Parrenthorn High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of VISION MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

Heywood Road, Manchester, M25 2BW

0161 773 8634 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 March 2023, before conversion
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 40% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,025Room for 1,050 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 897 in 2019, 959 in 2021, 987 in 2022, 1,011 in 2023, 1,029 in 2024, 1,033 in 2025, 1,025 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1230 for 210 places, September 2026
1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 73% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 March 2023. 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

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

198 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 105358), before it changed to its current form.

40% — about the same as the Bury average, and 6 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBuryEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 40% 39% 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. 44.5 43.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.9 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 49%This school 2023/24: 51%This school 2024/25: 40% This school England 45% 2022/23 49% 2023/24 51% 2024/25 40%

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.

194 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 105358), before it changed to its current form.

94% — about the same as the Bury average, and 2 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 41%48%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolBuryEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 94% 93% 92%
School sixth form 1% 2% 34%
Sixth form college 41% 41% 13%
Further education college 48% 44% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 3% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%94%

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 Bury. 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 offered210
Families who put it first230
Of those, offered a place202 (88%)
Families who listed it at all451

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 Bury

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBuryEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
28.9% 29.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.1% 4.1%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
7.9% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.1% 15.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Lower than 47% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.5% 8.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
26.8% 24.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Lower than 43% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
17.4 32.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Lower than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.6% 9.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.36% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 47% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.7 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.8 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Manchester (Bury).
Higher than 18% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
8.2% 16.6%* 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 Parrenthorn High School's Ofsted rating?

Parrenthorn High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 March 2023.

How did Parrenthorn High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 40% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Parrenthorn High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 230 families put Parrenthorn High School as their first choice for 210 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 202 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.