Manchester Communication Academy
Silchester Drive, Harpurhey, Manchester · M40 8NT
- Ofsted
- Good
- Attainment 8A pupil’s average score across 8 GCSE subjects (English and maths double-weighted). Higher is better; the maximum is roughly 90.
- 44.5
- Overall absence
- 8.0%
- Free school mealsFree School Meals: the share of pupils eligible for free school meals — a common measure of disadvantage.
- 59.6%
- Pupils per teacher
- 13.4
- Spend per pupil
- £8,961
- Places filled
- 108%
May 2024
GCSE · 2024-25
2024-25
2024-25
2025-26
2024-25
1,299 of 1,200 places · 2025-26
Ofsted
Last inspected 21 May 2024
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
GCSE results (Key Stage 4)
All state-funded pupils
Attainment 8A pupil’s average score across 8 GCSE subjects (English and maths double-weighted). Higher is better; the maximum is roughly 90.↑ +1.3
Average GCSE score across 8 subjects
Grade 5+ in English & MathsThe percentage of pupils achieving at least a grade 5 (a “strong pass”) in both GCSE English and maths.↑ +8%
A strong pass in both
Grade 4+ in English & Maths↑ +13%
A standard pass in both
Progress 8How much pupils progress from the end of primary to GCSE compared with similar pupils nationally. 0 is average; positive is above, negative is below.↑ +0.07
Vs similar pupils nationally · 0 = average
EBacc average point scoreEnglish Baccalaureate Average Point Score: average grade across the core academic EBacc subjects (English, maths, sciences, a language, history or geography).↑ +0.21
Progress 8 was not published for 2019/20, 2020/21 (exams cancelled) or recent years lacking a KS2 baseline.
How this school compares
Against Manchester (its local authority) and England · 2024-25
Attainment 8A pupil’s average score across 8 GCSE subjects (English and maths double-weighted). Higher is better; the maximum is roughly 90.
-1.0 vs Manchester average
Grade 5+ in English & Maths
-4.2% vs Manchester average
Pupil makeup
Spring school census · 2024-25
- Free school mealsFree School Meals: the share of pupils eligible for free school meals — a common measure of disadvantage.
- 59.6%
- English as 2nd lang.English as an Additional Language: pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English.
- 42.8%
- SEN supportSpecial Educational Needs support: pupils who get extra help in school but do not have an Education, Health and Care plan.
- 4.6%
- With EHC planEducation, Health and Care plan: a legal document for children with more significant needs, setting out the support a council must provide.
- 18.1%
Gender split
654 girls · 645 boys
Ethnicity
Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
How this school compares
Against Manchester (its local authority) and England · 2024-25
Free school mealsFree School Meals: the share of pupils eligible for free school meals — a common measure of disadvantage.
+15.8% vs Manchester average
English as 2nd lang.English as an Additional Language: pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English.
+3.7% vs Manchester average
SEN supportSpecial Educational Needs support: pupils who get extra help in school but do not have an Education, Health and Care plan.
-8.3% vs Manchester average
With EHC planEducation, Health and Care plan: a legal document for children with more significant needs, setting out the support a council must provide.
+2.4% vs Manchester average
Attendance & absence
Share of school sessions missed
Overall absence rate↑ +0.5%
Persistent absenceThe percentage of pupils who miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions across the year.↓ -0.7%
Pupils missing 10%+ of sessions
How this school compares
Against Manchester (its local authority) and England · 2024-25
Overall absence rate
+1.2% vs Manchester average
Persistent absenceThe percentage of pupils who miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions across the year.
+1.7% vs Manchester average
Suspensions & exclusions
As a percentage of pupils on roll
Suspension rateThe number of suspensions (fixed-period exclusions) expressed as a percentage of pupils on roll. A pupil can be suspended more than once.↑ +11.0%
Total suspensions as a share of pupils
Pupils suspended at least once↑ +3.6%
Share of pupils with one or more suspension
Permanent exclusion rateThe percentage of pupils permanently excluded (expelled) from the school during the year.↑ +0.08%
How this school compares
Against Manchester (its local authority) and England · 2024-25
Suspension rateThe number of suspensions (fixed-period exclusions) expressed as a percentage of pupils on roll. A pupil can be suspended more than once.
+13.8% vs Manchester average
Permanent exclusion rateThe percentage of pupils permanently excluded (expelled) from the school during the year.
+0.06% vs Manchester average
What pupils do next
Sustained destinations the year after leaving
After GCSEs (Key Stage 4)
84% sustainedYear 11 leavers · 2024-25
The local area
Neighbourhood context around the school in Manchester
- DeprivationIndex of Multiple Deprivation: the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas. Areas are split into deciles, where 1 is the most-deprived 10% in England and 10 the least.
- 1/10
- Claimant rateThe share of residents aged 16–64 claiming unemployment-related benefits (the claimant count) — a timely local proxy for unemployment.
- 6.1%
- Degree-level+
- 28%
10 = least deprived
April 2026 · England 4.1%
Residents 16+ · Census 2021
Deprivation (IMD) Index of Multiple Deprivation: the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas. Areas are split into deciles, where 1 is the most-deprived 10% in England and 10 the least.
Among the most deprived areas in England · 1 = most deprived 10%, 10 = least
Area figures describe the neighbourhood around the school (LSOA/MSOA), not the school itself. Sources: ONS, Home Office (data.police.uk), MHCLG — Open Government Licence v3.0.
Data last updated 06/06/2026 · URN 136105