SchoolScoresOur Lady's RC High School
Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Alworth Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester, M9 0RP
0161 507 9640 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 11 November 2025 , published 11 January 2026.
In short: 6 strong, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
35 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Manchester comparisons use the 6 of its 30 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 24 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 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 94% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 88% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 90% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 90% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 86% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 87% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 23 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 99% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 84% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 98% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 80% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Manchester. Higher than 91% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 91% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 3%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
207 pupils in this year group.
46% — 5 points above the Manchester average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 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. | 49.1 | 44.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 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.
174 pupils in this year group.
95% — 6 points above the Manchester average, and 3 points above 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. | 95% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 2% | 15% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 50% | 30% | 13% |
| Further education college | 40% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 95% |
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 about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 202 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 232 |
| Of those, offered a place | 178 (77%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 570 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.3 · 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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 22nd highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 44.6% | 49.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.9% | 4.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 21st highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 57.6% | 44.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 97% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.4% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 96% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.1% | 21.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 99% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.1 | 26.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 99% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.1% | 9.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.19% | 0.25% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 26th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 6% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 13.8 | 15.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 26th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.5 | 10.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 23rd highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 28% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0% | 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
- Co-op Academy Manchester 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- Elizabeth House School 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 4 needs attention
- Co-op Academy North Manchester 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Dixons Middleton Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- Edgar Wood Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected
- The King David High School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- Abraham Moss Community School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Parrenthorn High School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- OYY Lubavitch Boys School 2.0 miles · Independent
- Tashbar of Manchester 2.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Our Lady's RC High School's Ofsted rating?
Our Lady's RC High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 11 November 2025. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.
How did Our Lady's RC High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 46% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Our Lady's RC High School?
97% of the 35 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Our Lady's RC High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Our Lady's RC High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 232 families put Our Lady's RC High School as their first choice for 202 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 178 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 105576.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- 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.