The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
102%
Capacity
918
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College achieves a Progress 8 score of 0.12, which sits slightly below the Manchester local authority average of 0.18 for secondary schools. This places the school 19th out of 31 schools in the borough, putting it in the middle of the pack rather than among the top performers. However, the score is still positive, meaning pupils on average make slightly more progress than the national baseline. The school's Attainment 8 score of 50.6 is respectable, and 75.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, a strong figure that suggests solid core subject outcomes. The school is oversubscribed, with 462 applications for 170 places in 2025/26, and 117 of those offers went to first-preference applicants, indicating genuine local demand.
Academically, the school's strengths are uneven. English progress is notably strong at 0.37, well above the national average, while maths progress is negative at -0.13, dragging the overall figure down. The EBacc average point score is 4.56, and 42.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, with 34.1% achieving a grade 4 or above and 25.3% achieving a grade 5 or above. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2024 confirmed the school remains Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement, so the trajectory is clearly upward. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16.
The Barlow is a Roman Catholic school in Manchester, with a headteacher named Claire Wallace and 918 pupils on roll, slightly above its capacity of 900. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 38.8%, well above the national average, reflecting the school's inclusive intake. Facilities include science labs, a sports hall, astro turf, a theatre, and a chapel, and the school offers a range of sports and clubs such as dance, netball, Model UN, and orchestra. SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language needs, plus a resourced provision. The school is oversubscribed at a ratio of 2.72 applicants per place, so families will need to prioritise it on their application. It suits families who value a faith-based secondary with improving outcomes and strong English results, but who are comfortable with maths progress being below average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Parrs Wood Road, Manchester, Manchester, M20 6BX |
| Headteacher | Claire Wallace |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 918 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.8% |
| School Capacity | 918 / 900 (102% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Jun 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 8 Jul 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.12)
1265th of 3,141
Nationally
132nd of 445
In North West
19th 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
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 180 pupils).
- Sixth form college58%
- FE college26%
- Not sustained8%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Employment2%
- Apprenticeship1%
89% 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
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed170
462
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
120 families put this school as their 1st choice (26% 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 British45.8%
- Asian11.3%
- Mixed10.0%
- White (other)8.3%
- Black2.3%
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
7
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 The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
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
Parrs Wood Road, Manchester
Manchester, M20 6BX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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