Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #21 in Manchester public Top 25% UK

Manchester Communication Academy

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

personMs Susan Watmough

corporate_fareGREATER MANCHESTER ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onManchester, M40 8NT

language Visit Website phone 1612020161

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,224

trending_up

Attainment 8

44.5

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#22 in Manchester

#1,824 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Manchester Communication Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Manchester, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Manchester Communication Academy is an academy sponsor led in Manchester, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of GREATER MANCHESTER ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,299 pupils on roll, of whom 64% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44.5, placing the school #22 in Manchester and #1,824 of 3,216 nationally. 35.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 18.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

44.5

Grade 5+ E&M

35.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.0%

Entering EBacc57.30%

EBacc APS3.97

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31.20%

EBacc APS3.88

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.69

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS4.50

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS4.02

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc62%

EBacc APS3.76

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS3.68

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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

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

ApprenticeshipsSP%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

ApprenticeshipsSP%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

82%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 May 2024

Inspection Report

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24 April 2019

Inspection Report

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27 September 2016

Inspection Report

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19 September 2012

Inspection Report

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07 December 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-05-21

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2019-04-24

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2016-09-27

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-09-19

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

20.0%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

10.0%(130 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,299 pupils. During this period, there were 260 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 20.0%, which is above 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)	1,299	260	20.0%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,303	214	16.4%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,250	243	19.4%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,261	216	17.1%	7.1%	4
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,243	186	15.0%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,230	136	11.1%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,224	90	7.4%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,226	58	4.7%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,199	60	5.0%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,207	49	4.1%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,191	50	4.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,185	41	3.5%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,191	11	0.9%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,189	46	3.9%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,176	0	0.0%	0.0%	1
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,176	72	6.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,172	74	6.3%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,135	137	12.1%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,122	145	12.9%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,125	156	13.9%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,128	71	6.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,126	32	2.8%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,128	91	8.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,123	61	5.4%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,112	58	5.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,118	30	2.7%	3.1%	0

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

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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 97 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 74 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 60 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 11 pupils

Physical Disability 10 pupils

Hearing Impairment 7 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 4 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.

72.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

68.0%Positive

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

40.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree30%

agree39%

disagree14%

strongly disagree9%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree27%

agree34%

disagree18%

strongly disagree16%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree38%

agree23%

disagree9%

strongly disagree16%

don't know4%

not applicable11%

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

yes43%

no57%

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

strongly agree42%

agree29%

disagree4%

strongly disagree25%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree45%

agree23%

disagree4%

strongly disagree11%

don't know18%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree23%

disagree13%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree36%

agree32%

disagree14%

strongly disagree14%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree46%

agree39%

disagree4%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree59%

agree32%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree39%

agree27%

disagree11%

strongly disagree14%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes75%

no25%

Top Secondary Schools in Manchester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester

Good

location_on Manchester, M8 8DT

emoji_events #1 in LA

Didsbury High School

Outstanding

location_on Manchester, M20 2ET

emoji_events #2 in LA

The King David High School

Requires improvement

location_on Manchester, M8 5DY

emoji_events #3 in LA

Chorlton High School

Good

location_on Manchester, M21 7SL

emoji_events #4 in LA

Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester

Good

location_on Manchester, M8 8DT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Levenshulme High School

Outstanding

location_on Manchester, M19 1FS

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Manchester arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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