The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College

A good voluntary aided school school in Manchester. Explore Ofsted ratings, admissions information, and performance data for The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College.

Manchester, M206BX Ofsted: Good Age 11-16 Mixed intake
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Performance Score

Overall school rating

63

/ 100

Secondary weighted harmonic mean of 3 indicators

Indicators used for Secondary schools

Progress 8 score
56.9
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 40.0%
Raw: 0.12
English & Maths grade 4+ %
63.0
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 30.0%
Raw: 75.9%
Ofsted inspection outcome
75.0
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 30.0%
Raw: Good

How we weight each phase

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Primary schools

  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 40.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Secondary schools

  • Progress 8 score 40.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

All-through schools

  • Progress 8 score 25.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 15.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Secondary with Sixth Form schools

  • Progress 8 score 20.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • Continue in education or training 20.0%
  • Sustained employment 20.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Sixth Form Only schools

  • Continue in education or training 40.0%
  • Sustained employment 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Special schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Alternative Provision schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Independent schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Ofsted Inspection

Official inspection outcomes

Good
Overall effectiveness
Good
Last inspected
19 June 2019
Previous grade
Requires Improvement
Quality of education
9
Behaviour & attitudes
9
Personal development
9
Leadership & management
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

Source: Ofsted inspection outcomes. Grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate.

Contact Information

How to reach this school

Source: GIAS
Address
Parrs Wood Road
East Didsbury
Manchester, M206BX

Location

Find the school on the map

Source: Geocoding

School Information

Basic details and characteristics

Source: GIAS
URN
105581
Type
Voluntary aided school
Phase
Secondary
Address
Parrs Wood Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6BX
Age range
11-16
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic
School status
Open
Capacity
900 pupils
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Diocese
Diocese of Salford
Sixth Form
No
Nursery
No

School Performance Data

Official government statistics

Source: DfE

School Demographics

Total Pupils
898
Free School Meals
40.0% (359 pupils)
Special Educational Needs
7.5% (67 pupils)

Daily Attendance

Attendance Rate
90.2%
Good
Persistent Absence
27.4%
Missing 10%+ of school days

Detailed Performance Metrics

Attainment 8 Scores
Attainment 8:
50.6
Ebacc Attainment 8:
14.8
English Attainment 8:
11.2
Maths Attainment 8:
9.6
Open Subjects Attainment 8:
15.0
EBacc Subject Performance
Ebacc Attainment 8:
14.8
Ebacc English:
98.8%
Ebacc Entry:
34.1%
Ebacc Humanities:
85.3%
Ebacc Languages:
47.6%
Ebacc Maths:
98.2%
Ebacc Sciences:
97.6%
Progress Measures
Progress 8:
0.12
Progress 8 Range:
-0.11 to 0.35

Key Performance Indicators

English & Maths Grade 5+:
75.9 (+23.9 vs average)
EBacc Entry:
34.1 (+14.7 vs average)
Attainment 8:
50.6 (+11.1 vs average)
Progress 8:
0.12 (+0.3 vs average)

Calculated Fields

Derived insights and analysis

Source: Calculated

Class Size Information

Average Class Size
25 pupils
Very Good
Pupils per Year Group
150
Average across all year groups
Total School Size
898 pupils
11-16

From the School Website

Information extracted from the school's own website

Source: School Website

Ethos & Values

"Rise up, take courage, and do it"

Serve Pray Achieve Respect

The Barlow has a Catholic ethos centred on the teachings of Jesus; motto Rise up, take courage, and do it; aims to develop pupils’ gifts and talents so that they reach their full potential.

Head Teacher's Message

As a Catholic school, The Barlow has a distinct ethos centered on the teachings of Jesus and aims to develop pupils’ gifts and talents to reach their full potential, with motto Rise up, take courage, and do it.

Facilities

Floodlit Astro Turf Pitch Sports Hall Gymnasium Theatre Grass Football Pitch On-site parking Teaching and learning spaces

Curriculum Highlights

Key Stage 3 Arts curriculum focusing on Art, Music and Drama GCSE Art and Design (Art, Craft and Design and Graphic Communication) GCSE Music Eduqas GCSE Drama Key Stage 4 curriculum includes GCSE Religious Education, English Language and Literature, Mathematics and Science with additional subjects available

SEND Provision

The Barlow has a Resource Provision for 16 pupils with autism, located at the heart of the school, offering access to speech and language therapy and occupational therapy; provision opened in 2022 and officially opened in 2023; run by named staff with a dedicated Resource Provision Manager.

Admissions Criteria

Admission is determined by the Governing Body in line with the school’s Admissions Policy. Priority is given to Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children (including those adopted from overseas), baptised Roman Catholic children with a sibling at the school or resident in named parishes, other baptised Catholic children in the parish or associated primary schools, other baptised Catholic children, non-Baptised children with a sibling at the school, non-Baptised children attending associated Catholic primary schools, children with exceptional medical or social needs, and other children seeking a Catholic education. Oversubscription rules apply for Year 7 and in-year admissions follow the same criteria; appeals are available.

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