Manchester Communication Academy
Manchester, M40 8NT · Manchester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
19th 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 — 7.2/10 against 132 of them, against 5.0/10 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 | 42.2 · 43 | 30% | 1.28 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.15 · 60 | 25% | 1.51 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.9 · 44 | 10% | 0.44 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Manchester Communication Academy overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, with the latest inspection in July 2024. In 2024/25, 35.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.15 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 (7.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,240 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
Since the Progress 8 score is positive, what specific support structures help pupils achieve this improvement? How does the school maintain its Good rating while managing a roll that exceeds its designated places?
What Ofsted said about Manchester Communication Academy
Overview
Manchester Communication Academy is described as a “vibrant school” where pupils feel a “strong sense of belonging” and are encouraged to take active roles in supporting their community. The inspection highlights a “broad and ambitious curriculum” that effectively addresses social disadvantage, with most pupils meeting “ambitious standards” for achievement. Overall, the school provides a high-quality education where staff are equipped as “experts in curriculum design and delivery.”
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from an “exceptional programme” that helps them gain knowledge and skills to “flourish in modern society,” including comprehensive careers guidance.
- Staff demonstrate a “strong shared understanding” of the curriculum, ensuring the “rich diversity of the pupil community is reflected” in learning materials.
- There is a “culture of care for others,” with pupils volunteering as ‘guardian angels’ or packing food for local families, fostering resilience and happiness.
- The school provides a “highly effective programme of professional development” for staff, supported by skilled coaches acting as ‘teacher educators’.
- Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with an open culture that puts pupils’ interests first.
Areas to improve
- The school’s approach to identifying and supporting Key Stage 4 pupils struggling to read is “underdeveloped,” meaning some older pupils do not receive necessary help to catch up.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.0 |
| 2024/25 | 44.5 |
| 2025/26 | 44.9 |
| 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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