Manchester Secondary PRU, Chorlton
Manchester Secondary PRU is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Chorlton. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Manchester Secondary PRU in detail
Where pupils go next
Of the 95 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 31% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 28% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.
Who goes there
82.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 21.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 179 pupils (87.3%) received SEN support and 26 (12.7%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Barlow Moor Road (Manchester Metrolink), about 830 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Maitland Avenue (ne-bound), 160 metres away.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils value the opportunity to attend this school, which offers them another chance to access their education. Many pupils have had considerable disruption to their prior education. When they arrive at the school, they are listened to, respected and valued by staff. This helps most pupils to feel comfortable, happy and safe.
The school has raised its expectations for pupils' academic success. It is determined to ensure that pupils participate fully in what the school has to offer. Most pupils learn well. Thoughtfully designed learning pathways help them to gain the qualifications that they need to move on to further education or training.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum. Pupils benefit from a range of subjects that match the breadth of the national curriculum. The curriculum is enhanced with links to sport, art and outdoor education, which the school uses well to re-engage pupils in their learning. Pupils study for a range of GCSEs and vocational awards, which meet pupils' individual aspirations well. In the main, the curriculum identifies what pupils should learn and when they will learn it.
Staff use effective assessment strategies to establish pupils' starting points and to shape future learning activities. Teachers use appropriate information about pupils' special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including from their 'learner profiles' and their education, health and care (EHC) plans, effectively.
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Personal development.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Behaviour & attitudes (Requires Improvement), Leadership & management (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
82.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Manchester Secondary PRU
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Manchester Secondary PRU from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Manchester Secondary PRU 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
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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
121%
Over capacity
205 pupils
170 places
35 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Chorlton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chorlton
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(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
179
SEN Support
26
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
205
Total Pupils
133
Boys
72
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
9.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£65,459
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Manchester Secondary PRU
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Manchester Secondary PRU
What is Manchester Secondary PRU's Ofsted rating?
Manchester Secondary PRU was rated Requires Improvement at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2014 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Manchester Secondary PRU?
No fixed boundary. When Manchester Secondary PRU is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Manchester Secondary PRU?
Manchester Secondary PRU has around 205 pupils on roll. 83% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Manchester Secondary PRU?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Manchester Secondary PRU 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 Secondary PRU?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Secondary PRU?
Manchester Secondary PRU is at Mersey Valley Campus, Barlow Hall Road, Chorlton, Greater Manchester, M21 7JJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)