Laurus Ryecroft, Manchester

In its own words: "Laurus Ryecroft is an 11-18 secondary school serving the Tameside community and part of the Laurus Trust family. Since opening in 2018, we have built a vibrant and ambitious learning community where every student is encouraged to achieve their full potential."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, tennis, basketball, badminton and dance.

In 2026, pupils at Laurus Ryecroft averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Tameside and 47 across England.

54% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Tameside and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 51.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.73: pupils made well above 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 46.1, against 53.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.7 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 270 families put Laurus Ryecroft as their first choice and 679 named it as one of their preferences, for 198 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 82 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Laurus Ryecroft are Co-op Academy Failsworth (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.7); Droylsden Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.7); Fairfield High School for Girls (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.5); and Audenshaw School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.4).

Laurus Ryecroft's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Laurus Ryecroft is one of 13 schools run by The Laurus Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 54.6 in 2024/25.

Of the 149 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

36.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

Laurus Ryecroft had 90 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Ashton Moss (Manchester Metrolink), about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

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

In 2024/25, Laurus Ryecroft issued 236 suspensions, 20.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Laurus Ryecroft are St Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.7 miles); Moorside Primary School (0.8 miles); Woodhouses Voluntary Primary School (0.8 miles); and Greenside Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.