William Hulme's Grammar School
122%
Capacity
1,590
Pupils
6.0x
Demand
About William Hulme's Grammar School
William Hulme's Grammar School stands out from the typical Manchester secondary school by a clear margin. Its Progress 8 score of 0.4 is more than double the local authority average of 0.18, placing it 10th out of 31 schools in Manchester and in the top 25% nationally. This is a school where pupils make significantly more academic progress than their peers across the city, particularly in maths, where the Progress 8 score hits 0.65. The Attainment 8 score of 49.1 and the basics measure (a grade 5 or above in English and maths) of 52% both reflect strong outcomes. The school is heavily oversubscribed — for 173 places in Year 7, there were 1,043 applications, with 304 families putting it as their first choice. That kind of demand tells you this is a school Manchester parents have firmly on their radar.
The school's Good rating from Ofsted has been consistent across inspections, with the most recent ungraded inspection in 2025 noting it had improved significantly since the previous graded inspection in 2019. All graded areas — sixth-form provision, early years, leadership and management — remain Good. At KS5, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score of -0.2 is below average, and the progress banding is rated as such, though the average A-level grade sits at a C with 30.58 points per entry. The EBacc entry rate of 30.7% is modest, and only 12.8% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 89% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree their child is happy, feels safe, and does well. The school's Christian character is noted in its data, though the extent to which this shapes daily life isn't specified.
Facilities are generous for a state school — a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a chapel, and a sixth-form centre among them. The school offers a wide range of clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations, and a newspaper club, plus sports like rowing and martial arts. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision on site. However, the parent view on SEND support is notably split: 55% strongly agree it's adequate, but 27% strongly disagree, which is worth investigating if your child has additional needs. With 39.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, this is a genuinely comprehensive intake. The school is oversubscribed six times over, so applying early and as a first preference is essential. It suits families who want strong academic progress in a large, diverse, all-through setting with good facilities and a Christian foundation.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | Spring Bridge Road, Manchester, Manchester, M16 8PR |
| Headteacher | Kate Heaton |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 1,590 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,590 / 1,300 (122% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Jun 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (18 Jun 2025): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.40)
647th of 3,141
Nationally
63rd of 445
In North West
10th of 31
In Manchester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
33.6
'22/23
28.5
'23/24
30.6
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
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 100 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
39%
Russell Group
41%
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)72%
- Not sustained9%
- Employment8%
- Further education4%
- Apprenticeship1%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
45 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed173
1,043
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
304 families put this school as their 1st choice (29% 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 half 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian51.4%
- Mixed7.6%
- White British5.0%
- White (other)1.9%
- Black1.8%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
14
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
10
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 William Hulme's Grammar 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
Spring Bridge Road, Manchester
Manchester, M16 8PR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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