Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Manchester 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 219 schools across Manchester. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Manchester has 219 primary & secondary schools, of which 39 (18%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 137 rated Good — 80% of primary & secondary schools in Manchester are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Manchester High School for Girls currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in Manchester follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

219
Total schools
39
Outstanding
18%
Outstanding rate
60%
Avg KS2 SATs
45.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Manchester High School for Girls
Not applicable
 — 98 View school
🥈 Martenscroft Nursery School & Children's Centre
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥉 Collyhurst Nursery School
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
4. Rodney House School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
5. Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
6. North Ridge High School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
7. Melland High School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
8. Piper Hill High School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
9. Grange School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
10. Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
11. Co-op Academy Belle Vue
Secondary
 Outstanding 95 View school
12. Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys
Not applicable
 — 88 View school
13. St Wilfrid's RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 86 View school
14. Abbott Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
15. Manley Park Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
16. Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
17. Cringle Brook Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
18. Brookburn Community School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
19. St Malachy's RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
20. Oasis Academy Aspinal
Primary
 Good 83 View school

Related lists for Manchester

Primary schools in ManchesterReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in ManchesterYear 7 onwards Outstanding schools in Manchester39 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in Manchester

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

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Manchester?
There are 219 primary & secondary schools in Manchester, of which 39 (18%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in Manchester?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in Manchester is Manchester High School for Girls. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in Manchester?
Primary and secondary school applications in Manchester are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the Manchester council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in Manchester?
18% of primary & secondary schools in Manchester are rated Outstanding and 63% are rated Good. 79.9% are rated Good or Outstanding.

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.