SchoolScoresSale High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST
Norris Road, Sale, M33 3JR
0161 973 2713 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 June 2015. 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 18 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
170 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Trafford comparisons use the 10 of its 19 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 9 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 | Trafford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Trafford. Higher than 90% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 87% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 3rd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Trafford. Higher than 87% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 89% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Trafford. Higher than 94% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 83% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 49 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Trafford. Higher than 90% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 51% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 115 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Trafford. Higher than 86% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 74% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 43 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Trafford. Higher than 82% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 67% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Trafford. Higher than 85% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 85% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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. Trafford figures pool parents at the Trafford 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
203 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 106375), before it changed to its current form.
46% — 18 points below the Trafford average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Trafford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 64% | 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 | 57.9 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 5.2 | 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.
198 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 106375), before it changed to its current form.
94% — about the same as the Trafford average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Trafford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 94% | 95% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 13% | 42% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 32% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 43% | 27% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 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 Trafford. 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 offered | 212 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 227 |
| Of those, offered a place | 178 (78%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 980 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Trafford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.0% | 17.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.6% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Higher than 22% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.1% | 10.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.4% | 20.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Lower than 80% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.5% | 6.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Lower than 79% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1% | 14.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Lower than 92% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5 | 6.8 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Lower than 90% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.0% | 3.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.19% | 0.23% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Higher than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2 | 12.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Sale. Higher than 43% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1% | 11.5%* | 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
- Sale Grammar School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 97% grade 5+ English and maths
- Dixons Brooklands Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 19% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ashton-on-Mersey School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wellington School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 63% grade 5+ English and maths
- Stretford Grammar School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 96% grade 5+ English and maths
- Manchester Islamic Grammar School for Girls 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Dixons Newall Green Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- Loreto High School Chorlton 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Altrincham College 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Chorlton High School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 strong · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Sale High School's Ofsted rating?
Sale High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 June 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 18 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Sale 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 Sale High School?
92% of the 170 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Sale High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Sale High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 227 families put Sale High School as their first choice for 212 places: about one first-choice application 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 151895.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.