Southern Cross School, Manchester
Southern Cross School is a special school for pupils aged 9 to 16 in Manchester, part of Ambition Community Trust.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Southern Cross School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Southern Cross School are Oakbrook School (0.5 miles); The Watkin Centre (0.6 miles, Requires improvement); Pioneer House High School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); and Piper Hill High School (1.2 miles, Outstanding).
Oakbrook SchoolThe Watkin CentrePioneer House High SchoolPiper Hill High School
The trust
Southern Cross School is one of 7 schools run by Ambition Community Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 30 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 63% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college.
Who goes there
78.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (11%).
Almost every pupil at Southern Cross School has an education, health and care plan (165 of 165 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Southern Cross School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Martinscroft (Manchester Metrolink), about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Open University, 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Southern Cross School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Southern Cross School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in January 2025. Before that, as Southern Cross School (URN 105623), it was rated Good in March 2018.
At a Glance
78.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Southern Cross School
Before and after school care
Southern Cross School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Manchester
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Southern Cross School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Southern Cross 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
- 29
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 23 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
165 pupils
169 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
165
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Southern Cross School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
165
Total Pupils
134
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
6.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,323
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
40.7%
Overall absence
79.4%
Persistent absence
170
Enrolments
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Southern Cross School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Southern Cross School
What are GCSE results like at Southern Cross School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Southern Cross School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 4.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Southern Cross School's Ofsted rating?
Southern Cross School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in January 2025. Before that, as Southern Cross School (URN 105623), it was rated Good in March 2018.
What is the catchment area for Southern Cross School?
No fixed boundary. When Southern Cross School is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Southern Cross School?
Southern Cross School has around 165 pupils on roll. 78% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Southern Cross School have specialist SEN provision?
Southern Cross School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Southern Cross School?
40.7% of sessions were missed at Southern Cross School in 2024/25. 79.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Southern Cross School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming Southern Cross 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.
Does Southern Cross School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Southern Cross School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Southern Cross School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 23 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Southern Cross School?
Southern Cross School is at Roundwood Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4AB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)