The Lowry Academy

About The Lowry Academy

The Lowry Academy in Salford is a mixed 11-16 secondary school that is currently running below its capacity, with 922 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 1,200. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 55.3 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average. Demand for places is strong, however. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 271 applications for 163 total places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.66 applicants per place. Of those applications, 147 were first-preference choices, and 145 first-preference offers were made, indicating that most families who put the school first were successful. The school does not have a sixth form or nursery provision, and its religious character is listed as not applicable.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 rated it Good overall, a significant improvement from its previous inspection in October 2018, which had judged it Inadequate. All four inspected categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — were rated Good. In terms of exam outcomes for the 2023/24 academic year, the school’s Progress 8 score was -0.37, which is below the Salford local authority average of -0.22 and places the school 10th out of 15 schools in the borough. The Attainment 8 score was 41.3, and 52.5 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 30.2 per cent, with 14 per cent achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50 per cent for Progress 8.

The Lowry Academy offers a broad range of facilities including a library, dining hall, astro turf, swimming pool, art studios, playing fields, gymnasium, and a chapel. Sports provision is extensive, with options such as cross country, gymnastics, swimming, hockey, cricket, rugby, rowing, and rounders. There is also a varied programme of clubs including drama, eco club, choir, Model UN, gardening, and Young Enterprise. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its oversubscribed status and high FSM intake, this is a school that has clearly built strong local trust, and it will particularly suit families looking for a large, inclusive secondary with good facilities and a clear upward trajectory in its Ofsted rating.

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