Classpot

Manchester Communication Academy

Manchester, M40 8NTSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2024
Progress 8
+0.15
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
178 1st-choice / 234 places
Ranking
#1,199
of 3,141 nationally

About Manchester Communication Academy

Manchester Communication Academy sits within the Manchester local authority, a secondary landscape that includes 36 state schools of the same type. The school ranks 17th in the city by Progress 8, placing it in the middle of the pack. For context, the top-performing peers in the authority are Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester, Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester, and Levenshulme High School, each with significantly higher Progress 8 scores. The academy itself serves a notably high proportion of disadvantaged pupils, with 59.6 per cent eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated the school Good overall, with a standout Outstanding grade for personal development. This is an improvement on the previous inspection in 2019, which also rated it Good overall but did not award any Outstanding categories. The school is led by headteacher Susan Watmough and caters to 1,299 pupils aged 11 to 16, operating slightly above its official capacity of 1,200.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSilchester Drive, Manchester, Manchester, M40 8NT
HeadteacherSusan Watmough
Local AuthorityManchester
Number of Pupils1,299
Free School Meals (FSM)59.6%
School Capacity1,299 / 1,200 (108% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 May 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Art StudiosAstro TurfSports HallGymnasiumLibraryMusic RoomsTheatreScience LabsPlaying FieldsDining HallTennis CourtsICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

NetballGymnasticsAthleticsRugbyCross CountryHockeyRoundersRowingFootball

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubArt ClubModel United NationsEco ClubBook ClubDebateDramaGardeningChess

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Manchester Communication Academy

Manchester Communication Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.