North Ridge High School

  • Special
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 11 to 19
Ofsted: Outstanding

Alworth Road, Blackley, Manchester, M9 0RPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

North Ridge High School is a special school in Manchester for ages 11 to 19. It is one of the 209 schools in Manchester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in April 2014.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 29 April 2014, report published 21 May 2014

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 March 2024

North Ridge is a nurturing and caring place where pupils thrive. The school places pupils' communication and well-being at the heart of its work. It has very high expectations for pupils' achievement. All pupils have complex special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils enjoy their learning. They achieve extremely well from their different starting points. Staff know pupils very well. They form positive and trusting relationships with pupils. This helps pupils to feel safe. Over time, pupils learn the skills that they need to manage their own feelings and emotions. This is shown in the exemplary behaviour of older pupils and students. Pupils are respectful and considerate to staff and towards each other. They have very positive attitudes to their learning. Pupils are prepared exceptionally well to be confident, independent and ready for adulthood. For example, visits to local supermarkets help pupils to learn about road safety. Students in the sixth form make food and serve customers in the 'Cup and Cake Café'. They also value the opportunity to wash and iron donated items of clothing, before selling these in the '2nd Hand Made Shop'. These activities enable pupils to gain valuable life skills, such as communication, job roles and how to manage money.

Pupil numbers and mix

207 pupils on roll, with places for 200

Eligible for free school meals70.5%

70.5%, 44 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language26.6%

26.6%, 5 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near North Ridge High School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Meade Hill School0.1 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School0.6 milesOfsted: OutstandingNot published
Camberwell Park Specialist Support School2 milesOfsted: InadequateNot published
Manchester Jewish School for Special Education2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Newlands School2 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community special school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
11 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mrs Shauna Johnson
Address
Alworth Road, Blackley, Manchester, M9 0RP
Local authority
Manchester
URN
132905

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.