Manchester Communication Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Manchester for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 226 of its 1,240 pupils (18.2%) were getting SEN support and 62 (5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,240 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Manchester.
18.2% get SEN support
226 of 1,240 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5% have an EHC plan
62 of 1,240 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication93
- Social, emotional and mental health82
- Moderate learning difficulty47
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia22
- Autism11
- Physical disability8
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,240 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Ms Susan Watmough (Principal)
- Part of
- Greater Manchester Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 63.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Manchester
- School reference (URN)
- 136105
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Manchester council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, May 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Silchester Drive, Harpurhey, Manchester, M40 8NT
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Orchard House Specialist High School Special school · Ages 11–19 0.6 miles
- Abraham Moss Community School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Beltane College Independent · Ages 16–25 1.2 miles
- St Anne's RC Primary School Crumpsall Manchester Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Augustine's CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.4%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.2 miles
- Manchester Communication Primary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.4%, EHC plans 5.8% 0.2 miles
- St Edmund's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.3%, EHC plans 6.2% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Manchester SEND schools in Manchester
Questions about Manchester Communication Academy
How many pupils at Manchester Communication Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 226 of the 1,240 pupils (18.2%) were getting SEN support and 62 (5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Manchester Communication Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (93 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (82 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (47 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Manchester Communication Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Manchester Communication Academy?
Through Manchester council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Manchester Communication Academy?
You can ask for Manchester Communication Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Manchester Communication Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Abraham Moss Community School, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Manchester Communication Academy?
Silchester Drive, Harpurhey, Manchester, M40 8NT, in Manchester.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.