Most sought-after schools in Manchester

Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.

This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.

This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.

#	School	First preferences per place	Newest intake	Latest Ofsted
1	William Hulme's Grammar School Manchester, all through	1.87	2026	Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
2	Saint Paul's Catholic High School Manchester, secondary	1.82	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
3	Didsbury High School Manchester, secondary	1.76	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
4	Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary	1.67	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
5	Abbott Community Primary School Manchester, primary	1.66	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
6	Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester Manchester, secondary	1.65	2026	Exceptional (Ofsted report card (current framework))
7	Co-op Academy Belle Vue Manchester, secondary	1.64	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
8	Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester Manchester, secondary	1.54	2026	Exceptional (Ofsted report card (current framework))
9	Cringle Brook Primary School Levenshulme, primary	1.40	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
10	Trinity CofE High School Manchester, secondary	1.26	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
11	Didsbury CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.23	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
12	St Peter's RC High School	1.19	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
13	Manley Park Primary School Manchester, primary	1.18	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
14	West Didsbury CE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.18	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
15	Alma Park Primary School Manchester, primary	1.17	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
16	Crowcroft Park Primary School Manchester, primary	1.17	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
17	Longsight Community Primary Manchester, primary	1.17	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
18	St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary	1.17	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
19	Wright Robinson College Manchester, secondary	1.16	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
20	Our Lady's RC High School Manchester, secondary	1.15	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
21	Armitage CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.10	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
22	Co-op Academy North Manchester Manchester, secondary	1.10	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
23	St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme Manchester, primary	1.10	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
24	The King David High School Manchester, secondary	1.08	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
25	Gorton Primary School Manchester, primary	1.07	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
26	Green End Primary School Manchester, primary	1.05	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
27	Levenshulme High School Manchester, secondary	1.05	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
28	Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	1.05	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
29	All Saints Primary School Manchester, primary	1.03	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
30	Crossacres Primary Academy Manchester, primary	1.03	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
31	Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester Manchester, primary	1.03	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
32	St James' CofE Primary School Gorton Manchester, primary	1.03	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
33	Chorlton High School Manchester, secondary	1.02	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
34	Varna Community Primary School Manchester, primary	1.02	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
35	All Saints C of E Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
36	Barlow Hall Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
37	Benchill Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
38	Briscoe Lane Academy Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
39	Brookburn Community School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
40	Cheetwood Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
41	Chorlton CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
42	Christ The King RC Primary School Manchester Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
43	Co-op Academy Medlock Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
44	CofE School of the Resurrection Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
45	Crab Lane Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
46	Haveley Hey Community School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
47	Higher Openshaw Community School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
48	King David Primary School Crumpsall, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
49	Moston Fields Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
50	Moston Lane Community Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
51	Oasis Academy Harpur Mount Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
52	Old Moat Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
53	Park View Community Primary Academy Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
54	Ravensbury Community School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
55	Saviour CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
56	Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
57	St Anne's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
58	St Brigid's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
59	St Catherine's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
60	St Chad's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
61	St Chrysostom's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
62	St Dunstan's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
63	St Edmund's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
64	St John's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
65	St Joseph's RC Primary School Manchester Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
66	St Luke's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
67	St Peter's Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
68	St Wilfrid's CofE Aided Primary School Northenden Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
69	St Wilfrid's CofE Junior and Infant School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
70	St Wilfrid's RC Primary School Hulme, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
71	St. Aidan's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
72	The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
73	Ashbury Meadow Primary School Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
74	Claremont Primary School Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
75	Holy Trinity CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
76	Lily Lane Primary School Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
77	Seymour Road Academy Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
78	St Kentigern's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
79	St Paul's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.98	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
80	Heald Place Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
81	Ladybarn Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
82	St Anthony's Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
83	St Clement's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
84	St Richard's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
85	The Willows Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
86	Webster Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
87	Bowker Vale Primary School Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
88	Button Lane Primary School Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
89	Charlestown Community Primary School Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
90	Mauldeth Road Primary School Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
91	Newall Green Primary School Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
92	Oasis Academy Aspinal Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
93	Oswald Road Primary School Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
94	Sacred Heart RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
95	St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
96	St Francis RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	Inadequate (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
97	St Margaret Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
98	Broad Oak Primary School Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
99	E-ACT Blackley Academy Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
100	Oasis Academy Temple Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
101	Rolls Crescent Primary School Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
102	Rushbrook Primary Academy Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
103	St Augustine's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
104	St Clare's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
105	St Willibrord's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
106	Stanley Grove Primary Academy Longsight, primary	0.95	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
107	Abbey Hey Primary Academy Manchester, primary	0.94	2026	Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
108	Beaver Road Primary School Manchester, primary	0.94	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
109	Burnage Academy for Boys Manchester, secondary	0.94	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
110	Chorlton Park Primary Manchester, primary	0.94	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
111	Co-op Academy Broadhurst Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
112	Crumpsall Lane Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
113	Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
114	Rack House Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
115	Ringway Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
116	Sandilands Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
117	St Agnes C of E Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
118	St Ambrose RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
119	St Anne's RC Primary School Crumpsall Manchester Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
120	St Mary's CofE Primary School Moston Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
121	Old Hall Drive Academy Manchester, primary	0.92	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
122	Pike Fold Primary School Manchester, primary	0.92	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
123	St Margaret's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.92	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
124	The Barlow RC High School Manchester, secondary	0.92	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
125	Cravenwood Primary Academy Manchester, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
126	Crosslee Community Primary School Manchester, primary	0.91	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
127	Manchester Communication Primary Academy Manchester, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
128	Plymouth Grove Primary School Ardwick, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
129	Wilbraham Primary School Manchester, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
130	Cavendish Primary School Manchester, primary	0.90	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
131	Northenden Community School Manchester, primary	0.90	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
132	Birchfields Primary School Manchester, primary	0.89	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
133	Unity Community Primary Manchester, primary	0.89	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
134	Chapel Street Community Primary School Manchester, primary	0.88	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
135	St John Bosco RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	0.88	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
136	Irk Valley Community School Manchester, primary	0.86	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
137	St Mary's CofE Junior and Infant School Manchester, primary	0.86	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
138	Cheetham CofE Community Academy Manchester, primary	0.85	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
139	Parrs Wood High School Manchester, secondary	0.85	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
140	Peel Hall Primary Academy Manchester, primary	0.83	2026	Inadequate (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
141	St Philip's Church of England Primary School Manchester, primary	0.82	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
142	Co-op Academy New Islington Manchester, primary	0.81	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
143	New Moston Primary School Manchester, primary	0.79	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
144	Baguley Hall Primary School Manchester, primary	0.78	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
145	St Andrew's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.78	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
146	Acacias Community Primary School Manchester, primary	0.76	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
147	St Matthew's RC High School Manchester, secondary	0.76	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
148	Manchester Enterprise Academy Central Manchester, secondary	0.75	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
149	Whalley Range 11-18 High School Manchester, secondary	0.74	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
150	Co-op Academy Manchester Manchester, secondary	0.72	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
151	Manchester Communication Academy Manchester, secondary	0.72	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
152	Dean Trust Ardwick Manchester, secondary	0.69	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
153	St Patrick's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	0.69	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
154	Abraham Moss Community School Manchester, all through	0.65	2026	none held
155	The East Manchester Academy Manchester, secondary	0.63	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
156	Dixons Brooklands Academy Manchester, secondary	0.61	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
157	Loreto High School Chorlton Manchester, secondary	0.56	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
158	CHS South Manchester, secondary	0.55	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
159	Dixons Newall Green Academy Manchester, secondary	0.55	2026	none held
160	Manchester Enterprise Academy Wythenshawe, secondary	0.51	2026	Urgent improvement (Ofsted report card (current framework))
161	Cedar Mount Academy Gorton, secondary	0.47	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
162	Manchester Academy Manchester, secondary	0.42	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))

Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 162 schools in Manchester have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Manchester · How we compare schools.