There are many reasons to move and live in Manchester, one of which is the excellent number of schools scattered throughout the city. As a result of that, there’s no wonder families from all over the country are flocking to the city, as at the end of the day, everyone wants the best start in life for their children.
Whether you already live in Manchester or are planning to relocate, choosing the right place to live is essential if you want to send your children to the best schools. And that’s exactly why we’ve prepared this guide for you.
We’ve already done all the research, and below, we’ll go over the best schools in Manchester, covering all relevant information about each one such as where it’s located, the number of students that attend the school, the Ofsted rating, and more.
But before we do that, we’d like to answer one of the most popular questions we get asked, which is – is Manchester a good place for families to live?
Is Manchester a Good Place for Families to Live?
When people talk about moving to Manchester, they usually highlight how great of a city it is for adults. With so many bars, pubs, entertainment centres, and industries to tap into, it’s no wonder that this is the focus. However, few people realise the benefits of moving to Manchester with your family.
To start, there are many green spaces and recreational activities in Manchester. So, your children will still get the amenities and benefits of city living, like shopping centres, restaurants, and even malls. However, it’s really easy to find green and open spaces as well where you and your loved ones can immerse yourselves in nature.
But it doesn’t end there.
One of the highlights of Manchester is the city’s selection of schools. You’ll find a lot of schools in Manchester, from primary schools for children all the way to secondary schools for adults. Of course, there are also numerous Manchester universities that are famous worldwide.
So, if you’re looking for a UK city where you can relocate your whole family, you shouldn’t discount Manchester. You’ll be surprised at just how well Manchester works as a city to raise your family.
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
First on our list is the Grammar School for Boys in Hale, Altrincham. The affluent area of Altrincham is a well-known spot in Manchester for high-quality education, and the Altrincham Grammar School is about as good as it gets. The school admits boys between the ages of 11 and 18 and features an incredibly broad academic curriculum to equip your children for the real world.
The school’s vision is to instil a lifelong love for learning in its students. This encourages constant growth and continuous improvement, which are great qualities to have in life. The school is known for encouraging students to choose their own path and helping them develop the skills necessary to achieve in their chosen path.
This is a complete one eighty compared to other public schools, which have one goal in mind – make all of their students graduate with the best grades rather than help them figure themselves out early on.
Area: Hale, Altrincham
No. of pupils: 1339
Ofsted rating: Grade 1 (Outstanding)
Gender: Boys
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
The counterpart for the Altrincham Grammar School for Boys (AGSB) is the Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (AGSG). This town has numerous schools that consistently rank in the top 10, and AGSG is one of them.
Offering a similar curriculum to the boy’s school, AGSG also emphasises on developing cultural awareness while cultivating academic excellence. One aspect that the AGSG as well as the AGSB do better than most other schools in Manchester is their impressive sports program. There are a ton of great young athletes that come out of both these schools year after year.
Area: Altrincham
No. of pupils: 1372
Ofsted rating: Grade 1 (Outstanding)
Gender: Girls
Sale Grammar School
This Sale Grammar School is ranked 92nd in the country, making it another one of the great education options in Manchester. Located just South of Manchester, accessing this school is fairly easy, even if you live in the city. Alternatively, you can choose to live in the small town of Sale, which is just a stone’s throw away from the city centre.
The Sale Grammar School is known for a happy and vibrant environment where students can discover themselves and their true calling. This is a co-ed school, allowing for more socialisation among students. And although the school is renowned for its academic excellence, the areas that it excels in are Visual Arts, Science, and Maths.
Area: Sale
No. of pupils: 1326
Ofsted rating: Grade 1 (Outstanding)
Gender: Co-Ed
Loreto Grammar School
The Loreto Grammar School is an all-girls Catholic school that educates over 1,000 students at any one time. This school challenges and empowers students to reach their full potential, whether in the academic, sports, or arts field.
Students are also encouraged to embrace honesty, integrity, and mutual respect, which is a priority for this school, as it’s looking to raise the next generation of great and high-quality people. As a result,there’s no surprise that the schools reputation in the community is excellent and their Ofsted rating is outstanding.
Area: Altrincham
No. of pupils: 1075
Ofsted rating: Grade 1 (Outstanding)
Gender: Girls
The King David High School
The King David High School is one of Manchester’s top-performing education institutions. It is non-selective, meaning students can study here without being required to undertake a prior examination.
It’s also worth mentioning that this is a Jewish faith school, which teaches the heritage and culture of the Judaism religion. As a result, there’s no surprise that part of the education that its pupils undergo is related to Jewish history, which can be quite a rare sight in cities like Manchester.
In terms of country-wide ranking, this school is ranked 107th. So, you can expect top-tier education from this institution. The school is also right in Manchester, about 2.7 miles away from the city centre, making it easier access for those who live within the bounds of the city of Manchester.
Area: Crumpsall, Manchester
No. of pupils: 830
Ofsted rating: Grade 1 (Outstanding)
Gender: Co-Ed
St Ambrose College
St Ambrose College is yet another one of Altrincham’s best schools that is specifically for boys. This is a selective Catholic school, meaning your child will have to pass an examination before they’re admitted. If your child is admitted, here’s what you can expect.
This school promotes a culture of compassion and care for others. It’s part of a network of schools in the UK that follow this same ethos. It also offers a place for children to foster their spiritual connection and learn more about their faith on top of their education.
Area: Altrincham
No. of pupils: 1,055
Ofsted rating: Grade 2 (Good)
Gender: Boys
Manchester, and Altrincham in particular, is a fantastic place to call home as a family with young children. As you could see from the school’s listed above, there are plenty of options to choose from, regardless if you want your child to go to a mixed or all girls or boys school.
Whatever the case might be, as you’ll be calling Manchester home for at least a couple of years until your children graduate, buying a property such as a flat here is something many families do. And when the kids finish school, you can easily sell your house fast as demand for properties in this part of the UK is constantly on the rise.
