Lancasterian School, Manchester
Lancasterian School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 16 in Manchester. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lancasterian School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Lancasterian School are The Birches School (0.2 miles, Good); The Watkin Centre (1.3 miles, Requires improvement); Oakbrook School (1.3 miles); and Pioneer House High School (1.4 miles, Outstanding).
The Birches SchoolThe Watkin CentreOakbrook SchoolPioneer House High School
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lancasterian School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 92% 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 they would recommend the school (83%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 12 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college.
Who goes there
68.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 39.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (26%), Asian (24%) and Mixed (20%).
Almost every pupil at Lancasterian School has an education, health and care plan (194 of 196 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Lancasterian School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Burton Road (Manchester Metrolink), about 840 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Winster Avenue, 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lancasterian School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Lancasterian School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from July 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Lancasterian School excels at making pupils feel happy, valued and cared for while maintaining high expectations. The school provides a stimulating environment with excellent communication support and varied learning experiences. Staff build strong relationships with every pupil and work closely with specialist therapists and families to ensure each child develops both academically and personally.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on communication and language development using a variety of resources and strategies to help pupils express themselves
- Ambitious, well-structured curriculum with three flexible pathways tailored to pupils' specific needs
- Excellent personal development programme including careers education, trips, and activities like Duke of Edinburgh's Award
- Effective teamwork between education staff and health/therapy professionals to support physical development and behaviour
- Clear routines and calm atmosphere that helps pupils feel secure and valued
Areas for Improvement
- A few recently refined subjects are still being fully embedded, meaning pupils' knowledge in some topics isn't as secure as it should be
- Assessment strategies for checking what pupils know and remember need further development in some subjects to ensure they build properly on prior learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, sports, eco-council, rights respecting group, football and rugby coaching, trips to adventure farms and zoos, work experience placements, Café responsibilities
Lancasterian School is a special school for pupils aged 3-16 with complex educational needs and disabilities, where pupils are happy and achieve well from their individual starting points in a nurturing environment.
At a Glance
68.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Hearing +8
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 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)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Lancasterian School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lancasterian School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lancasterian School 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
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
3 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
196 pupils
192 places
4 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Manchester council
Places available
7,220
Applications
6,542
Got 1st preference
77.1%
Got preferred school
94.7%
All secondary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
194
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Lancasterian School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
196
Total Pupils
127
Boys
69
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
7.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,095
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.8%
Overall absence
47.9%
Persistent absence
190
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Lancasterian School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Lancasterian School
What are SATs results like at Lancasterian School?
Of the pupils at Lancasterian School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Lancasterian School's Ofsted rating?
Lancasterian School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Lancasterian School?
No fixed boundary. When Lancasterian School is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lancasterian School?
Lancasterian School has around 196 pupils on roll. 69% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Lancasterian School have specialist SEN provision?
Lancasterian School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Lancasterian School?
15.8% of sessions were missed at Lancasterian School in 2024/25. 47.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lancasterian School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Lancasterian School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Lancasterian School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 3 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 Lancasterian School?
Lancasterian School is at Elizabeth Slinger Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2XA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)