Connell Co-Op College

About Connell Co-Op College

Connell Co-Op College sits within Manchester’s state secondary landscape as a 16-19 institution, one of 36 schools of its type in the local authority. It is not among the top-ranked peers in the area — the highest-performing nearby schools are Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Manchester, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester, and Levenshulme High School — but its position as a dedicated sixth form college gives it a distinct role. The school is led by headteacher Emma Soper and serves 836 students against a capacity of 1,050, meaning it is not yet full. For families in Manchester weighing post-16 options, Connell offers a mixed, non-religious setting without the pressure of a highly selective academic environment. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Co-op Academy Belle Vue, 1.7 km away, which may be a relevant benchmark for parents prioritising top inspection grades. Connell itself has not received an Outstanding rating in its most recent inspection data, but its specific sixth-form focus and range of facilities — including a swimming pool, sports hall, and dedicated sixth form centre — provide a practical alternative for students who prefer a college-style setting over a school with younger year groups.

Academically, Connell Co-Op College’s most recent Key Stage 5 results, from the 2023/24 academic year, show a mixed picture. The average points per entry were 24.67, equivalent to a D+ grade, and the best three A-levels averaged 24.58 points, also a D+. The proportion of students achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects was 6.3%, based on 143 pupils. The school’s value-added score sits at -0.5, with a progress banding of ‘Below average’, meaning students on average made less progress than similar students nationally. The lower confidence interval for value-added is -0.62 and the upper is -0.37, so the negative trend is statistically significant. There is no local authority average for A-level points to compare directly, but the Progress 8 average for Manchester secondary schools is 0.18, which suggests that at GCSE level the LA tends to perform slightly above the national average. For parents focused on academic outcomes, these figures indicate that Connell is not currently delivering above-expectation results for its sixth-form cohort, and may be better suited to students who are not targeting the most competitive university courses.

On the practical side, Connell Co-Op College offers a broad range of facilities and enrichment activities that could appeal to students wanting a well-resourced post-16 experience. The school has science labs, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a sixth form centre, plus sports facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a sports hall. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, and hockey alongside more traditional options like football and cricket. The extracurricular programme is varied, with clubs ranging from Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to Young Enterprise, an orchestra, and an eco club. For students with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Admissions data is not provided, but with 836 pupils against a capacity of 1,050, the school is not oversubscribed, which may make it a more accessible option for families who find other Manchester sixth forms harder to get into. This college is likely to suit students who value a wide choice of activities and a supportive SEND framework over a high-pressure academic environment.

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