Parrs Wood High School, Manchester

From the headteacher's welcome: "We expect all our students to achieve excellent outcomes, both academically and pastorally. We believe this combination will allow our students to make a positive contribution to society, regardless of background. At Parrs Wood, we believe that every student has the potential to realise their dreams."

In 2026, pupils at Parrs Wood High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.3 in Manchester and 47 across England.

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

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 48.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.07: pupils made about 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 41.1, against 52.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Social Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 249 families put Parrs Wood High School as their first choice and 858 named it as one of their preferences, for 292 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 27 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Parrs Wood High School are The Barlow RC High School (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.2); Priestnall School (1.1 miles, Attainment 8 55.8); The Kingsway School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 48.4); and Burnage Academy for Boys (1.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 51.9).

Parrs Wood High School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Parrs Wood High School is one of 6 schools run by Greater Manchester Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.8 in 2024/25.

199 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Parrs Wood High School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 72% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (72%).

Of the 288 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 220 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 61% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 18% into work. 20% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

34.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (37%), Asian (31%) and Mixed (12%).

In 2026, 218 pupils (12.2%) received SEN support and 41 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is East Didsbury Rail Station, about 240 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Moor Park Road (near), 70 metres away.

In 2024/25, Parrs Wood High School issued 515 suspensions, 27.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Parrs Wood High School are Broad Oak Primary School (0.4 miles), St Catherine's RC Primary School (0.6 miles), Didsbury CofE Primary School (0.7 miles) and Beaver Road Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.