Co-op Academy Walkden
99%
Capacity
1,478
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Co-op Academy Walkden
Co-op Academy Walkden is a popular choice among Salford families, with 473 applications for 291 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.63. Of those, 244 families put the school as their first preference, and all of those received an offer. That level of demand suggests the school has a solid local reputation, though it is worth noting that the school does not have official parent view data published by Ofsted to back that up. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is led by headteacher Matt Hacker and currently has 1,478 pupils on roll, just shy of its 1,500 capacity. Just over a quarter of pupils (27.9%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the school's inclusive intake.
Academically, the school's most recent Progress 8 score was -0.47, which is below the Salford local authority average of -0.22 and places it 11th out of 15 schools in the borough. Nationally, it sits in the bottom 50% of schools on this measure, ranking 2,562 out of 3,141. The Attainment 8 score was 44.4, and 63.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 43.4% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 3.78, with only 16.3% of pupils entering the full EBacc combination. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This was a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including tennis courts, an astro turf, a swimming pool, playing fields, an ICT suite, a sports hall, and even a chapel. Sports on offer include martial arts, cricket, swimming, rugby, dance, cross country, basketball, and netball, while clubs range from Art Club and Book Club to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, gardening, film club, debate, orchestra, science club, and choir. For pupils with additional needs, the school has a strong SEND provision list covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and a resourced provision. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, inclusive secondary with good facilities and a clear improvement trajectory, but who are comfortable with academic results that sit below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Old Clough Lane, Worsley, Manchester, Salford, M28 7JB |
| Headteacher | Matt Hacker |
| Local Authority | Salford |
| Number of Pupils | 1,478 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,478 / 1,500 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 10 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.47)
2562nd of 3,141
Nationally
324th of 445
In North West
11th of 15
In Salford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 277 pupils).
- FE college59%
- Sixth form college24%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained3%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed291
473
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
244 families put this school as their 1st choice (52% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British78.1%
- Mixed9.0%
- White (other)3.2%
- Asian2.3%
- Black0.8%
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.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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 Walkden
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
Old Clough Lane, Worsley, Manchester
Salford, M28 7JB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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