Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Manchester
Sacred Heart RC Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 53rd-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Manchester (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sacred Heart RC Primary School in detail
Sacred Heart RC Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Sacred Heart is a Catholic primary school where 'Every Heart is Sacred'. The school offers a distinctively Catholic education based on our faith, our moral values and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our lives. This ethos drives all that we do, and all who choose to enroll their children at Sacred Heart."
The school runs a breakfast club, from £3.00 per day.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Sacred Heart RC Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 73% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Sacred Heart RC Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Sacred Heart RC Primary School as their first choice and 141 named it as one of their preferences, for 45 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Sacred Heart RC Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sacred Heart RC Primary School are Old Hall Drive Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 75% maths); Gorton Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 59% reading, 59% maths); St James' CofE Primary School Gorton (0.5 miles, Good, 61% reading, 64% maths); and Rushbrook Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 68% reading, 68% maths).
Sacred Heart RC Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Old Hall Drive AcademyGorton Primary SchoolSt James' CofE Primary School GortonRushbrook Primary Academy
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sacred Heart RC Primary School (as of September 2025): 77% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 56% 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) (56%).
Who goes there
45.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 49.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (43%), White British (15%) and Asian (13%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ryder Brow Rail Station, about 120 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sacred Heart Church (opposite), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sacred Heart RC Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sacred Heart RC Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Sacred Heart RC Primary School are Cedar Mount Academy (0.5 miles), Co-op Academy Belle Vue (0.7 miles), St Peter's RC High School (0.8 miles) and Wright Robinson College (1.1 miles).
Cedar Mount AcademyCo-op Academy Belle VueSt Peter's RC High SchoolWright Robinson College
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 September 2014, 12 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
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school makes every child feel valued and treasured. Pupils are highly engaged in their learning, show remarkable respect for others, and benefit from a warm, nurturing environment where staff demonstrate genuine care and expertise. The school is ambitious for all pupils and helps them leave ready for the next stage of their education, including strong support for those with additional needs.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are happy, secure and feel valued - they show strong relationships with adults and each other
- Strong focus on reading with high-quality support for struggling readers and enthusiastic older pupils
- Well-ordered, effective curriculum delivered with great enthusiasm by knowledgeable staff
- Excellent attendance support and warm, nurturing environment throughout the school
- Strong personal development programme including leadership roles, clubs and charity work
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff lack specialist knowledge to adapt learning for pupils with SEND in a few subjects, limiting their success
- Subject leadership in some areas is still developing, affecting the school's ability to evaluate curriculum impact
- The school needs to strengthen approaches to measuring how effectively pupils are learning curriculum content over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Karate, ukulele, school council, charity fundraising, library visits, breakfast club, after-school club
Sacred Heart RC Primary School is a Roman Catholic primary school where pupils feel happy, secure and treasured. The school has undergone significant leadership changes and is delivering good quality education across the curriculum.
At a Glance
45.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
13 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)
Reading has improved from 73% to 89% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 71% to 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.5
Avg class size
26.2
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
12
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Sacred Heart RC Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Sacred Heart RC Primary School.
- Progressive Sports720m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sacred Heart RC Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sacred Heart RC Primary 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
- 32
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 25 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 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
Your chances of a place at Sacred Heart RC Primary School
Will you get a place at Sacred Heart RC Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sacred Heart RC Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sacred Heart RC Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sacred Heart RC Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Manchester, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Sacred Heart RC Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Manchester got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
311 pupils
315 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Manchester council
Places available
7,530
Applications
5,736
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
59
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
21.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
330
Total Pupils
176
Boys
154
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
18.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,723
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,063
Per pupil
£2191k
Total funding
£215k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.7%
Overall absence
9.4%
Persistent absence
278
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Sacred Heart RC Primary School
Questions parents ask about Sacred Heart RC Primary School
What are SATs results like at Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
Of the pupils at Sacred Heart RC Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 89% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Sacred Heart RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sacred Heart RC Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Sacred Heart RC Primary School is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
Sacred Heart RC Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
Classes at Sacred Heart RC Primary School average 27.5 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
Sacred Heart RC Primary School has around 330 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
3.7% of sessions were missed at Sacred Heart RC Primary School in 2024/25. 9.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Sacred Heart RC Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Sacred Heart RC Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Sacred Heart RC Primary School: Progressive Sports (720m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 25 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 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 Sacred Heart RC Primary School?
Sacred Heart RC Primary School is at Knutsford Road, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7NJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)