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OpenSecondaryOfsted: OutstandingURN 143729

Didsbury High School

Free schools · Manchester · M20 2ET

Ages 11–18 · 1,220 pupils · Manchester

School website

Ofsted

Outstanding

Attainment 8

57.3

Overall absence

8.0%

Admissions demand

1.71 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Outstanding

Inspection date

2024-01-30

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.67
−20+2
Attainment 857.3
English & maths grade 5+60%
English & maths grade 4+80%
EBacc entry89%

EBacc APS: 5.6

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence8.0%
Persistent absence (10%+)22.5%
Unauthorised2.9%
Authorised absence
5.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.1%
Enrolments in measure
1,098

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.71 · Competitive

1st preferences

346

Places offered

203

1st-preference offers

191

Total preferences (any rank)
1,186
Preferred offers (top 3)
203
Applications from outside LA
81
Offers to outside-LA applicants
2
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill90%

1,220 pupils · 1,350 places

Pupils on roll
1,220
Boys / girls
624 / 596
School capacity
1,350
Capacity fill
1,220 / 1,350 (90%)
Free school meals
41.5%
FSM pupils
438
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE LAURUS TRUST
Academy trust
THE LAURUS TRUST
Sponsor
The Laurus Trust
Headteacher
Miss Katie Houghton

Location

Address
4 The Avenue, Didsbury
Postcode
M20 2ET
Town
Manchester
Local authority
Manchester
District
Manchester
Constituency
Manchester Withington
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Manchester, Manchester, 1,220 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 41.5%.

Open schools in Manchester
415
Secondary schools in Manchester
61
Academies among open schools in Manchester
40% (168)
Open schools in M20
19
Secondary in M20
3
Open schools in Manchester LA
220
Secondary in Manchester LA
30

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ManchesterNear M20

  • Loreto High School Chorlton

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Manchester · M21 7SW · Manchester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att846.2
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+43%
    • Absence8.9%

    0.5 miles away

  • CHS South

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Manchester · M21 7SX · Manchester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.8
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+47%
    • Absence9.6%

    0.6 miles away

  • Chorlton High School

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Manchester · M21 7SL · Manchester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att851.2
    • P80.2
    • EM5+54%
    • Absence7.8%

    0.7 miles away

  • Whalley Range 11-18 High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Manchester · M16 8GW · Manchester

    Ages 11–18

    • Att851.9
    • P80.8
    • EM5+50%
    • Absence6.7%

    0.9 miles away

  • The Barlow RC High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Manchester · M20 6BX · Manchester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att850.6
    • P80.1
    • EM5+53%
    • Absence9.8%

    1.6 miles away

  • Burnage Academy for Boys

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Manchester · M19 1ER · Manchester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att851.1
    • P80.8
    • EM5+56%
    • Absence8.2%

    1.9 miles away

  • Parrs Wood High School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Manchester · M20 5PG · Manchester

    Ages 11–18

    • Att847.2
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence8.1%

    2.0 miles away

  • Manchester Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Manchester · M14 4PX · Manchester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att843.2
    • P80.3
    • EM5+31%
    • Absence9.2%

    2.1 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Miss Katie Houghton
Telephone
01615075600
Website
www.didsburyhighschool.org.uk

Official links