Droylsden Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of TAME RIVER EDUCATIONAL TRUST

Manor Road, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 6QD

0161 301 7600 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 14 September 2017; confirmed 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths49%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 63% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils926Room for 930 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 894 in 2019, 905 in 2021, 929 in 2022, 919 in 2023, 938 in 2024, 936 in 2025, 926 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1199 for 181 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 74% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 September 2017.

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

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 September 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

171 pupils in this year group.

49% — 8 points above the Tameside average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolTamesideEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 49% 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. 47.7 43.6 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.3 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 53%This school 2023/24: 47%This school 2024/25: 49% This school England 45% 2022/23 53% 2023/24 47% 2024/25 49%

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.

176 pupils in this year group.

87% — 2 points below the Tameside average, and 5 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 31%42%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolTamesideEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 87% 89% 92%
School sixth form 6% 3% 34%
Sixth form college 31% 36% 13%
Further education college 42% 43% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 3% 3%
Work 6% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
90%87%

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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered181
Families who put it first199
Of those, offered a place168 (84%)
Families who listed it at all490

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.6 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1

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
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
40.5% 38.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.5% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.3% 15.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.9% 13.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.3% 9.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Lower than 46% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
24.3% 24.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
34.7 46.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Lower than 10% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.4% 13.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils 0.32% 0.43% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 36% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.2 16.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.3 11.4 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside).
Higher than 18% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
8.2% 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 Droylsden Academy's Ofsted rating?

Droylsden Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 September 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 September 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Droylsden Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Droylsden Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 199 families put Droylsden Academy as their first choice for 181 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 168 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.