Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Salford 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 134 schools across Salford. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Salford has 134 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 125 with a published Ofsted inspection, 13 (10%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 81% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Bridgewater Primary 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 Salford 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.

134
Total schools
13
Outstanding (historic grade)
10%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
33.8
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Bridgewater Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 88 View school
2. St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
3. St Philip's RC Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
4. Broadoak Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
5. Wardley CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
6. St Andrew's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 80 View school
7. Christ The King RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
8. St Mark's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
9. James Brindley Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 78 View school
10. Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
11. St Andrew's Methodist Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 76 View school
12. St Patrick's RC High School
Secondary
 Good 75 View school
13. St Mary's RC Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 73 View school
14. Ellenbrook Community Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
15. Monton Green Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school
16. All Hallows RC High School
Secondary
 Good 69 View school
17. Dukesgate Academy
Primary
 Good 69 View school
18. St Paul's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 68 View school
19. Light Oaks Infant School
Primary
 Good 68 View school
20. St Paul's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 67 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 Salford

Best primary schools in SalfordTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in SalfordTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in SalfordReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in SalfordYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in ManchesterCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in TraffordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BuryCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BoltonCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Salford?
There are 134 open primary & secondary schools in Salford (closed schools are excluded). 13 of the 125 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 primary & secondary schools in Salford?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Salford is Bridgewater Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 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 Salford?
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 Salford?
Primary and secondary applications in Salford 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 Salford 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.