St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted judgements: Good

Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1JHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy is a secondary school in Manchester for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 90 schools in Bury. It ranks 14th of 60 secondary schools in Manchester. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 21 January 2025, report published 6 March 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 January 2025

Pupils' experience of school has been transformed since the last inspection. Pupils and staff value highly the positive shift in culture that has been fostered across all areas of school life. This helps pupils to feel happy and safe. Pupils enjoy coming to school. The school's curriculum is highly ambitious for all pupils. There are high expectations for what pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), can achieve. Pupils work hard and show committed attitudes to their learning. They are keen to succeed. Pupils achieve well, including in national examinations. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour that are consistently taught, reinforced, and embedded in school routines. Everyone in the school appreciates this consistent approach to behaviour. Pupils understand what is expected of them. They behave well in lessons and at social times. This has helped to create a respectful and cohesive learning community. Pupils say that this is a school where everyone's differences are accepted and everyone is equal. They celebrate diversity and learn about different faiths, cultures and perspectives. For example, pupils spoke with relish about 'culture week'. Such activities contribute well to the respectful values upheld in the school.

What the school should improve

  • At times, the implementation of the curriculum is not adapted well enough to meet the needs of some pupils, including those with SEND or those who are disadvantaged. This makes it more difficult for these pupils to learn the required curriculum content. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to select the most effective strategies to support these pupils to learn well.
  • Some groups of pupils, including some who are disadvantaged and some with SEND, do not attend school regularly enough. This further exacerbates the gaps in these pupils' learning. The school should ensure that these pupils are supported to improve their rates of attendance and punctuality.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

222 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score50.4

50.4, 4.3 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths55.4%

55.4%, 10 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths77.5%

77.5%, 12.7 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc14%

14%, 26.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score4.24

4.24, 0.15 above the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,032 pupils on roll, with places for 1,150

Eligible for free school meals24.2%

24.2%, 2.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language22.4%

22.4%, 0.8 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support9.8%

9.8%, 5 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.7%

1.7%, 4.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near St Monica's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Manchester Mesivta School0.4 milesOfsted: Requires improvementAttainment 8: 39.3
The Heys School0.7 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 34.0
Ahavas Torah Boys Academy0.7 milesOfsted: InadequateNot published
Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch Schools0.8 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 23.4
Me'or High School0.8 milesOfsted: GoodNot published

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
ST TERESA OF CALCUTTA CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Mrs Emma Keenan
Address
Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1JH
Local authority
Bury
URN
148050

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.