SchoolScoresSt Thomas More RC College
Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Town Lane, Denton, Manchester, M34 6AF
0161 336 2743 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 December 2012.
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 30 June 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
150 pupils in this year group.
42% — 1 points above the Tameside average, and 3 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 42% | 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. | 44 | 43.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.8 | 3.8 | 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.
152 pupils in this year group.
93% — 4 points above the Tameside average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 2% | 3% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 49% | 36% | 13% |
| Further education college | 35% | 43% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 93% |
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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 149 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 195 |
| Of those, offered a place | 144 (74%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 457 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.3
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 15 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Tameside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Higher than 51% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 27.6% | 38.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.3% | 4.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Higher than 14% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.3% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Higher than 27% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.9% | 13.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Lower than 81% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.5% | 9.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Lower than 76% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 17.7% | 24.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Lower than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 41.7 | 46.3 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.6% | 13.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.38% | 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) 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Higher than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Manchester (Tameside). Higher than 5% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 5.1% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Ashlea House School 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Denton Community Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion)
- Audenshaw School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hyde High School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Reddish Vale High School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2024) · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wright Robinson College 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 exceptional, 4 strong · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- All Saints Catholic College 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 22% grade 5+ English and maths
- Rayner Stephens High School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Alder Community High School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Fairfield High School for Girls 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Thomas More RC College's Ofsted rating?
St Thomas More RC College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 December 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 June 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Thomas More RC College do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 42% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points below the England average of 45%.
Is St Thomas More RC College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 195 families put St Thomas More RC College as their first choice for 149 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 144 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 106271.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 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.