Star Radcliffe Academy, Radcliffe

From the headteacher's welcome: "As the town’s first new secondary school in decades, we are determined to provide every pupil with a first-class education built on the pillars of exceptional teaching, strong pastoral care, and rich opportunities for leadership, character development and enrichment."

For September 2026 entry, 134 families put Star Radcliffe Academy as their first choice and 244 named it as one of their preferences, for 148 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Star Radcliffe Academy are The Derby High School (1.4 miles); The Derby High School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44); Philips High School (1.6 miles, Attainment 8 46.2); and Bury Church of England High School (1.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 51.5).

Star Radcliffe Academy is one of 36 schools run by Star Academies, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.6 in 2024/25.

41.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 10.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%), Asian (9%) and other ethnic groups (6%).

Star Radcliffe Academy had 17 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Radcliffe (Manchester Metrolink), about 220 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Radcliffe Metrolink Stop, 140 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Star Radcliffe Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Star Radcliffe Academy issued 70 suspensions, 47 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Star Radcliffe Academy are Gorsefield Primary School (0.3 miles); St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy (0.4 miles); Radcliffe Hall Church of England Methodist Primary School (0.5 miles); and St John's Church of England Primary School, Radcliffe (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.