Most sought-after schools in Salford
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 |
Holy Family VA RC Primary School Salford, primary |
1.86 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 2 |
Beis Yaakov High School Salford, secondary |
1.68 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 3 |
All Hallows RC High School Salford, secondary |
1.55 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 4 |
St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.55 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 5 |
St Patrick's RC High School Manchester, secondary |
1.53 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 6 |
Broadoak Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.43 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 7 |
St Mark's RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.43 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 8 |
St Andrew's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.33 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 9 |
Moorside High School Manchester, secondary |
1.28 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 10 |
Christ The King RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.23 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 11 |
St Andrew's Methodist Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.23 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 12 |
St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School Salford, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 13 |
Ellenbrook Community Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.18 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 14 |
Willow Tree Primary School Salford, primary |
1.18 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 15 |
St Andrew's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 16 |
Monton Green Primary School Salford, primary |
1.08 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 17 |
Mossfield Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 18 |
St Gilbert's RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 19 |
Wardley CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 20 |
The Cathedral School of St Peter and St John RC Primary Salford, primary |
1.04 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 21 |
Beech Street Community Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 22 |
Irlam Endowed Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 23 |
Lower Kersal Community Primary School Salford, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 24 |
St Mark's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 25 |
St Edmund's RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.02 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 26 |
Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School Salford, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 27 |
St Boniface RC Primary School Salford, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 28 |
St Joseph's RC Primary School Salford, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 29 |
St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 30 |
The Friars Primary School Salford, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 31 |
Ellesmere Park High School Manchester, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 32 |
St Philip's RC Primary School Salford, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 33 |
Dukesgate Academy Salford, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 34 |
North Walkden Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 35 |
St George's CofE Primary School Salford, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 36 |
St Sebastian's RC Primary School Salford, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 37 |
Barton Moss Community Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 38 |
St Charles' RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 39 |
River View Community Primary School Salford, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 40 |
St John's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 41 |
St Paul's CofE Primary School Salford, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 42 |
Godfrey Ermen Memorial CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 43 |
Primrose Hill Primary School and Children's Centre Salford, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 44 |
Light Oaks Infant School Salford, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 45 |
St Ambrose Barlow RC High School Manchester, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 46 |
St Paul's Peel CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 47 |
Bridgewater Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 48 |
Mesne Lea Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 49 |
St Paul's CofE Primary School Salford, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 50 |
Salford City Academy Manchester, secondary |
0.91 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 51 |
St Mary's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 52 |
Moorside Primary School Swinton, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 53 |
The Lowry Academy Manchester, secondary |
0.90 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 54 |
St Peter's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 55 |
Irlam and Cadishead Academy Manchester, secondary |
0.88 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 56 |
The Albion Academy Salford, secondary |
0.88 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 57 |
Christ Church CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 58 |
Peel Hall Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 59 |
St Luke's RC Primary School Salford, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 60 |
St Philip's CofE Primary School Salford, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 61 |
Summerville Primary School Salford, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 62 |
St Paul's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.86 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 63 |
St Joseph the Worker RC Primary School Salford, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 64 |
Co-op Academy Walkden Manchester, secondary |
0.84 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 65 |
Oasis Academy MediaCityUK Manchester, secondary |
0.84 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 66 |
Lewis Street Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 67 |
Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.78 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 68 |
St Augustine's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.77 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 69 |
Boothstown Methodist Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.76 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 70 |
Lark Hill Community Primary School Salford, primary |
0.76 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 71 |
Marlborough Road Academy Salford, primary |
0.73 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 72 |
Clifton Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.70 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 73 |
Westwood Park Community Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.69 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 74 |
St Paul's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.61 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 75 |
Co-op Academy Swinton Manchester, secondary |
0.53 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 75 schools in Salford have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Salford · How we compare schools.