SchoolScoresWhalley Range 11-18 High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Girls only · Sixth form
Part of GREATER MANCHESTER EDUCATION TRUST
Wilbraham Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8GW
0161 861 9727 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 October 2012. 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 | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 28 April 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
260 pupils in this year group.
47% — 5 points above the Manchester average, and 1 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 47% | 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. | 52.1 | 44.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.9 | 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.
266 pupils in this year group.
94% — 5 points above the Manchester average, and 2 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. | 94% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 39% | 15% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 28% | 30% | 13% |
| Further education college | 23% | 39% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | Not published | 2% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
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.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
77 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 11% | 18% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 33% | 39% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 29.0 | 36.4 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
13 subjects, 168 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 32 | 3% | 3% | 20% |
| Psychology | 30 | 0% | 3% | 19% |
| Chemistry | 18 | 0% | 11% | 30% |
| Biology | 17 | 0% | 12% | 27% |
| Business Studies:Single | 14 | 0% | 0% | 16% |
| Mathematics | 12 | 0% | 8% | 40% |
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 10 | 0% | 0% | 14% |
| English Literature | 8 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Arabic | 7 | 29% | 86% | – |
| English Language | 7 | 0% | 0% | 13% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Physics, History, Urdu.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
131 students in this year group.
78% — 3 points above the Manchester average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 78% | 75% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 4% | 7% |
| Work | 6% | 20% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 72% | 78% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
102 students in this year group.
75% — about the same as the Manchester average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 75% | 74% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 11% | 23% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 82% | 75% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 252 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 187 |
| Of those, offered a place | 187 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 547 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.7
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 | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years Joint 8th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 56.4% | 49.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 29th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.5% | 4.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 69% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4% | 15.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 99% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 78.7% | 44.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 13th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.1% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 29 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 19.0% | 21.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4 | 26.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 9.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 15th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 21% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3 | 15.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3 | 10.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 30th highest of 30 state secondary schools in Manchester. Higher than 12% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 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
- William Hulme's Grammar School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys 0.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- CHS South 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Bede's College 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 46% A*/A at A level
- Chorlton High School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 strong · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Loreto High School Chorlton 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Withington Girls' School 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 75% A*/A at A level
- Didsbury High School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Manchester High School for Girls 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 56% A*/A at A level
- Manchester Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Whalley Range 11-18 High School's Ofsted rating?
Whalley Range 11-18 High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 October 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 28 April 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Whalley Range 11-18 High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 47% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 1 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Whalley Range 11-18 High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 187 families put Whalley Range 11-18 High School as their first choice for 252 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 187 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 141264.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.