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	St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.83	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
2	James Brindley Community Primary School Manchester, primary	1.70	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
3	All Hallows RC High School Salford, secondary	1.66	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
4	Holy Family VA RC Primary School Salford, primary	1.53	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
5	St Mark's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.43	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
6	Broadoak Primary School Manchester, primary	1.39	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
7	Beis Yaakov High School Salford, secondary	1.30	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
8	St Andrew's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.30	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
9	Willow Tree Primary School Salford, primary	1.24	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
10	Beech Street Community Primary School Manchester, primary	1.20	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
11	River View Community Primary School Salford, primary	1.17	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
12	The Cathedral School of St Peter and St John RC Primary Salford, primary	1.17	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
13	St Patrick's RC High School Manchester, secondary	1.16	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
14	Moorside High School Manchester, secondary	1.14	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
15	The Deans Primary School Manchester, primary	1.14	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
16	Christ The King RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.13	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
17	St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School Salford, primary	1.10	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
18	Wardley CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.10	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
19	St Ambrose Barlow RC High School Manchester, secondary	1.08	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
20	St Philip's RC Primary School Salford, primary	1.07	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
21	St Paul's Peel CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.05	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
22	St Gilbert's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.03	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
23	St Joseph's RC Primary School Salford, primary	1.03	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
24	Ellesmere Park High School Manchester, secondary	1.02	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
25	Irlam Primary School Manchester, primary	1.02	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
26	Brentnall Academy Salford, primary	1.00	2026	Inadequate (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
27	Cadishead Primary Academy Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Inadequate (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
28	Dukesgate Academy Salford, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
29	Irlam Endowed Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
30	Moss Valley Primary Academy Salford, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
31	North Walkden Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
32	St Andrew's Methodist Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
33	St Charles' RC Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
34	St John's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
35	St Joseph the Worker RC Primary School Salford, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
36	St Mary's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	1.00	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
37	St Paul's CofE Primary School Salford, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
38	Summerville Primary School Salford, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
39	Wharton Primary School Salford, primary	1.00	2026	none held
40	Salford City Academy Manchester, secondary	0.99	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
41	St Luke's RC Primary School Salford, primary	0.98	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
42	Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School Salford, primary	0.97	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
43	Peel Hall Primary School Manchester, primary	0.97	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
44	St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy Manchester, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
45	Godfrey Ermen Memorial CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
46	Marlborough Road Academy Salford, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
47	St Boniface RC Primary School Salford, primary	0.95	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
48	St Edmund's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.95	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
49	St Paul's CofE Primary School Salford, primary	0.95	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
50	Co-op Academy Walkden Manchester, secondary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
51	Grosvenor Road Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	none held
52	Irlam and Cadishead Academy Manchester, secondary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
53	Lower Kersal Community Primary School Salford, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
54	St Andrew's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
55	St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
56	St Peter's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
57	Fiddlers Lane Community Primary School Salford, primary	0.92	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
58	Moorside Primary School Swinton, primary	0.92	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
59	St Mark's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
60	Westwood Park Community Primary School Manchester, primary	0.91	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
61	Christ Church CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.90	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
62	St George's CofE Primary School Salford, primary	0.90	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
63	St Paul's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.90	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
64	St Sebastian's RC Primary School Salford, primary	0.90	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
65	Barton Moss Community Primary School Manchester, primary	0.89	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
66	Bridgewater Primary School Manchester, primary	0.88	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
67	Light Oaks Infant School Salford, primary	0.88	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
68	Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary School Manchester, primary	0.87	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
69	The Friars Primary School Salford, primary	0.87	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
70	Monton Green Primary School Salford, primary	0.86	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
71	Primrose Hill Primary School and Children's Centre Salford, primary	0.86	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
72	St Luke's CofE Primary School Salford, primary	0.86	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
73	St Paul's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.86	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
74	Star Salford Academy Worsley, secondary	0.86	2026	none held
75	The Albion Academy Salford, secondary	0.86	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
76	The Lowry Academy Manchester, secondary	0.86	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
77	Mesne Lea Primary School Manchester, primary	0.84	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
78	Mossfield Primary School Manchester, primary	0.84	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
79	Ellenbrook Community Primary School Manchester, primary	0.77	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
80	Oasis Academy MediaCityUK Manchester, secondary	0.77	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
81	St Augustine's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary	0.77	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
82	Boothstown Methodist Primary School Manchester, primary	0.75	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
83	Lark Hill Community Primary School Salford, primary	0.75	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
84	Co-op Academy Swinton Manchester, secondary	0.73	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
85	St Philip's CofE Primary School Salford, primary	0.73	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
86	Lewis Street Primary School Manchester, primary	0.71	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
87	Clifton Primary School Manchester, primary	0.68	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
88	Buile Hill Academy Salford, secondary	0.62	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))

Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 88 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.