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#12 in Best Secondary Schools in Manchester
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
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The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
- Secondary
- Manchester M20 6BX
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Ofsted report
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| Effectiveness of leadership and management | Good |
| Overall effectiveness at previous inspection | Requires Improvement |
| Quality of teaching, learning and assessment | Good |
| Personal development, behaviour and welfare | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
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This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Academic Progress: Pupils make good progress during their time at the school and successfully move on to next steps.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils鈥� behaviour is good. They are courteous, happy and confident.
Academic Progress: Pupils achieve well with effective learning from a broad curriculum.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Highly positive behaviour routines and courteous atmosphere.
Qualifications and Training: Training program is effective; supports newly and recently qualified staff.
Current Educational Practices: Leaders accurately understand strengths of teaching and plan training well.
Qualifications and Training: Teachers possess strong subject knowledge.
Current Educational Practices: Teachers effectively use expertise to enhance learning.
Strengths and Challenges: Effective teaching in English, geography, history, French, and Spanish; less evident elsewhere.
Strengths and Challenges: Strong subject knowledge; some gaps in knowledge need addressing.
Opportunities for Involvement: Governors challenge and support senior leaders to improve the school.
Communication: School communicates with parents through meetings and questionnaires.
Opportunities for Involvement: School is a family with growth opportunities for children.
Communication: Parents view school as welcoming with good communications.
Parent Satisfaction: Parents are satisfied with the broad curriculum.
Parent Satisfaction: Parents have mixed views; some concerns about care, welfare, and education for children.
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Governors seriously take responsibilities, challenge and support leaders.
Actions for Quality Improvement: Leadership improved teaching quality, especially in mathematics and science.
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Leadership fosters high expectations for learning and behaviour.
Actions for Quality Improvement: Considerable improvements in staffing and leadership.
Managing Bullying and Safety: Staff deal with any incidents effectively; pupils say bullying is rare.
Promoting Welfare and Safety: Staff know pupils well, supporting their safety and well-being.
Managing Bullying and Safety: Clear routines support safety and behaviour improvement.
Promoting Welfare and Safety: Pupils feel safe with high priority on well-being.
Extracurricular Offerings: Wide range of activities and clubs matching pupils' interests.
Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars: Pupils participate equally in activities; balance academics and extracurriculars well.
Extracurricular Offerings: Extensive programme including Duke of Edinburgh, drama, and sports.
Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars: Balance achieved through varied activities promoting growth.
Outdoor Facilities: Visits to Italy, Iceland, and France create diverse experiences.
Career Counselling Services: High-quality careers guidance, independent advice throughout key stages 3 and 4.
Preparation for Sixth Form: Almost all pupils move on to aspirational next steps in education, training, or employment.
Career Counselling Services: Comprehensive guidance prepares pupils for future steps.
Preparation for Sixth Form: Pupils well-prepared for next education steps.
Managing and Supporting SEND: Pupils with SEND are supported effectively; leadership and teachers have a sharp understanding of needs.
Managing and Supporting SEND: Specific tailored curricula meet diverse needs effectively.
Subjects Offered: Teaching is especially strong in English, geography, history, French and Spanish.
Subjects Offered: Rich curriculum with subjects improving in a well-ordered way.
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is a Secondary, Co-Ed, Roman Catholic school located in Greater Manchester, North West.
It has 898 students from age 11-16 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 14 : 1.
At this school, 46% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.
This school rated Good by recent Ofsted inspection.
Type of SEN provision
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The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
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| Phase of Education | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools |
| 夜来香研究所 grade |
B+
|
A
|
B-
|
| Ofset report | Good | Good | Requires Improvement |
| Age range | 11-16 | 11-19 | 11-16 |
| Gender | Co-Ed | Co-Ed | Co-Ed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student teacher ratio | 14.5 | - | 14.1 |
| Proficient Math | - | - | - |
| Proficient Read | - | - | - |
| Grade 5 or above GCSE | 46% | 34% | 35% |
| Grade 5 or above A Level | - | - | - |
| Day Fees | - | - | - |
Secondary Exam Result
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.19 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 46.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 46% | 29.98% | 30.03% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 63% | 42% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 46% | 28.88% | 25.06% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 23% | 12.36% | 10.91% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 33% | 17.42% | 15.51% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.20 | 3 | 2.83 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 89% | 92.5% | 90.53% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 180 | 174 | 144 |
| Pupils staying in education | 87% | 89.11% | 84.16% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 26% | 29.07% | 32.73% |
| School sixth forms | 2% | 13.11% | 29.8% |
| Sixth form colleges | 58% | 29.18% | 10.22% |
| Other education destinations | 1% | 17.64% | 11.43% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 1% | 1.18% | 2.8% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 2% | 2.25% | 3.59% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.19 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 48.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 49% | 31.39% | 32.85% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 70% | 41.43% | 45.33% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 31% | 25.08% | 24.94% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 20% | 12.08% | 13.02% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 26% | 15.92% | 17.19% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.24 | 2.96 | 2.97 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 93% | 89.54% | 90.4% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 177 | 167 | 141 |
| Pupils staying in education | 89% | 87.57% | 86.29% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 25% | 28.11% | 34.03% |
| School sixth forms | 1% | 13.96% | 30.82% |
| Sixth form colleges | 62% | 29.57% | 10.38% |
| Other education destinations | 1% | 16.21% | 11.08% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 0.89% | 1.99% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 1.07% | 2.13% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.04 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 46.8 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 36% 7 | 22.23% | 29.3% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 60% 3 | 32.66% | 43.41% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 46% | 23.55% | 25.8% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 19% 10 | 10.16% | 11.47% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 33% 17 | 14.45% | 16.49% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.07 | 2.49 | 2.88 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 94% | 88.64% | 90.2% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 165 | 140 | 135 |
| Pupils staying in education | 84% | 83.76% | 84.08% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 16% | 26.6% | 33.25% |
| School sixth forms | 5% | 13.96% | 31.27% |
| Sixth form colleges | 61% | 29.12% | 8.45% |
| Other education destinations | 2% | 14.2% | 11.14% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 5% | 2% | 3.4% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 4% | 2.92% | 2.75% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.12 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 46.7 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 43% 2 | 23.4% | 29.22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 63% 1 | 33.84% | 42.62% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 24% | 19.88% | 24.73% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 9% 10 | 9.28% | 11.33% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 16% 7 | 13.19% | 16.01% |
| EBacc average points score | 3.8 | 2.49 | 2.84 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 89% | 88.05% | 84.87% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 170 | 149 | 140 |
| Pupils staying in education | 78% | 83.77% | 73.88% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 16% | 26.59% | 28.31% |
| School sixth forms | 6% | 13.09% | 31.6% |
| Sixth form colleges | 55% | 26.64% | 9.08% |
| Other education destinations | 0% | 12.73% | 5.87% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 1.09% | 2.96% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 8% | 2.5% | 2.05% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.09 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 47.6 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 41% | 23.17% | 29.55% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 62% | 34.12% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 35% | 20.88% | 25.25% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 19% | 11.66% | 14.71% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 23% | 13.39% | 16.26% |
| EBacc average points score | - | - | - |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 88% | 86.82% | 85.29% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 170 | 145 | 145 |
| Pupils staying in education | 81% | 46.45% | 58.19% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 19% | 23.91% | 30.58% |
| School sixth forms | 3% | 11.09% | 32.22% |
| Sixth form colleges | 59% | 30.55% | 8.95% |
| Other education destinations | - | 11.59% | 5.7% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 9% | 3.41% | 4.78% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 6% | 2.14% | 2.45% |
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The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College Rankings
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Admission
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 21st Oct 2024 - 25th Oct 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 7th Apr 2025 - 21st Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 24th Jul 2025 - 29th Aug 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 2nd Sep 2024 - 20th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 26th Oct 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 22nd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 23rd Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
14 : 1
Student teacher ratio at The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
Local authority ratio 19 : 1
