The Barlow RC High School
Parrs Wood Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6BXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Barlow RC High School is a secondary school in Manchester for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 209 schools in Manchester. It ranks 17th of 60 secondary schools in Manchester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 June 2019, report published 8 July 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 11 June 2024
This is a welcoming school where pupils' differences are celebrated. Pupils and staff are accepting of everyone. Parents and carers said that the school is a family where there are lots of opportunities for their children to grow. The school is ambitious for all pupils. Most pupils learn effectively from a broad, rich curriculum. This ensures that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), typically achieve well. Relationships between pupils and staff are courteous and respectful. There is a purposeful atmosphere around school. Pupils know the expectations placed on them to work hard and to do their best in lessons. They respond positively to these expectations. Pupils feel happy and safe. Pupils' wider development is a high priority for the school. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop leadership skills as prefects and diversity leaders. Older pupils provide support for younger readers. Pupils benefit from an extensive and varied extra- curricular programme. For example, pupils regularly take part in activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, drama, music and sports clubs. Many pupils visit universities, museums and theatres. Pupils enjoy visits to Italy, Iceland and France.
What the school should improve
- Some teachers do not identify or address the gaps in pupils' knowledge quickly enough. This means that pupils' learning is not as secure as it should be. This hampers their progress through the curriculum and their overall achievement. The school should ensure that teachers are well equipped to use assessment information to resolve gaps in pupils' knowledge so they learn and remember all that they should.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
178 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
930 pupils on roll, with places for 940
Schools near The Barlow RC High School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parrs Wood High School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 48.1 |
| Priestnall School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 52.6 |
| Burnage Academy for Boys | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 46.6 |
| Didsbury High School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 57.1 |
| Withington Girls' School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 48.8 |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Ms Claire Wallace
- Phone
- 01614458053
- Address
- Parrs Wood Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6BX
- Local authority
- Manchester
- URN
- 105581
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.