Manchester Hospital School, Manchester
Manchester Hospital School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 16 in Manchester. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Manchester Hospital School in detail
Manchester Hospital School in its own words
In its own words: "To be a beacon of excellence, providing high quality education which enables children and young people with medical and mental health needs to achieve and experience success. Each child has the right to an education."
From the headteacher's welcome: "At Manchester Hospital School, our vision is ‘To be a beacon of excellence, providing high quality education which enables children and young people with medical and mental health needs to achieve and experience success’. We have a highly skilled staff team who work relentlessly to ensure that our pupils right to an education is of the highest quality every day."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Manchester Hospital School are Pinc College (0.6 miles, Good); Rodney House School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); IncludEd Learning (1.2 miles, Good); and Bridge College (1.6 miles, Good).
Pinc CollegeRodney House SchoolIncludEd LearningBridge College
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Manchester Hospital School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school and 87% say their child is happy there.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (87%).
Who goes there
22.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 36 pupils (23.7%) received SEN support and 116 (76.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ardwick Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Manchester Royal Infirmary, 110 metres away.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from May 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Manchester Hospital School excels at helping every pupil succeed regardless of their medical circumstances or educational background. The school combines an ambitious, carefully designed curriculum with a nurturing environment where pupils feel secure enough to take learning risks. Staff are exceptionally skilled at identifying what works best for each child and adapting their teaching to meet individual needs, ensuring pupils leave hospital well-prepared to return to their usual school with confidence.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious curriculum with carefully mapped knowledge building blocks that are tailored to each pupil's individual needs and gaps in learning
- Highest priority given to reading through systematic phonics teaching, matched reading books, and promotion of reading for pleasure
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and attitudes - pupils are motivated, eager to learn and treat each other with kindness even when facing serious ill health
- Extensive personal development opportunities including leadership roles, school council, European junior parliament membership and volunteering at food banks
- Staff work closely with families and health professionals to overcome attendance barriers and adapt learning fluidly to meet individual SEND needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and leaders have created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Bedside sporting activities, puppet workshops, learning to play musical instruments, school council, European junior parliament, food bank volunteering, author visits, careers programme, work-related learning
Manchester Hospital School is an exceptional haven of calm and learning that fosters the flourishing of every pupil regardless of their circumstances. The school provides outstanding education while ensuring pupils feel safe, understood and valued.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Manchester Hospital School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Manchester Hospital School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Manchester Hospital 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
- 82
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 22
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 82 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 22 serious and 60 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
21 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
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(9)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
36
SEN Support
116
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
152
Total Pupils
69
Boys
83
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Manchester Hospital School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Manchester Hospital School
What is Manchester Hospital School's Ofsted rating?
Manchester Hospital School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Manchester Hospital School?
No fixed boundary. When Manchester Hospital School is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Manchester Hospital School?
Manchester Hospital School has around 152 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Manchester Hospital School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Manchester Hospital 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 Manchester Hospital School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 82 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 22 serious and 60 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 21 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 Manchester Hospital School?
Manchester Hospital School is at 3rd Floor School, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, Lancashire, M13 9WL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)