The Heys School
Manchester, M25 1JZ · Bury · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 12 secondary schools in Bury we can score, 14 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 — 1.7/10 against 442 of them, against 1.0/10 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 | 24.8 · 8 | 30% | 0.23 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.52 · 15 | 25% | 0.37 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 33.1 · 3 | 10% | 0.03 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Heys School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in July 2024. In 2024/25, 17.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.52 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (1.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils visit the Manchester Museum.
Getting in
The published school roll is 546 pupils against a stated capacity of 860. 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about The Heys School
Overview
The Heys School is described as a "friendly and welcoming" institution where pupils benefit from a "calm atmosphere" and staff who model "kindness and respect." The report highlights that the school has "considerably raised its aspirations" for achievement, with pupils producing "high-quality work" and making better progress than in the past. Overall, the inspection judges the school’s effectiveness, education quality, behaviour, personal development, and leadership as Good.
Strengths
- Pupils are "happy in school" and take pride in their achievements, supported by "strong relationships" with staff.
- The curriculum is "suitably ambitious" and "broad and balanced," ensuring pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) enjoy the same opportunities as their peers.
- Teachers in many subjects "address misconceptions swiftly" and provide meaningful opportunities for pupils to reflect on their learning.
- The school has "clear strategies" to identify reading difficulties, enabling staff to provide "bespoke support" that helps pupils catch up quickly.
- There is a "well-designed programme" for personal, social, health and economic education, alongside "extensive careers education" that helps pupils progress seamlessly into further education or employment.
Areas to improve
- The school must support pupils and families to improve attendance rates, as "too many pupils" are absent too often and miss out on learning.
- In a few subjects, teachers do not sufficiently check that pupils have learned existing knowledge before introducing new topics, leading to unchecked "gaps in their learning."
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 | 41.3 |
| 2024/25 | 34.0 |
| 2025/26 | 33.1 |
| 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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