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.

Bury has 14 open secondary schools. On our composite Schools Near Me score, Parrenthorn 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.

14
Total schools
0
Outstanding (historic grade)
0%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
64%
Avg KS2 SATs
37.1
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Parrenthorn High School
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
🥈 St Gabriel's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
🥉 The Derby High School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
4. Unsworth Academy
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
5. The Elton High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
6. Philips High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 55 View school
7. Bury Church of England High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 54 View school
8. St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 51 View school
9. Star Radcliffe Academy
Secondary
 — 50 View school
10. Hazel Wood High School
Secondary
 Good 47 View school
11. Woodhey High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 46 View school
12. The Heys School
Secondary
 Good 45 View school
13. Manchester Mesivta School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 42 View school
14. Tottington High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 36 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

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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 Parrenthorn High School. The full ranked table above lists the top 14 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.