Classpot

Whalley Range 11-18 High School

Manchester, M16 8GWSecondaryAges 11–18GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2022
Progress 8
+0.79
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
192 1st-choice / 252 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#196 of 3,141 nationally

About Whalley Range 11-18 High School

Whalley Range 11-18 High School is clearly a popular choice among Manchester families. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 598 applications for 252 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.37. Of those, 192 families put it as their first preference, and 184 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation locally, and it's worth noting that the school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2022, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. The school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections, having improved from a Requires Improvement grade in its previous graded inspection. With 1,647 pupils on roll, it is operating very close to its capacity of 1,650, which reinforces the sense that this is a school that local families are keen to get into.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressWilbraham Road, Manchester, Manchester, M16 8GW
HeadteacherMichael Lea
Local AuthorityManchester
Number of Pupils1,647
Free School Meals (FSM)51.6%
School Capacity1,647 / 1,650 (100% full)
Sixth FormYes

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

28 Apr 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (28 Apr 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 12 Nov 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
TheatreMusic RoomsSwimming PoolArt StudiosSports HallGymnasiumScience LabsDining HallLibrarySixth Form CentrePlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

Cross CountrySwimmingDanceGymnasticsAthleticsCricketFootballHockeyMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

Duke of EdinburghEco ClubFilm ClubDramaChoirOrchestraModel United NationsYoung Enterprise

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Whalley Range 11-18 High School

Whalley Range 11-18 High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.