Didsbury High School is a mainstream secondary school in Manchester for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 220 of its 1,220 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 65 (5.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,220 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Manchester.
18% get SEN support
220 of 1,220 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.3% have an EHC plan
65 of 1,220 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health122
- Speech, language and communication46
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia43
- Autism29
- Moderate learning difficulty21
- 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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,220 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Miss Katie Houghton
- Part of
- The Laurus Trust
- Free school meals
- 41.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Manchester
- School reference (URN)
- 143729
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 Outstanding, January 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in January 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
4 The Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2ET
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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 Birches School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Lancasterian School Special school · Ages 3–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Old Moat Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Barlow Hall Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cavendish Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.8%, EHC plans 4.7% 0.3 miles
- CHS South Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.6 miles
- Loreto High School Chorlton Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 17%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Manchester SEND schools in Manchester
Questions about Didsbury High School
How many pupils at Didsbury High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 220 of the 1,220 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 65 (5.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Didsbury 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 (122 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (46 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (43 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Didsbury 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 Didsbury 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 Didsbury High School?
You can ask for Didsbury 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 Didsbury 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 Old Moat Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Didsbury High School?
4 The Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2ET, 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.