Parrs Wood High School is a mainstream secondary school in Manchester for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 218 of its 1,786 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 41 (2.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,786 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Manchester.
12.2% get SEN support
218 of 1,786 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.3% have an EHC plan
41 of 1,786 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health72
- Speech, language and communication38
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia27
- Autism22
- Moderate learning difficulty18
- Physical disability16
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
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,786 (places for 1,854)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark McElwee
- Part of
- Greater Manchester Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 30.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Manchester
- School reference (URN)
- 143260
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, December 2013; standards maintained (March 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, March 2025).
Contact and getting there
Wilmslow Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5PG
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
- The Barlow RC High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Broad Oak Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Oakbrook School Independent · Ages 7–16 1.7 miles
- Lancasterian School Special school · Ages 3–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Catherine's RC Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.6%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.5 miles
- Didsbury CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.9%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.7 miles
- St John's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 12.3%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Manchester SEND schools in Manchester
Questions about Parrs Wood High School
How many pupils at Parrs Wood High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 218 of the 1,786 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 41 (2.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Parrs Wood High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (72 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (38 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (27 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Parrs Wood High School?
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 Parrs Wood High School?
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 Parrs Wood High School?
You can ask for Parrs Wood High School 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 Parrs Wood High School 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 The Barlow RC High School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Parrs Wood High School?
Wilmslow Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5PG, 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.