Secondary Schools in Manchester

[sandymid4]

Hi everyone - we're relocating to Whalley Range in Manchester this summer and I'm looking for local views on secondary schools. I have two girls: one going into year 7, the other into year 10. Anything you can share about schools in that area (e.g. CHS, Whalley Range, Parrs Wood, Dean Trust Ardwick, Levenshulme, Manchester Health etc...) would be much appreciated!

In the 1980s and 1990s you would pick PWHS out of that list. It's had it's ups and downs since then, but is still largely thought of as a good school, and it has a sixth form too, which used to send a few to Oxbridge every year.

As your DC are girls, you might also consider Withington High School for Girls and Altrincham Grammar if they are academic?

Thanks, BrandyJava - appreciate the feedback on Parrs Wood.
Unfortunately, we're not in a position to do private/independent and all the grammars are full and have existing waiting lists (with very few places coming up during the year). I'm going to call the schools individually to find out about places tomorrow, and hopefully get a sense of what they're like at the same time.

We live fairly close by and have a child just about to start in yr 7 (in a Trafford school though). I know friends with children at CHS and they are happy with it. It's a very big school with a mixed and multi-cultural intake. Lots of focus on the Arts. We liked it when we looked around - teaching staff seemed really good. Downside is it is always oversubscribed I think so probably won't have places for a year 7, but worth checking. There is Chorlton High south which is a new school (opened last September) and which is affiliated to Chorlton High. It is currently in a temporary office building near CHS with plans to move to permanent site in Sept 2020. We looked around and were really impressed. They certainly had some places for yr seven a few weeks ago so you may well be able to get a place there for your youngest there. This obviously would mean your older child going somewhere else though which might not be ideal. I have also heard that PWHS is good but don't know about any of the others - sorry! Good luck with everything.

Thanks for the info, peacypops - really useful. I noticed on the council website that there may still be non-waiting list places at CHS South, so as you say we will probably have them going to two different schools. It's quite nervewracking! Cheers

Altrincham Grammar is non-fee paying - Trafford didn't get rid of their grammar schools. It's by exam and then distance, with priority going to those living in Trafford - they accepted pupils living further away than Whalley Range last year.

www.aggs.trafford.sch.uk/admissions/frequently-asked-questions/

There will still be big waiting lists for the grammar schools (for those children out of catchment who passed but didn't get in on distance). The poster's children would need to sit a late test and then go on the waiting list if they passed. And from what I've been told the catchment for AGGS has shrunk for 2019 intake. The other trafford grammars are much closer if she wanted to pursue that route but they will all have big waiting lists.

Whalley Range would get you a place in Whalley Range High for Girls, Stretford Grammar, William Hulme's Grammar School (not actually a grammar, but a v popular school) and Loreto High School (RC), and perhaps Chorlton High and Chorlton High South, but I think the others on your list are well out of catchment. Chorlton High is v oversubscribed, although some Whalley Range children got a place in Year 7 this year. Chorlton High South is well worth a look. It's very new but (i think) headed by an ex-Chorlton High head (or deputy head?) and has a similar ethos.

Get your youngest into Chorlton High South and ask to go on wait list for Chorlton High for elder. Whalley Range is a great school as long as you don't mind all girls. I know both teachers and parents from there. Stay local if you can as the teenagers tend to all hang out locally / get tram to places etc.
Loreto RC in Chorlton may have places too and is close. None are a total disaster. All are fine

Parrswood is very good but may be full.. but with asking as easy to get to by tram from Whalley Range

Thanks @suffragettski. I wasn't sure how wide I can cast the net, so to speak - so have included ones that are not so near but not horrific to travel to. Cheers!

Thanks @bombaychef. It looks like there are places for Year 7 at CHS South so that'll hopefully sort her out. I can't get a lot of detail out of Schools or Council about actual waiting lists, but a couple did say there were a few places available. We can't apply until we exchange (and therefore have an address) nor can we apply too early or eldest may get offered a place before the end of term...

Sounds good. Separate school is no issues at High school anyway and the success of your eldest will no doubt depend on her attitude toward school and study as much as the schools. All offer plenty of opportunities. I know people with kids at all the local schools in that area and none are unhappy with their choices

@bombaychef Cheers again - I'm glad to hear that the schools are good! They would have gone to different secondaries down here, so that's not a massive worry in itself - as it's their first time away from London, I was hoping they'd at least have each other as familiar faces for the first few weeks... anyway, I'm sure it'll all work out (eventually!)

It will. The area is very diverse and always lots doing on. Whalley Range is only a couple of miles from the city centre so everything is on the doorstep. Hopefully they won't find it a massive change