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Best Schools in Salford 2026 — Rankings, Ofsted Ratings & Reviews

Compare 92 schools and nurseries in Salford — Ofsted ratings, exam results & admissions data.

Salford has 92 schools educating over 40,000 pupils across this city borough adjacent to Manchester. Salford has undergone significant regeneration around MediaCityUK and Salford Quays, attracting young families and driving investment in schools.

Salford City Academy, Moorside High School and Buile Hill Academy are among the well-known secondaries. The city's primary schools have seen strong improvement, particularly in areas benefiting from regeneration.

Salford at a Glance

92Total schools — 75 Primary, 17 Secondary
87%Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating (92 inspected)
-0.22Average Progress 8 across 15 secondary schools
83Schools oversubscribed — more applicants than places available

Top Primary Schools in Salford

SchoolAreaOfstedKS2 RWM %ReadingMaths
Broadoak Primary SchoolSalfordOutstanding92%
St Mary's RC Primary SchoolSalfordOutstanding90%
St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary SchoolSalfordOutstanding84%
Wardley CofE Primary SchoolSalfordGood83%
St Mark's CofE Primary SchoolSalfordGood81%

Top Secondary Schools in Salford

SchoolAreaOfstedProgress 85+ GCSE %EBacc %
Beis Yaakov High SchoolSalfordRequires Improvement+0.8883%23%
All Hallows RC High SchoolSalfordGood+0.2568%40%
Salford City CollegeSalfordGood+0.1371%50%
St Patrick's RC High SchoolSalfordGood+0.0775%67%
The Albion AcademySalfordGood-0.0464%47%

Admissions in Salford — Key Dates

Salford City Council coordinates admissions for state schools. Secondary applications closed on 31 October 2025 with offers on 1 March 2026. Primary applications close on 15 January 2026 with offers on 16 April 2026. Apply through salford.gov.uk.

Tip: Classpot shows the applications-to-places ratio for every school so you can gauge how competitive admissions are before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Salford?

Salford City Academy, Moorside High School and Co-op Academy Walkden are well-regarded secondaries. Primary schools in Worsley, Walkden and Swinton achieve strong results.

Is Salford good for schools?

Salford's schools have improved significantly. Areas around Worsley and Walkden have particularly well-rated schools. The MediaCityUK regeneration has brought new investment.

Which areas of Salford are best for schools?

Worsley, Walkden and Swinton are the most popular areas for families, with well-rated primary and secondary schools.

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