Broadoak School, Manchester

Ofsted's report card from its 9 September 2026 inspection grades Broadoak School on 6 areas: 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are passionate about increasing attendance rates at the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that secure systems are in place to identify any barriers pupils may encounter in their learning or wellbeing."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including governors and trustees, have an accurate understanding of Broadoak School."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a broad programme of personal development and wellbeing for pupils."

Achievement - Needs attention. "At the end of key stage 4, pupils do not achieve as well as they should."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have planned an appropriately ambitious curriculum for pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should refine the support that they provide to pupils with low attendance to ensure that any barriers are addressed so that these pupils are able to attend school more regularly"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers receive the guidance that they need to adapt learning effectively for pupils so that they develop a deeper and more secure understanding of important knowledge across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that they improve the attainment of pupils, including those that are disadvantaged, so that they are fully prepared for their next steps".

In 2026, pupils at Broadoak School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 58.2 in Trafford and 47 across England.

27% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 66% in Trafford and 47% in England.

That is down from 42.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.58: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 31.6, against 47 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 80 families put Broadoak School as their first choice and 125 named it as one of their preferences, for 110 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Broadoak School are Irlam and Cadishead Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.3); Lymm High School (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 58.5); Wellacre Technology Academy (2.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 47.9); and Loreto Grammar School (3.5 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 75.2).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Broadoak School.

Broadoak School is one of 11 schools run by The Dean Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.5 in 2024/25.

225 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Broadoak School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 54% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (54%).

Of the 114 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 51% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

55.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Irlam Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Redbrook Road (opposite), 140 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Broadoak School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Broadoak School issued 120 suspensions, 22 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Broadoak School are Partington Central Academy (0.3 miles); Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy (0.5 miles); Forest Gate Academy (0.5 miles); and St Helen's Church of England Primary School (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.