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catchment.school

Philips High School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Philips High School is an academy converter secondary school in Manchester, Bury , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 872 pupils, and a capacity of 880 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

872

Pupils

880

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Requires improvement

Ofsted 2022

Philips High School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Philips High School?

The catchment area for Philips High School is the geographic zone Bury uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bury publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Philips High School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bury. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Philips High School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bury before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Bury catchment area documents →

Philips High School: 880 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Philips High School has a published admission number of 880 places. 872 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 880, Bury's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 37% of pupils at Philips High School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Bury.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Bury publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Bury school admissions →

Philips High School: School Information

Full address
Higher Lane, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7PH
Local authority
Bury
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
37% of pupils
DfE URN
151027

Other Secondary Schools in Manchester

If Philips High School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Manchester are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Philips High School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Philips High School

What is the catchment area for Philips High School?

The catchment area for Philips High School is the geographic zone Bury uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bury publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Philips High School oversubscribed?

Philips High School is operating close to its capacity of 880 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Philips High School?

Admission to Philips High School is managed by Bury. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Philips High School cover?

Philips High School is a secondary school in Manchester, Bury, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Philips High School?

Philips High School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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