The Barlow RC High School
Manchester, M20 6BX · Manchester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th 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 — 8.0/10 against 534 of them, against 6.1/10 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 | 49.7 · 62 | 30% | 1.85 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.12 · 58 | 25% | 1.46 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.2 · 67 | 10% | 0.67 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Barlow RC High School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, with its last inspection in 2024. In 2024/25, 53.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.8, 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 (8.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 930 pupils against a stated capacity of 940. 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 inspection was in 2024, what specific improvements have been made to the curriculum since then? How does the school support pupils to reach the national median in Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about The Barlow RC High School
Overview
The Barlow RC High School continues to be a good school, described as a welcoming environment where pupils’ differences are celebrated and staff are accepting of everyone. The school maintains high expectations for learning and behaviour, with most pupils achieving well through a broad, rich curriculum that effectively supports those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Pupils feel happy and safe, benefiting from courteous relationships with staff and a purposeful atmosphere.
- Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and use assessment information effectively to address misconceptions, ensuring pupils are ready for new learning.
- Reading is a high priority, with a well-thought-through strategy providing quick identification of struggling readers and access to high-quality books.
- The school offers extensive opportunities for personal development, including leadership roles, extra-curricular activities, and comprehensive careers guidance.
- The governing body provides appropriate support and challenge, having a thorough understanding of the school’s strengths and priorities.
Areas to improve
- Some teachers do not ensure pupils have secured important knowledge before introducing new information, resulting in gaps in learning that hinder achievement.
- The school should ensure teachers are well equipped to use assessment information to resolve these gaps so pupils learn and remember all that they should.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.6 |
| 2024/25 | 49.8 |
| 2025/26 | 49.2 |
| 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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