The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College Catchment Area
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is a voluntary aided secondary school in Manchester , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 918 pupils, and a capacity of 900 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-16
Age range
918
Pupils
900
Capacity
102%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2019
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College?
The catchment area for The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is the geographic zone Manchester 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Manchester publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Admission to The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is managed by Manchester and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.
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Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Manchester publishes the 2027 The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Manchester before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Manchester catchment area documents →The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College: at or above its 900 place limit
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College has a published admission number of 900 places. 918 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 102%. The school is at or above its published limit of 900 places. Manchester allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 38.8% of pupils at The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Manchester.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Manchester 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 Manchester school admissions →
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College: School Information
- Full address
- Parrs Wood Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6BX
- Local authority
- Manchester
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 38.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 105581
Other Secondary Schools in Manchester
If The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Manchester are the next closest alternatives.
Loreto High School Chorlton Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · M21 7SW
Our Lady's RC High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · M9 0RP
Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · M24 2GL
St Patrick's RC High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · M30 7JJ
St Ambrose Barlow RC High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · M27 9QP
St Thomas More RC College Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · M34 6AF
Other Roman Catholic Schools in Manchester
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Manchester. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.
Christ The King RC Primary School Manchester Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Manchester
Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Manchester
St Ambrose RC Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Manchester
St Anne's RC Primary School Crumpsall Manchester Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · Manchester
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College
What is the catchment area for The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College? ▾
The catchment area for The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is the geographic zone Manchester 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, in most years, faith-based criteria. Manchester publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College currently has 918 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 900 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College? ▾
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Manchester before each admissions cycle.
What age range does The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College cover? ▾
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College is a secondary school in Manchester, 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 The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College? ▾
The Barlow RC High School and Specialist Science College was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.