CHS South
About CHS South
CHS South is a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Manchester that is clearly in high demand. With 1,128 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,200, the school is operating close to its limit, and the oversubscription picture is striking: for 217 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, there were 785 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.62. Only 126 of those offers went to first-preference applicants, despite 143 families listing it as their top choice. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage — 46.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and notably higher than the Manchester local authority average for secondary schools. This intake profile shapes the school’s context and priorities, and it’s worth noting that the school has no sixth form, so all pupils move on after Year 11.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Jan 2023Source: Ofsted, 13 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 14:50
Breakfast club
08:00-08:30
Source: chssouth.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About CHS South
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications