Best Secondary Schools in Manchester 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 30 schools across Manchester. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Manchester has 30 secondary schools, of which 5 (17%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 18 rated Good — 77% of secondary schools in Manchester are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Co-op Academy Belle Vue currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Catchment data available for 7 schools in Manchester. We publish last-admitted distance and three-year history wherever the council has released it — useful before you commit to a postcode in the area.

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.

30
Total schools
5
Outstanding
17%
Outstanding rate
60%
Avg KS2 SATs
45.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Co-op Academy Belle Vue
Secondary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Didsbury High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 81 View school
🥉 Levenshulme High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
4. Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester
Secondary
 Good 75 View school
5. Wright Robinson College
Secondary
 Outstanding 71 View school
6. Chorlton High School
Secondary
 Good 70 View school
7. Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester
Secondary
 Good 69 View school
8. Burnage Academy for Boys
Secondary
 Outstanding 68 View school
9. Whalley Range 11-18 High School
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
10. Trinity CofE High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
11. The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
12. Our Lady's RC High School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
13. CHS South
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
14. Parrs Wood High School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
15. St Peter's RC High School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
16. The King David High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 62 View school
17. Dean Trust Ardwick
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
18. Manchester Enterprise Academy Central
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
19. Manchester Academy
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
20. Co-op Academy Manchester
Secondary
 Good 58 View school

Related lists for Manchester

All schools in ManchesterPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in ManchesterReception–Year 6 only Outstanding schools in Manchester5 schools rated Outstanding Schools with catchment data7 schools with last-admitted distance

See full data for any school in Manchester

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

Search schools in Manchester

Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Manchester?
There are 30 secondary schools in Manchester, of which 5 (17%) 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 Co-op Academy Belle Vue. 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?
17% of secondary schools in Manchester are rated Outstanding and 60% 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.