Loreto High School Chorlton
102%
Capacity
766
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Loreto High School Chorlton
Loreto High School Chorlton is a heavily oversubscribed secondary school, with 497 applications for 148 places in its most recent admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.36. Only 72 of those offers went to first-preference applicants, which suggests strong local demand despite the school not having a formal parent-view recommendation score in the data. The school is a Roman Catholic state school for mixed pupils aged 11 to 16, located in the Manchester borough. It has a capacity of 750 and currently houses 766 pupils, so it is running slightly over capacity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 54.6%, well above the national average, reflecting the school's inclusive intake. The headteacher is Catherine Hughes. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, chapel, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre, though the school does not have a sixth form of its own.
Academically, Loreto's most recent Ofsted inspection rated the school as Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating. The breakdown shows that personal development and behaviour and attitudes both remain Good, but quality of education and leadership and management are now Requires Improvement. In its most recent exam results, the school's Progress 8 score was -0.07, which is below the local authority average of 0.18 and places it 21st out of 31 schools in Manchester. The Attainment 8 score was 46.2, and 42.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score was 4.09, with 15.9% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. Nationally, the school ranks in the 54th percentile for Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of schools.
For families considering Loreto, the school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, coding, drama, and a variety of sports such as rugby, hockey, and swimming. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Didsbury High School, just 0.9 km away, which may be a consideration for parents prioritising Ofsted grades. Given its oversubscription and high FSM percentage, Loreto appears to serve a diverse local community, but the Requires Improvement rating and below-average Progress 8 score mean it may not suit families focused on top academic outcomes. The school is best suited to those who value its Catholic ethos, broad extracurricular offer, and strong personal development and behaviour ratings.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Nell Lane, Manchester, Manchester, M21 7SW |
| Headteacher | Catherine Hughes |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 766 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 54.6% |
| School Capacity | 766 / 750 (102% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 23 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.07)
1690th of 3,141
Nationally
187th of 445
In North West
21st of 31
In Manchester
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
2022/233%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 144 pupils).
- Sixth form college51%
- FE college27%
- Not sustained10%
- School sixth form (stay)3%
- Employment2%
- Apprenticeship1%
85% 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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed148
497
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
75 families put this school as their 1st choice (15% 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 British21.7%
- Mixed16.2%
- Asian11.9%
- Black9.8%
- White (other)7.6%
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.
11
Total schools
10
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 Loreto High School Chorlton
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
Nell Lane, Manchester
Manchester, M21 7SW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Loreto High School Chorlton!
Write a Review