Laurus Ryecroft
85%
Capacity
1,142
Pupils
3.5x
Demand
About Laurus Ryecroft
Laurus Ryecroft is a school that parents in Tameside clearly want for their children. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 702 applications for just 201 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.49 to one. Of those applications, 308 were first preferences, and 195 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand is a strong signal of parent confidence, and it is backed by the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, which awarded an Outstanding rating across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The school is one of only two secondaries in Tameside to hold an Outstanding grade, and it serves a diverse intake, with 35.1 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals.
Academically, Laurus Ryecroft is performing well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.73 means pupils achieve nearly three-quarters of a grade more per subject than similar students nationally. This places the school first out of 16 secondaries in Tameside, and in the top six per cent of schools in the North West. The local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.19, so the gap is significant. Attainment 8 sits at 52.3, and 81.2 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 77.9 per cent, with 59.7 per cent achieving a grade 4 or above across the EBacc subjects. In the sixth form, the school offers a full academic programme, though specific A-level results are not available in this data.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include basketball, hockey, netball, and martial arts, while clubs range from Debate and Model UN to Coding, DofE, and Young Enterprise. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering Laurus Ryecroft, the data paints a picture of a highly oversubscribed, academically strong school that is delivering exceptional progress for its pupils, particularly given its above-average free school meals intake. It is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, but securing a place will require a first-preference application.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Lumb Lane, Manchester, Tameside, M43 7LJ |
| Headteacher | Reece Carling |
| Local Authority | Tameside |
| Number of Pupils | 1,142 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,142 / 1,350 (85% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 12 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.73)
253rd of 3,141
Nationally
25th of 445
In North West
1st of 16
In Tameside
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed201
702
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
308 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British74.4%
- Asian10.5%
- Mixed6.1%
- White (other)1.8%
- Black0.6%
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
7
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 Laurus Ryecroft
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
Lumb Lane, Manchester
Tameside, M43 7LJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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