Best Secondary Schools in Bury 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 14 schools across Bury. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
14
Open secondary schools in Bury
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
7 Good or better
of 13 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
The Derby High School currently leads
Methodology

Bury has 14 open secondary schools. On our composite Schools Near Me score, The Derby High School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Bury follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. The Derby High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
2. Unsworth Academy
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
3. St Gabriel's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Good 50 View school
4. St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 46 View school
5. The Elton High School
Secondary
 Good 45 View school
6. Philips High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 45 View school
7. Woodhey High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 43 View school
8. Bury Church of England High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 42 View school
9. Hazel Wood High School
Secondary
 Good 39 View school
10. The Heys School
Secondary
 Good 31 View school
11. Manchester Mesivta School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 30 View school
12. Tottington High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 22 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Bury

Best primary schools in BuryTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in BuryTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in BuryPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in BuryReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in RochdaleCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SalfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BoltonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in OldhamCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Bury

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Bury?
There are 14 open secondary schools in Bury (closed schools are excluded). 0 of the 13 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Bury?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Bury is The Derby High School. The full ranked table above lists the top 12 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Bury?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Bury?
Primary and secondary applications in Bury are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Bury council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.