Abbey Hey Primary Academy, Manchester
Abbey Hey Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester, part of United Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 941st of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Manchester (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Abbey Hey Primary Academy in detail
Abbey Hey Primary Academy in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Abbey Hey Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 79% in reading and 79% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Abbey Hey Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 72 families put Abbey Hey Primary Academy as their first choice and 165 named it as one of their preferences, for 77 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Abbey Hey Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Abbey Hey Primary Academy are St James' CofE Primary School Gorton (0.3 miles, Good, 61% reading, 64% maths); Old Hall Drive Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 75% maths); St Clement's CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 71% maths); and Sacred Heart RC Primary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 80% maths).
Abbey Hey Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St James' CofE Primary School GortonOld Hall Drive AcademySt Clement's CofE Primary SchoolSacred Heart RC Primary School
The trust
Abbey Hey Primary Academy is one of 98 schools run by United Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 66% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Abbey Hey Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (88%).
Who goes there
61.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 54.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (30%), Black (20%) and Asian (17%).
In 2026, 101 pupils (15.1%) received SEN support and 47 (7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gorton Rail Station, about 570 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is High Bank (opposite), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Abbey Hey Primary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Abbey Hey Primary Academy issued 18 suspensions, 2.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Abbey Hey Primary Academy are Wright Robinson College (0.5 miles) and Fairfield High School for Girls (0.9 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Abbey Hey Primary Academy is an exceptional school. Leaders have established influential school values, including ambition, confidence and respect. These values are lived out by staff consistently well. They inspire pupils in their exemplary conduct, interactions and work. Pupils see themselves as leaders in their school. They know their voices make a positive difference to their school community. Together, staff and pupils have created a culture that includes everyone. The school is an exciting and happy place in which to learn.
The school and the trust have established a curriculum that enables a deep study of each subject. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve remarkably well. The school deliberately enhances the curriculum by providing pupils with many opportunities to develop their character and sense of citizenship. This inspires pupils' thirst for learning. They find this learning captivating.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Working together, trust and school leaders have created an ambitious curriculum. Pupils quickly become confident and resilient learners. The way the school's curriculum and teaching enable pupils to connect their knowledge is exemplary. For example, in geography, pupils analyse the impact of tourism in Brazil. They use their geographical knowledge to explain the benefits and drawbacks of this tourism on local communities. Teachers carry out highly effective checks on pupils' learning. They address pupils' misconceptions as they arise. This helps pupils to develop deep knowledge and understanding across the curriculum.
Pupils with SEND are supported in learning the same ambitious curriculum as their peers. The school identifies these pupils' additional needs quickly and accurately. Pupils with SEND receive carefully targeted support to master new knowledge. If pupils need a bespoke curriculum, adults make sure this matches pupils' needs precisely. Pupils with SEND flourish with this support.
From Ofsted's November 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2019 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
61.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
24 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 79% to 93% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 79% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 74% to 85% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.0
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
20
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Abbey Hey Primary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Abbey Hey Primary Academy.
- Premier Sport Wraparound Abbey Hey Primary Academy160m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Abbey Hey Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Abbey Hey Primary Academy is in Manchester; for families living there:
Apply to Manchester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 16 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Abbey Hey Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Abbey Hey Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Abbey Hey Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Abbey Hey Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Abbey Hey Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Manchester, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Abbey Hey Primary Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Manchester got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
614 pupils
630 places
16 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Manchester council
Places available
7,530
Applications
5,736
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school has improved significantly.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
101
SEN Support
47
EHC Plans
22.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
667
Total Pupils
346
Boys
321
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
31
Teachers
21.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,389
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,028
Per pupil
£4436k
Total funding
£526k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
19.7%
Persistent absence
557
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Abbey Hey Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about Abbey Hey Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Abbey Hey Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 93% reached the expected standard in reading and 92% did so in maths.
What is Abbey Hey Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Abbey Hey Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Abbey Hey Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
Abbey Hey Primary Academy was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
Classes at Abbey Hey Primary Academy average 29 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
Abbey Hey Primary Academy has around 667 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
6% of sessions were missed at Abbey Hey Primary Academy in 2024/25. 19.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Abbey Hey Primary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Abbey Hey Primary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Abbey Hey Primary Academy: Premier Sport Wraparound Abbey Hey Primary Academy (160m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 16 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Abbey Hey Primary Academy?
Abbey Hey Primary Academy is at Abbey Hey Lane, Gorton, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M18 8PF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)