The King David High School
100%
Capacity
778
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About The King David High School
The King David High School is a popular choice among Manchester families, with 234 applications for 107 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.19. Of those, 117 were first-preference applications, and 105 first-preference offers were made, indicating strong local demand. The school is a mixed, state secondary with a Jewish religious character, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated the school as Requires Improvement overall, a significant step up from its previous Inadequate rating in 2021. The inspection report shows improvements across the board: leadership and management, quality of education, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all judged Good, while behaviour and attitudes, though still Requires Improvement, had moved up from a previous rating of 4 (Inadequate). This trajectory suggests a school that has responded to earlier criticisms and is now on a more stable footing.
Academically, the school performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.5 is well above average nationally and far exceeds the Manchester local authority average of 0.18. This places the school 9th out of 31 secondary schools in Manchester, in the top 25% of the LA. Attainment 8 sits at 57.8, and 85.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 5.23, with 42.2% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.07, classed as Average, with pupils achieving an average of B- per entry. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted, and the school has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre. For parents focused on academic progress, the KS4 results are a clear strength, while sixth-form outcomes are solid but not exceptional.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and playing fields, plus a chapel on site. Sports on offer include rowing, netball, and hockey, and there are clubs such as Debate, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school has a comprehensive SEND register, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 18.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is oversubscribed, so families will need to apply early and meet the school’s admissions criteria. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic progress at KS4, a supportive SEND framework, and a school that has demonstrably improved its leadership and teaching quality in recent inspections.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Jewish |
| Address | Eaton Road, Manchester, Manchester, M8 5DY |
| Headteacher | Tracy Basger |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 778 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.5% |
| School Capacity | 778 / 775 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.50)
505th of 3,141
Nationally
53rd of 445
In North West
9th of 31
In Manchester
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.9
'22/23
36.3
'23/24
36.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2347%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 103 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
39%
Russell Group
45%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)47%
- Employment22%
- Not sustained12%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
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
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed107
234
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
117 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.4%
- White (other)4.5%
- Asian2.5%
- Mixed1.1%
- Black0.9%
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.
15
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
12
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 King David High School
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
Eaton Road, Manchester
Manchester, M8 5DY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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