Schools by area › Manchester › The Barlow RC High School
The Barlow RC High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Voluntary aided
Parrs Wood Road, East Didsbury, Manchester M20 6BX · thebarlowrchigh.co.uk · 0161 445 8053
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jun 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 49.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Manchester 44.8, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 930
- 99% of 940 places
- Local authority
- Manchester
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 39.5%
- First language not English
- 16.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 155 families put the school first and 169 places were offered; 92% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 169 | 155 | 0.9 | 92% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 170 | 120 | 0.7 | 98% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 172 | 139 | 0.8 | 96% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 171 | 131 | 0.8 | 97% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 173 | 133 | 0.8 | 96% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 49.8, and 53.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Manchester it was 44.8, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲49.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲53.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲72.5% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼36.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.42 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 2.4 | −2 |
| Sixth form college | 55.9 | +2.9 |
| Further education | 21.8 | +0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.9 | −2.1 |
| Employment | 4.1 | +0.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.6 | −0.1 |
| Activity not captured | 5.3 | +0.9 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 12 June 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for The Barlow RC High School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 11 Jun 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jun 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Dec 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Oct 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (91 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 92%
- Replies
- 91
- 10% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 78% who raised concerns
based on the 38% who had a child bullied
based on 38 parents (42%) with SEND