Laurus Cheadle Hulme

About Laurus Cheadle Hulme

Laurus Cheadle Hulme is a state secondary school in Stockport that is running at near-full capacity with 1,049 pupils against a published capacity of 1,050. The school serves a relatively diverse intake: 18.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is higher than the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school draws from a broad socioeconomic mix. Demand is exceptionally high — for 206 places in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 1,507 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 7.32. Of those, 391 families put it as their first preference, and 177 first-preference offers were made. This level of competition places it among the most sought-after secondaries in the borough, and it is one of only two schools in Stockport rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

Academically, the school performs well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of +0.51 means pupils achieve roughly half a grade more per subject than similar pupils nationally, and it ranks 2nd out of 13 schools in Stockport on this measure. The local authority average Progress 8 is +0.07, so Laurus Cheadle Hulme is significantly ahead of its peers. Attainment 8 sits at 54.6, and 79.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 84.8%, with 61.8% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school received Outstanding across all five categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. The Progress 8 banding is classified as well above average nationally.

The school offers a strong range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, and dedicated art and music rooms. Sports provision covers athletics, swimming, tennis, rugby, and martial arts, while clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model United Nations, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is comprehensive, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. There is no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. Given the intense competition for places — 7.3 applications per place — families should be prepared for a selective admissions process based on the school’s oversubscription criteria. This school will particularly suit families who value strong academic outcomes, a wide extracurricular offer, and a well-resourced environment, but who are comfortable with the high demand and lack of post-16 provision on site.

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