Co-op Academy Manchester is a mainstream secondary school in Manchester for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 356 of its 1,554 pupils (22.9%) were getting SEN support and 54 (3.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,554 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Manchester.
22.9% get SEN support
356 of 1,554 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.5% have an EHC plan
54 of 1,554 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health166
- Speech, language and communication61
- Moderate learning difficulty56
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia46
- Autism18
- Hearing impairment7
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
- 1,554 (places for 1,650)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Joanne Clifton (Principal)
- Part of
- The Co-Operative Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 52.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Manchester
- School reference (URN)
- 136174
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, November 2014; school remains Good (March 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2023).
Contact and getting there
Plant Hill Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester, M9 0WQ
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School Special school · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- North Ridge High School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Pike Fold Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Bowker Vale Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Clare's RC Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 5% 0.3 miles
- Crab Lane Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.8%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
- E-ACT Blackley Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.6%, EHC plans 6.6% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Manchester SEND schools in Manchester
Questions about Co-op Academy Manchester
How many pupils at Co-op Academy Manchester have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 356 of the 1,554 pupils (22.9%) were getting SEN support and 54 (3.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Co-op Academy Manchester?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (166 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (61 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (56 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Co-op Academy Manchester?
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 Co-op Academy Manchester?
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 Co-op Academy Manchester?
You can ask for Co-op Academy Manchester 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 Co-op Academy Manchester 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 Pike Fold Primary School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Co-op Academy Manchester?
Plant Hill Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester, M9 0WQ, 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.