Co-op Academy Walkden, Manchester

From the headteacher's welcome: "A warm welcome to Co-op Academy Walkden. 2026 marks my eighth year as Principal at Co-op Academy Walkden and I am incredibly proud and privileged to be leading the amazing young people who walk through our doors every day."

In 2026, pupils at Co-op Academy Walkden averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.9 in Salford and 47 across England.

41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Salford and 47% in England.

That is up from 43.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.47: pupils made 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 35.5, against 51.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 274 families put Co-op Academy Walkden as their first choice and 494 named it as one of their preferences, for 294 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 9 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Co-op Academy Walkden are The Lowry Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.1); St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.8); Moorside High School (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.1); and Star Salford Academy (1.6 miles).

Co-op Academy Walkden's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Co-op Academy Walkden is one of 40 schools run by The Co-Operative Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 295 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 63% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

8.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (9%).

Co-op Academy Walkden has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties: 35 places, 35 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Walkden Rail Station, about 970 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rydal Crescent (near), 160 metres away.

In 2024/25, Co-op Academy Walkden issued 300 suspensions, 20.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Co-op Academy Walkden are Mesne Lea Primary School (0.3 miles), St Paul's CofE Primary School (0.6 miles), Christ The King RC Primary School (0.6 miles) and St Mark's CofE Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.