School profile

Droylsden Academy

Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Manchester, M43 6QD

Good

Map showing Droylsden Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,348 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

Droylsden Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 14 Sept 2017

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy sponsor led
Ages11 to 16
Pupils926
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Ed Mayell
TrustTAME RIVER EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Local authorityTameside
Opened01 Sept 2009
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 135864.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolTamesideEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.47.7, similar to England, better than Tameside43.746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.70.5%, better than England, better than Tameside63.6%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.50.3%, better than England, better than Tameside43.3%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.12.4%, similar to England, similar to Tameside10.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths65.3%, better than England, better than Tameside57.3%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4193--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils926
Girls440
Boys486
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.39.4%
First language not English15.7%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,121
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.17.4%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.224
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.57
Average class size23.9

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
67.4%
African
5.3%
Chinese
3.2%
Other mixed
3.1%
White and Black Caribbean
2.8%
Other White
2.7%
Other ethnic group
2.6%
Pakistani
2.1%
Other Black
1.6%
White and Asian
1.3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.2
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.3
Teachers (FTE)57.3
Teaching assistants (FTE)13.1
Support staff (FTE)57.28
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2561
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2556
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/254
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/251

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.181
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.490
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.199
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.168
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)137

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolTamesideEngland
Overall absence7.5%, similar to England, better than Tameside8.6%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.19.5%, better than England, better than Tameside23.3%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.4.3%, worse than England, similar to Tameside4.3%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate34.7%
Pupils with one or more suspensions15.4%
Permanent exclusion rate0.3%
Permanent exclusions3

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.83.2%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.76.5%
Further education44.1%
Sixth form college26.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.11.2%
School sixth form5.6%
Apprenticeship3.4%
Employment3.4%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Droylsden Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miPrimaryManchester Road Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.3 miPrimaryGreenside Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.4 miPrimaryFairfield Road Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miPrimarySt Stephen's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miSecondaryFairfield High School for GirlsAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimarySt Mary's CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.6 miPrimarySeymour Road AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.6 miPrimaryMoorside Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryHigher Openshaw Community SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Clement's CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good

Frequently asked questions about Droylsden Academy

What is Droylsden Academy's Ofsted rating?

Droylsden Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 14 Sept 2017.

How does Droylsden Academy rank in England?

Droylsden Academy ranks 1,348 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools).

What are Droylsden Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 50.3% of pupils at Droylsden Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 47.7 (England 46.2).

How hard is it to get into Droylsden Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Droylsden Academy made 181 offers from 490 applications (2.7 per offer), and 168 of 199 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Droylsden Academy?

Droylsden Academy has 926 pupils aged 11 to 16.

What is the capacity of Droylsden Academy?

Droylsden Academy had 1,121 school places in 2024/25.

Does Droylsden Academy have a sixth form?

No, Droylsden Academy teaches pupils up to age 16.

How big are classes at Droylsden Academy?

At Droylsden Academy, the average class had 23.9 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.2 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Droylsden Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Droylsden Academy missed 7.5% of sessions (England 8%), and 19.5% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.