Co-op Academy Belle Vue
60%
Capacity
722
Pupils
4.5x
Demand
About Co-op Academy Belle Vue
Co-op Academy Belle Vue is a school that parents in Manchester are clearly keen to get into. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 1,010 applications for just 226 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 4.47. Of those applications, 374 were first-preference choices, and 198 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand is a strong signal from local families, though it's worth noting that the school's own capacity is 1,200 pupils, and it currently has 722 on roll, so there is room to grow. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Scott Fletcher. It sits within Manchester local authority and is one of only six outstanding-rated secondary schools in the area out of 36 total.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 gave it the highest possible rating of Outstanding across every single category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. That's a clean sweep of grade 1s. The inspection report was published in May 2024. While the data doesn't include specific Progress 8 or KS4 exam results for the school itself, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.18, which is above the national average of zero. For context, the top-performing schools in the LA by ranking score include Eden Boys' Leadership Academy (1.2) and Eden Girls' Leadership Academy (1.02), so Co-op Academy Belle Vue is competing in a strong field. The nearest other outstanding-rated secondary is Wright Robinson College, 2.4 km away.
The school is well equipped with facilities including a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, art studios, and music rooms. It offers a wide range of sports from athletics and rowing to dance and gymnastics, plus clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of SEND, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 57.5 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake. This is a school that has clearly turned a corner and is now in high demand, so families considering it should be prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | 450 Hyde Road, Manchester, Manchester, M12 4BA |
| Headteacher | Scott Fletcher |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 722 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 57.5% |
| School Capacity | 722 / 1,200 (60% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 13 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed226
1,010
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
374 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% 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 half 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
- Asian26.1%
- White British21.3%
- Black12.2%
- Mixed11.6%
- White (other)3.7%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
23
Total schools
22
Oversubscribed
19
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 Co-op Academy Belle Vue
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
450 Hyde Road, Manchester
Manchester, M12 4BA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Co-op Academy Belle Vue!
Write a Review