Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up High Demand emoji_events #2 in Manchester public Top 5% UK

Didsbury High School

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

personMiss Katie Houghton

corporate_fareTHE LAURUS TRUST

location_onManchester, M20 2ET

language Visit Website phone 1615075600

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

846

trending_up

Attainment 8

57.1

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#2 in Manchester

#354 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Didsbury High School is a Free schools secondary school in Manchester, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Highly competitive: 1.7× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

article

School Summary

Didsbury High School is a free schools in Manchester, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE LAURUS TRUST. The school has approximately 1,181 pupils on roll, of whom 40% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 57.1, placing the school #2 in Manchester and #354 of 3,216 nationally. 60.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 37.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 15 A-level subjects. 59.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 29.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.18 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

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

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.7× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.9 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

57.1

Grade 5+ E&M

60.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)37.6%

Entering EBacc87.20%

EBacc APS5.55

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.67

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc89.30%

EBacc APS5.59

2023

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

workspace_premium

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.18

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.1%

Achieving A*–A29.9%

Achieving A*–B59.8%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered15

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

30 January 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2024-01-30

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

5.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.1%(37 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

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 1,181 pupils. During this period, there were 64 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.4%, 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)	1,181	64	5.4%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,182	100	8.5%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,093	77	7.0%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,089	88	8.1%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,089	126	11.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	847	104	12.3%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	846	76	9.0%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	848	74	8.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	636	31	4.9%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	632	32	5.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	635	37	5.8%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	425	11	2.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	424	14	3.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	421	14	3.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	210	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	210	2	1.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	211	13	6.2%	4.2%	0

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

accessibility_new

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 117 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 38 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 37 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 29 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 22 pupils

Physical Disability 14 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

87.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

85.0%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 agree57%

agree26%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

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

strongly agree53%

agree27%

disagree11%

strongly disagree8%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree36%

agree19%

disagree9%

strongly disagree10%

don't know1%

not applicable26%

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

yes46%

no54%

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

strongly agree60%

agree15%

disagree7%

strongly disagree18%

dont know1%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree67%

agree24%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree26%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree58%

agree30%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

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

strongly agree61%

agree35%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree62%

agree30%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree57%

agree24%

disagree8%

strongly disagree7%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes84%

no16%

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

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

Whalley Range 11-18 High School

Good

location_on Manchester, M16 8GW

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Manchester arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

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

The King David High School

Chorlton High School

Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester

Levenshulme High School

Whalley Range 11-18 High School