Salford City Academy
Manchester, M30 7PQ · Salford · secondary school
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7th of 15 secondary schools in Salford we can score, 16 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 — 8.0/10 against 414 of them, against 5.7/10 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 | 19 | 35% | 0.66 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 49.1 · 60 | 30% | 1.81 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.13 · 59 | 25% | 1.48 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.6 · 42 | 10% | 0.42 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Salford City Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.13 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 (7.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.1 out of 10 against all schools). The most recent inspection was in April 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 876 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. 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 specific support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores? How does the new inspection framework affect current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Salford City Academy
Overview
Salford City Academy is described as a school that sits "firmly at the heart of its community," where pupils feel safe and benefit from an "impressive offer" for personal development. The report highlights that leaders have established a culture of "positivity and ambition," resulting in high staff morale and pupils who are "very well prepared for life in modern Britain."
Strengths
- Leaders have constructed an "ambitious personal development programme" offering diverse activities, from rowing to jewellery making, ensuring all pupils can participate.
- Pupils receive a "high-quality curriculum for PSHE," gaining a secure understanding of values such as democracy and online risks.
- The "comprehensive careers programme" equips pupils well for further study, with successful partnerships with local companies and universities.
- Staff and pupils share "warm, supportive relationships," creating a "calm and respectful learning environment" where bullying is dealt with swiftly.
- Leaders identify the needs of disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND quickly, ensuring they access the "same ambitious curriculum as their peers."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure strategies to improve attendance "rapidly lead to high attendance for all pupils," including those with special educational needs.
- Strategies to develop pupils' handwriting skills need to be more effective in helping weaker writers "catch up with their peers."
- Leaders must ensure "highly effective teaching is consistently embedded across all subjects and year groups."
- A more coherent approach is needed for recording and monitoring attendance at alternative provisions.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.7 |
| 2024/25 | 46.1 |
| 2025/26 | 44.6 |
| 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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