Which are the best secondary schools in Manchester?

Manchester is a great place to live for all kinds of reasons, from top cultural draws to a rich sporting heritage. Another of these is its schools, with the city boasting a superb selection of state, independent, mixed and single-sex secondaries. Whether you’re searching for schools close to the heart of town or in a suburb like Marple or Stalybridge, we’ve highlighted some of the best secondary schools in Manchester below.

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

Regarded as one of the best schools anywhere in the UK, never mind Manchester, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls is the largest single-sex grammar in England with around 1,250 pupils. Located in the leafy suburb of Bowdon, this selective non-fee paying grammar school is consistently rated as the best school in Greater Manchester. It’s also less than eight miles from our wonderful Stanneylands development, where you can find a stunning collection of 3 and 4 bedroom houses for sale a short walk from the centre of Wilmslow.

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Just down the road is Altrincham’s boys’ grammar, which is also an excellent school that’s free to attend. High standards of teaching are a great path to strong exam results, while the school’s extra-curricular offerings have vastly improved over recent years. With a similar number of students to its sister school, Altrincham Boys’ is less than 10 miles from our GallowayGrange site in Chelford. Don’t miss out if you’re in the market for a beautiful 3 or 4 bed family home built to exacting modern specifications.

Loreto Grammar School

Only around a mile away along Dunham Road, Loreto Grammar is an all-girls Catholic school with just over 1,000 pupils. Like their counterparts in Altrincham, students must pass an entrance exam to get in, along with some other criteria to fulfil. With a history that stretches back to 1909, Loreto is part of a worldwide network of schools with links to countries including Australia, Germany, India and Spain. This can open up opportunities for international travel and valuable experiences abroad.

Sale Grammar School

Around nine miles from the popular Walkden area, Sale Grammar was only formed in a merger between two local single-sex schools in 1991, but has quickly become one of the best mixed secondary schools in Manchester. Giving children access to high quality teaching while being motivated to learn and improve, the school boasts strong links with the local community to enhance opportunities for students when it comes to extra-curricular activities.

Levenshulme High School

A third all-girls school on our list, Levenshulme High is another of the top Manchester secondary schools. Less than six miles from the desirable Hazel Grove neighbourhood, the school has been rated as outstanding by Ofsted. Also boasting strong exam results, the school focuses on progressing its students through both hard work and skilled teaching, while operating in a caring and supportive environment.