 22nd lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.7% | 21.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 17th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 18.1 | 26.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 13th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 43% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.5% | 9.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.34% | 0.25% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 27th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 5% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6 | 15.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 25th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6 | 10.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 18th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3% | 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
- Loreto High School Chorlton 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- CHS South 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Chorlton High School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 strong · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Whalley Range 11-18 High School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- William Hulme's Grammar School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Withington Girls' School 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 75% A*/A at A level
- Manchester Islamic Grammar School for Girls 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Bede's College 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 46% A*/A at A level
- The Barlow RC High School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Didsbury High School's Ofsted rating?
Didsbury High School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 January 2024.
How did Didsbury High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 61% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 15 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Didsbury High School?
84% of the 223 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Didsbury High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Didsbury High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 365 families put Didsbury High School as their first choice for 207 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 198 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 143729.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, A levels 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.