Best secondary schools in Greater Manchester (2026)
Greater Manchester has 155 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, in the top 1% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 46.8, against 46.1 for England. 8 are in England's top 10%, and 9 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 7 grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 1% in England |
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Bowdon · Grammar · Girls |
81.5 | 80.6 | 100% | Outstanding | |
2 Top 1% in England |
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Bowdon · Grammar · Boys |
79.5 | 78.5 | 98% | Outstanding | |
3 Top 2% in England |
Sale Grammar School Sale · Grammar |
75.3 | 76.1 | 97% | Outstanding | |
4 Top 3% in England |
Loreto Grammar School Altrincham · Grammar · Girls · Roman Catholic |
74.8 | 73.7 | 92% | Outstanding | |
5 Top 3% in England |
Saint Ambrose College Hale (Trafford) · Grammar · Boys · Roman Catholic |
74.2 | 76.2 | 98% | Report card | |
6 Top 3% in England |
Urmston Grammar Academy Urmston · Grammar |
73.4 | 71.7 | 95% | Good | |
7 Top 3% in England |
Stretford Grammar School Stretford · Grammar |
73.4 | 74.4 | 96% | No rating | |
8 Top 9% in England |
Cheadle Hulme High School Cheadle Hulme |
59.6 | 60.7 | 75% | Not judged | |
9 Top 11% in England |
The Blue Coat CofE School Oldham · Church of England |
57.5 | 59.1 | 74% | Outstanding | |
10 Top 12% in England |
Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester Manchester · Girls · Muslim |
57.3 | 58.2 | 64% | Report card | |
11 Top 12% in England |
The King David High School Manchester · Jewish |
56.8 | 55.4 | 59% | Requires improvement | |
12 Top 13% in England |
Bolton Muslim Girls School Bolton · Girls · Muslim |
56.5 | 54.7 | 60% | Not judged | |
13 Top 13% in England |
Sharples School Bolton |
56.1 | 55.6 | 62% | No rating | |
14 Top 13% in England |
Didsbury High School Manchester |
57.2 | 57.1 | 61% | Outstanding | |
15 Top 15% in England |
Fairfield High School for Girls Droylsden · Girls |
54.9 | 52.7 | 58% | Good | |
16 Top 16% in England |
St Damian's RC Science College Ashton-under-Lyne · Roman Catholic |
54.1 | 55.1 | 61% | No rating | |
17 Top 16% in England |
Canon Slade School Bolton · Church of England |
54.4 | 53.9 | 57% | Not judged | |
18 Top 16% in England |
Priestnall School Stockport |
54.7 | 52.6 | 57% | Requires improvement | |
19 Top 17% in England |
Wellington School Altrincham |
55.0 | 57.3 | 63% | No rating | |
20 Top 17% in England |
Laurus Cheadle Hulme Cheadle Hulme |
54.6 | 54.5 | 60% | Outstanding | |
21 Top 20% in England |
Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester Manchester · Boys · Muslim |
52.3 | 53.1 | 67% | Report card | |
22 Top 20% in England |
Chorlton High School Manchester |
52.5 | 54.0 | 61% | Report card | |
23 Top 21% in England |
North Cestrian School Altrincham |
53.0 | 54.2 | 60% | No rating | |
24 Top 22% in England |
Trinity CofE High School Manchester · Church of England |
51.8 | 50.0 | 54% | Good | |
25 Top 23% in England |
Eden Boys' School, Bolton Bolton · Boys · Muslim |
51.3 | 53.0 | 58% | No rating | |
26 Top 23% in England |
Levenshulme High School Manchester · Girls |
52.6 | 52.5 | 53% | No rating | |
27 Top 25% in England |
Bramhall High School Bramhall |
51.6 | 51.7 | 58% | Good | |
28 Top 25% in England |
Standish Community High School Standish |
51.9 | 49.7 | 44% | Report card | |
29 Top 25% in England |
St James' Catholic High School Cheadle Hulme · Roman Catholic |
51.8 | 51.1 | 46% | Report card | |
30 Top 26% in England |
St Peter's Catholic High School Orrell · Roman Catholic |
51.4 | 51.1 | 52% | Good | |
31 Top 26% in England |
Ashton-on-Mersey School Sale |
50.7 | 52.1 | 58% | No rating | |
32 Top 26% in England |
William Hulme's Grammar School Manchester · Christian |
51.1 | 51.9 | 57% | No rating | |
33 Top 26% in England |
Beis Yaakov High School Salford · Girls · Jewish |
51.1 | 49.3 | 46% | Not judged | |
34 Top 27% in England |
St Patrick's RC High School Eccles (Salford) · Roman Catholic |
51.5 | 53.8 | 56% | Report card | |
35 Top 27% in England |
Kearsley Academy Kearsley |
50.4 | 51.8 | 59% | Good | |
36 Top 28% in England |
Laurus Ryecroft Droylsden |
51.2 | 51.6 | 50% | Outstanding | |
37 Top 28% in England |
Philips High School Whitefield |
50.3 | 50.3 | 55% | Requires improvement | |
38 Top 29% in England |
St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy Prestwich · Roman Catholic |
50.0 | 50.4 | 55% | Not judged | |
39 Top 30% in England |
St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield Ashton-in-Makerfield · Roman Catholic |
50.1 | 49.1 | 51% | Report card | |
40 Top 30% in England |
Whalley Range 11-18 High School Manchester · Girls |
51.3 | 52.1 | 46% | No rating | |
41 Top 30% in England |
St James's Church of England High School Farnworth · Church of England |
50.1 | 53.5 | 58% | Good | |
42 Top 30% in England |
Wright Robinson College Manchester |
50.3 | 49.1 | 47% | Report card | |
43 Top 31% in England |
Golborne High School Golborne |
50.0 | 50.1 | 46% | Outstanding | |
44 Top 32% in England |
Burnage Academy for Boys Manchester · Boys |
49.6 | 46.6 | 46% | No rating | |
45 Top 34% in England |
The Barlow RC High School Manchester · Roman Catholic |
49.0 | 49.8 | 53% | No rating | |
46 Top 35% in England |
Woodhey High School Ramsbottom |
48.6 | 47.3 | 47% | Not judged | |
47 Top 35% in England |
St Peter's RC High School Manchester · Roman Catholic |
49.4 | 47.4 | 46% | No rating | |
48 Top 36% in England |
The Crompton House Church of England Academy Shaw (Oldham) · Church of England |
48.6 | 46.8 | 43% | No rating | |
49 Top 38% in England |
Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College Altrincham · Roman Catholic |
48.8 | 48.9 | 42% | Not judged | |
50 Top 38% in England |
Our Lady's RC High School Manchester · Roman Catholic |
49.2 | 49.1 | 46% | Report card | |
51 Top 39% in England |
Flixton Girls School Urmston · Girls |
48.4 | 48.3 | 44% | Good | |
52 Top 39% in England |
Hollingworth Academy Milnrow |
47.4 | 51.1 | 60% | Good | |
53 Top 39% in England |
St Thomas More RC College Denton (Tameside) · Roman Catholic |
47.7 | 44.0 | 42% | No rating | |
54 Top 40% in England |
Droylsden Academy Droylsden |
47.7 | 47.7 | 49% | No rating | |
55 Top 40% in England |
Hazel Grove High School Hazel Grove |
48.5 | 48.6 | 47% | Report card | |
56 Top 40% in England |
Bury Church of England High School Bury · Church of England |
47.6 | 49.1 | 52% | Report card | |
57 Top 40% in England |
All Hallows RC High School Salford · Roman Catholic |
47.9 | 49.3 | 55% | No rating | |
58 Top 40% in England |
Essa Academy Bolton |
48.6 | 53.0 | 54% | Report card | |
59 Top 42% in England |
Shevington High School Shevington |
47.8 | 49.0 | 52% | Report card | |
60 Top 42% in England |
Altrincham College Altrincham |
47.6 | 48.5 | 48% | Report card | |
61 Top 43% in England |
Parrs Wood High School Manchester |
47.5 | 48.1 | 48% | No rating | |
62 Top 43% in England |
St Joseph's RC High School Horwich · Roman Catholic |
46.2 | 44.8 | 50% | Not judged | |
63 Top 44% in England |
Manchester Enterprise Academy Central Manchester |
46.8 | 46.1 | 44% | Good | |
64 Top 45% in England |
Stockport School Stockport |
46.0 | 45.7 | 50% | Good | |
65 Top 46% in England |
King's Leadership Academy Bolton Bolton |
46.2 | 45.4 | 43% | Good | |
66 Top 46% in England |
E-ACT the Oldham Academy North Royton |
47.1 | 48.2 | 44% | No rating | |
67 Top 47% in England |
CHS South Manchester |
46.3 | 48.3 | 44% | Good | |
68 Top 47% in England |
Fred Longworth High School Tyldesley |
46.2 | 45.9 | 45% | No rating | |
69 Top 48% in England |
Little Lever School Little Lever |
45.5 | 46.2 | 57% | Report card | |
70 Top 48% in England |
Manchester Communication Academy Manchester |
46.6 | 44.5 | 36% | Good | |
71 Top 48% in England |
The Kingsway School Gatley |
46.1 | 46.5 | 51% | Report card | |
72 Top 49% in England |
Holy Family Roman Catholic and Church of England College Heywood · Roman Catholic/Church of England |
45.3 | 43.4 | 44% | Report card | |
73 Top 50% in England |
Audenshaw School Audenshaw · Boys |
45.4 | 45.5 | 50% | Good | |
74 Top 50% in England |
Manchester Mesivta School Prestwich · Boys · Jewish |
45.4 | 39.3 | 30% | Requires improvement | |
75 Bottom 49% in England |
Salford City Academy Eccles (Salford) · Christian |
45.4 | 46.1 | 42% | Report card | |
76 Bottom 49% in England |
St Mary's Catholic High School Astley · Roman Catholic |
45.6 | 44.2 | 38% | No rating | |
77 Bottom 49% in England |
Thornleigh Salesian College Bolton · Roman Catholic |
45.9 | 45.7 | 41% | Not judged | |
78 Bottom 49% in England |
Unsworth Academy Bury |
46.5 | 45.4 | 38% | Good | |
79 Bottom 49% in England |
Alder Community High School Hyde (Tameside) |
45.8 | 46.6 | 39% | Requires improvement | |
80 Bottom 48% in England |
Stretford High School Stretford |
46.0 | 44.4 | 37% | Good | |
81 Bottom 46% in England |
Turton School Bolton |
46.2 | 43.7 | 31% | Good | |
82 Bottom 46% in England |
Lowton Church of England High School Golborne · Church of England |
46.5 | 47.5 | 39% | Good | |
83 Bottom 45% in England |
Buile Hill Academy Salford |
42.9 | 42.9 | 51% | Requires improvement | |
84 Bottom 45% in England |
Wellacre Technology Academy Urmston · Boys |
45.0 | 46.0 | 40% | Report card | |
85 Bottom 45% in England |
Loreto High School Chorlton Manchester · Roman Catholic |
45.0 | 46.6 | 48% | Requires improvement | |
86 Bottom 45% in England |
Stockport Academy Stockport · Christian |
45.0 | 47.0 | 47% | Not judged | |
87 Bottom 44% in England |
St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School Wardley · Roman Catholic |
44.8 | 44.2 | 38% | Good | |
88 Bottom 42% in England |
The Elton High School Bury |
44.4 | 44.3 | 37% | Report card | |
89 Bottom 41% in England |
Co-op Academy Walkden Walkden |
43.6 | 43.6 | 41% | Good | |
90 Bottom 41% in England |
Dean Trust Ardwick Manchester |
44.9 | 46.6 | 37% | No rating | |
91 Bottom 41% in England |
St Gabriel's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy Bury · Roman Catholic |
45.0 | 46.0 | 38% | Good | |
92 Bottom 40% in England |
Cansfield High School Ashton-in-Makerfield |
44.4 | 44.4 | 41% | Good | |
93 Bottom 39% in England |
North Chadderton School Chadderton |
43.8 | 43.8 | 32% | Not judged | |
94 Bottom 39% in England |
The Byrchall High School Ashton-in-Makerfield |
43.3 | 41.3 | 39% | Good | |
95 Bottom 39% in England |
West Hill School Stalybridge · Boys |
44.0 | 43.5 | 38% | Report card | |
96 Bottom 39% in England |
Manchester Academy Manchester · Christian |
44.4 | 45.4 | 38% | Good | |
97 Bottom 38% in England |
Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School Middleton (Rochdale) · Roman Catholic |
43.7 | 40.9 | 32% | No rating | |
98 Bottom 38% in England |
Oulder Hill Leadership Academy Rochdale |
42.8 | 44.4 | 46% | Not judged | |
99 Bottom 37% in England |
The Albion Academy Salford |
42.1 | 47.4 | 49% | Good | |
100 Bottom 37% in England |
Ellesmere Park High School Eccles (Salford) |
43.7 | 45.8 | 43% | Good |
Showing the top 100 of 155. See all 155 and filter them.
Best secondary school in each town
- Altrincham · best: Loreto Grammar School
- Urmston · best: Urmston Grammar Academy
- Stretford · best: Stretford Grammar School
- Cheadle Hulme · best: Cheadle Hulme High School
- Oldham · best: The Blue Coat CofE School
- Manchester · best: Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester
- Bolton · best: Bolton Muslim Girls School
- Droylsden · best: Fairfield High School for Girls
- Stockport · best: Priestnall School
- Orrell · best: St Peter's Catholic High School
- Salford · best: Beis Yaakov High School
- Eccles (Salford) · best: St Patrick's RC High School
- Prestwich · best: St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
- Ashton-in-Makerfield · best: St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
- Bury · best: Bury Church of England High School
- Royton · best: E-ACT the Oldham Academy North
- Middleton (Rochdale) · best: Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School
- Rochdale · best: Oulder Hill Leadership Academy
- Wigan · best: The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College
- Wythenshawe · best: Manchester Enterprise Academy
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Greater Manchester?
On exam results over the last three years, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls is the top-ranked secondary school in Greater Manchester, in the top 1% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.