Dean Trust Ardwick
Manchester, M13 0LF · Manchester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
17th of 31 secondary schools in Manchester we can score, 32 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.8/10 against 149 of them, against 5.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 47.1 · 56 | 30% | 1.67 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.12 · 58 | 25% | 1.46 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.4 · 62 | 10% | 0.62 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dean Trust Ardwick overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023. In 2024/25, 36.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.12 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,329 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What support structures are in place for pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the school ensure equitable access to extracurricular activities for all students?
What Ofsted said about Dean Trust Ardwick
Overview
Dean Trust Ardwick continues to be a good school, where leaders maintain high expectations and pupils respond positively. Students achieve well, often from lower-than-average starting points, and are well prepared for the next stages of their lives. The school fosters a supportive environment where pupils feel safe, valued, and engaged in a broad curriculum.
Strengths
- Pupils "achieve well" and "successfully make positive gains in what they know and remember" across subjects.
- Staff deliver "ambitious subject curriculums" that ensure pupils gain knowledge in a "sensible, logical order".
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) "achieve well" due to effective identification of needs and adapted teaching.
- Leaders provide high-quality support for reading and English as an additional language (EAL), helping pupils make "increasing gains in their reading fluency and comprehension".
- Pupils benefit from "high-quality citizenship and personal, health, social and economic education opportunities" and a well-informed careers programme.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure all teachers have the necessary subject and pedagogical knowledge, as "occasionally, some teachers’ knowledge of how best to deliver the curriculum is less well developed," leading to uneven pupil gains.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff described as "knowledgeable and vigilant" who "quickly report concerns about pupils’ safety."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.4 |
| 2024/25 | 46.6 |
| 2025/26 | 48.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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