Wright Robinson College
101%
Capacity
1,810
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Wright Robinson College
If you're a parent weighing up Wright Robinson College, the parent view data is remarkably strong. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, a striking 97% of the 35 respondents said they would recommend the school. That's backed up by near-unanimous positive responses on specific questions: 97% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child and that their child does well there, while 94% strongly agreed their child feels safe and that pupils are well behaved. The school is clearly in high demand, too. For entry in 2025/26, it received 947 applications for 351 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.7 applicants per place. Of those, 389 were first-preference applications, and 303 first-preference offers were made. This combination of parental satisfaction and fierce competition suggests a school that local families are actively choosing.
Academically, Wright Robinson College delivers results that sit comfortably above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.34 is rated as 'Above average' nationally and places it 11th out of 31 secondary schools in Manchester, well ahead of the local authority average of 0.18. In the North West region, it ranks 80th out of 445 schools. The Attainment 8 score stands at 51.3, and 69.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school also has a strong focus on the EBacc, with 65.7% of pupils entering the qualification and 48.4% achieving a grade 4 or above across the suite. Its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2016, rated the school Outstanding overall, with Outstanding leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Outstanding. This is a notable turnaround from its previous inspection in 2014, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school is a large, mixed secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with 1,810 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,800. It does not have a sixth form. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 46.2%, well above the national average, which gives context to its strong progress scores. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and science labs, alongside a wide range of sports from basketball to hockey and clubs covering debate, coding, and orchestra. The school lists SEND provisions for ten categories of need, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Speech, Language & Communication needs. With a 2.7 oversubscription ratio, it's a school you'll need to have high on your preference list. It suits families who want a large, inclusive comprehensive with a proven track record of strong academic progress and very high levels of parental confidence.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Abbey Hey Lane, Manchester, Manchester, M18 8RL |
| Headteacher | Martin Haworth |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 1,810 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 46.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,810 / 1,800 (101% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (7 Oct 2021): School remains Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 23 Mar 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.34)
769th of 3,141
Nationally
80th of 445
In North West
11th 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/233%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 361 pupils).
- Sixth form college41%
- FE college39%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment5%
- School sixth form (stay)3%
- Apprenticeship2%
91% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
35 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed351
947
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
389 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British39.6%
- Mixed10.9%
- Asian8.3%
- White (other)4.8%
- Black4.8%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
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
9
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 Wright Robinson 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
Abbey Hey Lane, Manchester
Manchester, M18 8RL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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