Irlam and Cadishead Academy
74%
Capacity
775
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About Irlam and Cadishead Academy
Irlam and Cadishead Academy is a mixed secondary school in Salford that currently educates 775 pupils against a capacity of 1,050, meaning it has room to grow. The school serves a community with a high level of disadvantage: 38.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Despite this, demand is strong. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 213 applications for 198 places, with 174 of those coming as first preferences and 173 offers made to first-preference applicants. That oversubscription ratio of 1.08 suggests a school that local families are actively choosing, even though it isn't yet full to capacity. The headteacher is Chris Leader, and the school has no religious character. It does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, though the site does include a Sixth Form Centre, likely used by the school's post-16 provision.
Academically, Irlam and Cadishead has made clear progress. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection in September 2021, when it was rated Requires Improvement across the board. On exam results, the school's Progress 8 score is -0.07, which is classified as Average and places it above the Salford local authority average of -0.22. Within Salford, it ranks 6th out of 15 schools on this measure, putting it in the top half locally. Attainment 8 sits at 40.5, and 45.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.7, with 51.9% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including science labs, art studios, music rooms, an astro turf pitch, tennis courts, and a sports hall. There are clubs covering everything from choir and orchestra to Model UN, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Sports on offer include rugby, cricket, gymnastics, and martial arts. For pupils with additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that has turned around its Ofsted rating and is now performing above the local average on progress, making it a realistic and improving option for families in the Irlam and Cadishead area who want a non-selective, inclusive secondary with strong demand from local parents.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Station Road, Manchester, Salford, M44 5ZR |
| Headteacher | Chris Leader |
| Local Authority | Salford |
| Number of Pupils | 775 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.7% |
| School Capacity | 775 / 1,050 (74% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 25 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.07)
1693rd of 3,141
Nationally
189th of 445
In North West
6th of 15
In Salford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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: 112 pupils).
- FE college47%
- Sixth form college29%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained4%
- 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
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed198
213
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
174 families put this school as their 1st choice (82% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British81.3%
- Mixed5.6%
- Asian3.7%
- White (other)1.8%
- Black0.5%
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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
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 Irlam and Cadishead Academy
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
Station Road, Manchester
Salford, M44 5ZR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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