St John Vianney RC School, Manchester
St John Vianney RC School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Manchester. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St John Vianney RC School in detail
St John Vianney RC School in its own words
In its own words: "St John Vianney RC School prides itself on its professionalism, in encouraging learners to achieve their very best and in developing respect and consideration for others. We ensure that pupils are challenged so that they reach the highest expectations, but they do so in a nurturing and caring environment."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am privileged to be the Headteacher of St John Vianney RC School and the unique environment we are able to offer the children and young people who attend our school. Our recent Ofsted report (2023) reflected that ‘pupils enjoy coming to school."
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 St John Vianney RC School are Longford Park School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement); SMS Changing Lives School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, selective); IncludEd Learning (1.2 miles, Good); and Thompsons Academy trading as Navigators (1.3 miles).
Longford Park SchoolSMS Changing Lives SchoolIncludEd LearningThompsons Academy trading as Navigators
Where pupils go next
Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 43% to a further education college.
Who goes there
42.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 12.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (49%), Mixed (17%) and Asian (6%).
Almost every pupil at St John Vianney RC School has an education, health and care plan (124 of 124 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
St John Vianney RC School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Firswood Station (Manchester Metrolink), about 20 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodstock Road, 310 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St John Vianney RC School issued 3 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from May 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
42.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, MLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with St John Vianney RC School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John Vianney RC School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John Vianney RC School is in Trafford; for families living there:
Apply to Trafford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 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
78%
Available places
124 pupils
160 places
36 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Trafford council
Places available
3,679
Applications
3,221
Got 1st preference
81.0%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Trafford council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
124
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
St John Vianney RC School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
124
Total Pupils
91
Boys
33
Girls
2026 academic year
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.1%
Overall absence
24.5%
Persistent absence
94
Enrolments
Absence trend
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
St John Vianney RC School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about St John Vianney RC School
What are GCSE results like at St John Vianney RC School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at St John Vianney RC School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1.8. 3% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is St John Vianney RC School's Ofsted rating?
St John Vianney RC School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St John Vianney RC School?
No fixed boundary. When St John Vianney RC School is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to St John Vianney RC School?
St John Vianney RC School has around 124 pupils on roll. 43% are eligible for free school meals.
Does St John Vianney RC School have specialist SEN provision?
St John Vianney RC School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at St John Vianney RC School?
8.1% of sessions were missed at St John Vianney RC School in 2024/25. 24.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John Vianney RC School?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming St John Vianney RC 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 St John Vianney RC School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St John Vianney RC School?
St John Vianney RC School is at Rye Bank Road, Firswood, Manchester, M16 0EX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)