Didsbury High School
87%
Capacity
1,181
Pupils
6.2x
Demand
About Didsbury High School
Didsbury High School is a state secondary in Manchester that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 1,275 applications for just 206 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6.19. Of those applications, 390 were first-preference choices, and 197 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, and it's backed up by the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2024, which rated it Outstanding across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. The school is led by headteacher Katie Houghton and serves 1,181 pupils aged 11 to 18, with a capacity of 1,350. Just over 40% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is a significant proportion and gives useful context for the academic results that follow.
Academically, Didsbury High School is performing well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.67 is the metric that places it 7th out of 31 schools in Manchester and 311th out of 3,141 schools nationally, putting it in the top 10% of schools across England. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.18, so Didsbury is comfortably ahead of its peers. The Attainment 8 score sits at 57.3, and 79.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 89.3%, with 64.6% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above across the EBacc subjects. In the sixth form, provision is also rated Outstanding. The school's closest Outstanding-rated neighbour is Burnage Academy for Boys, about 3 km away.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, playing fields, science labs, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include football, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, dance, and cross country, while clubs range from art and drama to debating, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school has a substantial SEND provision, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Given its high oversubscription, families considering Didsbury should be aware that securing a place is competitive, and first-preference applications are strongly advised. It's a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes within a diverse, inclusive state setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | 4 The Avenue, Manchester, Manchester, M20 2ET |
| Headteacher | Katie Houghton |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 1,181 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,181 / 1,350 (87% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Jan 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.67)
311th of 3,141
Nationally
31st of 445
In North West
7th 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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed206
1,275
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
390 families put this school as their 1st choice (31% 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
- White British36.2%
- Asian19.9%
- Mixed15.8%
- White (other)5.5%
- Black0.9%
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.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
7
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 Didsbury High School
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
4 The Avenue, Manchester
Manchester, M20 2ET
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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