Bridgewater School, Manchester
Bridgewater School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Manchester. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bridgewater School in detail
Bridgewater School in its own words
In its own words: "Between 16th to 18th September 2025, Bridgewater School welcomed a team of five inspectors from the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) for a two-and-a-half-day review of every aspect of school life. We are delighted to share that Bridgewater has been rated extremely highly across all areas, with inspectors confirming that all five standards were fully met."
From the headteacher's welcome: "At Bridgewater School we believe that Early Years are vital in laying the foundation for a child’s future. This is a time of rapid brain development and, by understanding each child as an individual, we can nurture their curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis, athletics, badminton, multi-sports and drama.
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 7 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Salford
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bridgewater School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Bridgewater School are Branwood Preparatory School (1.4 miles); Clarendon Cottage Preparatory School (1.7 miles); King of Kings (3.1 miles, Requires improvement); and Abbotsford Preparatory School (3.6 miles).
Branwood Preparatory SchoolClarendon Cottage Preparatory SchoolKing of KingsAbbotsford Preparatory School
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 56% went on to university or other higher education and 13% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 115 pupils (26.2%) received SEN support and 1 (0.2%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Patricroft Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bridgewater School (outside), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bridgewater School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
16 September 2025
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
26 April 2022
Regulatory Compliance
31 January 2018
Integrated
3 February 2015
About
Bridgewater School is a British Independent school, located in Worsley in Greater Manchester.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bridgewater School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Latest from Bridgewater School
Sir Kevin Sinfield brings inspiration to Bridgewater
3 Oct 2026
ABRSM music exam success 2026
10 Sep 2026
GCSE 2026 - celebrating exceptional progress
20 Aug 2026
Outstanding results and ambitious futures
13 Aug 2026
Prep pupil races towards his dream
16 Jul 2026
Art and Design Exhibition showcases creativity
22 May 2026
From Bridgewater School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Bridgewater School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bridgewater School.
- Stagecoach SalfordAt the school · Not yet graded
- The Study Space Tuition Centres LLP540m away · Not yet graded
- Playkidds at Broadoak610m away · Not yet graded
- St Mark's Sports Camp990m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Salford is 19.5 (the median across 136 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
439 pupils
540 places
101 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Salford council
Places available
2,774
Applications
2,789
Got 1st preference
85.9%
Got preferred school
96.4%
All secondary applications across Salford council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
115
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
26.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
439
Total Pupils
225
Boys
214
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Bridgewater School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Bridgewater School
What are GCSE results like at Bridgewater School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bridgewater School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Bridgewater School last inspected?
Bridgewater School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2025.
How many pupils go to Bridgewater School?
Bridgewater School has around 439 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Bridgewater School?
Bridgewater School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Bridgewater School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Stagecoach Salford (registered, not yet graded). There are 3 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Bridgewater School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Salford is 19.5 (the median across 136 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bridgewater School?
Bridgewater School is at Drywood Hall, Worsley Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M28 2WQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)