Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #9 in Manchester public Top 14% UK

The Barlow RC High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Claire Wallace

location_onManchester, M20 6BX

language Visit Website phone 1614458053

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

909

trending_up

Attainment 8

49.8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in Manchester

#957 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Barlow RC High School is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Manchester, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Barlow RC High School is a voluntary aided school in Manchester, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 918 pupils on roll, of whom 42% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.8, placing the school #10 in Manchester and #957 of 3,216 nationally. 53.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 23.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

49.8

Grade 5+ E&M

53.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)23.4%

Entering EBacc36.00%

EBacc APS4.42

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc42.90%

EBacc APS4.56

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46%

EBacc APS4.20

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS4.24

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc43%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46%

EBacc APS4.07

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS3.8

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 June 2024

Inspection Report

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19 June 2019

Inspection Report

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30 November 2016

Inspection Report

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16 October 2012

Inspection Report

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27 September 2011

Inspection Report

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02 March 2011

Inspection Report

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31 October 2007

Inspection Report

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13 October 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2019-06-19

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2016-11-30

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-10-16

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.9%(17 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 918 pupils. During this period, there were 25 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.7%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	918	25	2.7%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	916	40	4.4%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	906	45	5.0%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	898	31	3.5%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	909	52	5.7%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	912	61	6.7%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	909	61	6.7%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	903	44	4.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	888	31	3.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	876	23	2.6%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	862	36	4.2%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	873	23	2.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	866	7	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	858	18	2.1%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	870	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	870	13	1.5%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	878	34	3.9%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	890	20	2.2%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	882	20	2.3%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	886	19	2.1%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	876	29	3.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	867	17	2.0%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	880	27	3.1%	3.7%	4
2016/17 (Summer term)	875	32	3.7%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	880	22	2.5%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	878	28	3.2%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 52 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 39 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 13 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree60%

agree33%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree47%

agree40%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree58%

agree12%

disagree2%

strongly disagree6%

not applicable22%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes42%

no58%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree68%

agree24%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree64%

agree29%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree31%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree57%

agree34%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree57%

agree38%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree33%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree54%

agree33%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

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Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Requires improvement

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Chorlton High School

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Good

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Outstanding

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Manchester

Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester

Didsbury High School

The King David High School

Chorlton High School

Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester

Levenshulme High School