Burnage Academy for Boys
91%
Capacity
983
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Burnage Academy for Boys
Burnage Academy for Boys is a secondary boys’ school in Manchester that is clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 463 applications for 200 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.32, with 183 of those applicants listing it as their first preference. The school currently has 983 pupils against a capacity of 1,086, so there is some headroom, but the sheer volume of applications shows strong local appetite. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 49.7%, well above the national average and a reflection of the school’s inclusive intake in a diverse urban borough. The school is non-denominational and does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. Headteacher Karl Harrison leads a school that has undergone a significant turnaround since its previous Ofsted inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
Academically, Burnage Academy is now one of the strongest schools in Manchester. In its most recent graded inspection in 2018, Ofsted rated the school Outstanding overall, with Outstanding for leadership and management, and an ungraded inspection in 2024 confirmed the school remains Outstanding. The Progress 8 score is 0.85, which is well above average nationally and ranks the school 4th out of 31 schools in the local authority. For context, the Manchester LA average Progress 8 is 0.18, so Burnage pupils are making significantly more progress than their peers across the borough. The Attainment 8 score is 51.1, and 74.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. Progress in English and maths is particularly strong, with scores of 1.1 and 0.92 respectively, and the EBacc average point score is 4.55. Nationally, the school sits in the top 5% for Progress 8.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, music rooms, art studios, science labs, and a library. Sports provision is extensive, with football, cricket, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, dance, martial arts, netball, and cross country all on offer. Clubs include Young Enterprise, drama, choir, orchestra, debate, eco club, and film club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school has a wide SEND offer covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that has transformed its reputation and outcomes, and is particularly well-suited to families who want a strong academic environment in a diverse urban setting, with the caveat that it finishes at 16.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Burnage Lane, Manchester, Manchester, M19 1ER |
| Headteacher | Karl Harrison |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 983 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 49.7% |
| School Capacity | 983 / 1,086 (91% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
31 Jan 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (31 Jan 2024): School remains Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 24 Oct 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.85)
163rd of 3,141
Nationally
17th of 445
In North West
4th of 31
In Manchester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed200
463
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
183 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian72.4%
- Mixed4.5%
- White British2.8%
- White (other)1.5%
- Black0.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
15
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
11
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burnage Academy for Boys
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Burnage Lane, Manchester
Manchester, M19 1ER
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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