Schools in Manchester: Ofsted Ratings (2026)
837 registered schools in Manchester, North West. 56% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Browse the best primary and secondary schools below, then check a specific postcode for catchment distance.
837
Schools total
699 primary · 134 secondary
56%
Good or Outstanding
472 of 837
161
Rated Outstanding
311
Rated Good
Best primary schools in Manchester
699 primary schools, sorted by Ofsted rating (Outstanding first). Showing the top 25.
| School | Postcode | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| Acacias Community Primary School | M19 2WW | Outstanding |
| Adlington Primary School | SK10 4JX | Outstanding |
| Alderley Edge Community Primary School | SK9 7UZ | Outstanding |
| All Saints' Catholic Primary School | M33 5NW | Outstanding |
| All Souls Church of England Primary School | OL10 4DF | Outstanding |
| Alma Park Primary School | M19 2PF | Outstanding |
| Ash Grove Academy | SK11 7TF | Outstanding |
| Ashbury Meadow Primary School | M11 3NA | Outstanding |
| Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School | OL13 0QW | Outstanding |
| Bacup Thorn Primary School | OL13 8EF | Outstanding |
| Banks Lane Infant School | SK1 4PR | Outstanding |
| Bare Trees Primary School | OL9 0DX | Outstanding |
| Beaver Road Primary School | M20 6SX | Outstanding |
| Bolshaw Primary School | SK8 3LW | Outstanding |
| Bowlee Park Community Primary School | M24 4LA | Outstanding |
| Brimrod Community Primary School | OL11 4NB | Outstanding |
| Broadoak Primary School | M27 0EP | Outstanding |
| Brookburn Community School | M21 8EH | Outstanding |
| Brooklands Primary School | M33 3SY | Outstanding |
| Buckstones Primary School | OL2 8HN | Outstanding |
| Burnley Brow Community School | OL9 0BY | Outstanding |
| Canon Burrows CofE Primary School | OL7 9ND | Outstanding |
| Cheadle Catholic Infant School | SK8 6DB | Outstanding |
| Cheetham CofE Community Academy | M8 9FR | Outstanding |
| Chorlton CofE Primary School | M21 9JA | Outstanding |
Best secondary schools in Manchester
134 secondary schools, sorted by Ofsted rating. Showing the top 25.
| School | Postcode | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| All Hallows Catholic College | SK11 8LB | Outstanding |
| Ashton-on-Mersey School | M33 5BP | Outstanding |
| Cheadle Hulme High School | SK8 7JY | Outstanding |
| Dixons Middleton Academy | M24 2GT | Outstanding |
| Fairfield High School for Girls | M43 6AB | Outstanding |
| Fred Longworth High School | M29 8JN | Outstanding |
| Hollingworth Academy | OL16 3DR | Outstanding |
| Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College | OL10 2AA | Outstanding |
| Priestnall School | SK4 3HP | Outstanding |
| Sale Grammar School | M33 3NH | Outstanding |
| St Patrick's RC High School | M30 7JJ | Outstanding |
| St Peter's RC High School | M12 4WB | Outstanding |
| The Blue Coat CofE School | OL1 3SQ | Outstanding |
| The Fallibroome Academy | SK10 4AF | Outstanding |
| Trinity CofE High School | M15 6HP | Outstanding |
| Urmston Grammar Academy | M41 5UG | Outstanding |
| Alder Community High School | SK14 5NJ | Good |
| Audenshaw School | M34 5NB | Good |
| Broadoak School | M31 4BU | Good |
| Denton Community Academy | M34 3NG | Good |
| Ellesmere Park High School | M30 9BP | Good |
| Falinge Park High School | OL12 6LD | Good |
| Flixton Girls School | M41 5DR | Good |
| Harrytown Catholic High School | SK6 3BU | Good |
| Loreto High School Chorlton | M21 7SW | Good |
Check schools near a specific Manchester address
Ofsted ratings tell you which schools are strong, but admission depends on distance. A PostcodeCheck area report lists every school near your exact postcode with its rating, type, and distance, plus crime, flood, broadband, and house-price data.
Schools in Manchester: FAQ
How many schools are there in Manchester?
There are 837 registered schools in Manchester on the latest Ofsted/GIAS data — 699 primary, 134 secondary, and the remainder all-through, special, or 16+ providers. Of these, 56% are rated Good or Outstanding.
What is the best-rated school in Manchester?
161 schools are rated Outstanding by Ofsted in Manchester, and 311 more are rated Good. Outstanding schools are often oversubscribed, so proximity (your postcode's distance to the school) usually determines whether you can get a place.
How do I check school catchment for a Manchester postcode?
Catchment depends on the exact address. Enter any Manchester postcode into PostcodeCheck and the area report lists every school near that postcode, its Ofsted rating, type, and distance — the data admissions teams use to decide places.
Does living near a good school in Manchester affect house prices?
Yes. Homes inside the effective catchment of an Outstanding or Good school typically command a 5-15% premium. The effect is strongest for primary schools, where catchment areas are smaller and admissions are tightly distance-based.