Stockport’s best secondary schools 2025
Trying to find the right school for your child in Stockport? You’re in the right place.
With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2023/2024 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Stockport.
We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Stockport. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.
Top secondary schools in Stockport by Progress 8
Cheadle Hulme High School in Cheadle Hulme is currently ranked #1 in Stockport based on its published Progress 8 score of +0.87. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.
| Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheadle Hulme High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.87 | - | 40.38% |
| 2 | Laurus Cheadle Hulme | Free schools | Mixed | +0.51 | Outstanding | 30.09% |
| 3 | Priestnall School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.4 | Requires improvement | 35.26% |
| 4 | Marple Hall School | Community school | Mixed | +0.28 | - | 23.14% |
| 5 | Stockport School | Community school | Mixed | +0.25 | Good | 19.48% |
| 6 | Stockport Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.24 | - | 16.83% |
| 7 | St James' Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | +0.23 | Good | 27.4% |
| 8 | Hazel Grove High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.19 | Good | 23.74% |
| 9 | Bramhall High School | Community school | Mixed | -0.08 | Good | 22.23% |
| 10 | St Anne's RC Voluntary Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 12.13% |
| 11 | The Kingsway School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.26 | Requires improvement | 19.42% |
| 12 | Reddish Vale High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.29 | Inadequate | 15.16% |
| 13 | Harrytown Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.32 | - | 15.32% |
| 14 | Werneth School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.45 | Inadequate | 15.98% |
| 15 | Castle Hill High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.71 | Outstanding | 0% |
| 16 | Windlehurst School | Community special school | Mixed | -2.13 | Good | 0% |
| 17 | Inscape House School | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | -2.49 | Good | 0% |
Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.
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Top secondary schools in Stockport by GCSE % 9–7
Stockport Grammar School in Stockport is currently ranked #1 in Stockport based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.
| Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport Grammar School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 61.93% |
| 2 | Cheadle Hulme School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 60.5% |
| 3 | Cheadle Hulme High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.87 | - | 40.38% |
| 4 | Priestnall School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.4 | Requires improvement | 35.26% |
| 5 | Laurus Cheadle Hulme | Free schools | Mixed | +0.51 | Outstanding | 30.09% |
| 6 | St James' Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | +0.23 | Good | 27.4% |
| 7 | Hazel Grove High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.19 | Good | 23.74% |
| 8 | Marple Hall School | Community school | Mixed | +0.28 | - | 23.14% |
| 9 | Bramhall High School | Community school | Mixed | -0.08 | Good | 22.23% |
| 10 | Hulme Hall Grammar School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 21.65% |
| 11 | Stockport School | Community school | Mixed | +0.25 | Good | 19.48% |
| 12 | The Kingsway School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.26 | Requires improvement | 19.42% |
| 13 | Stockport Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.24 | - | 16.83% |
| 14 | Werneth School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.45 | Inadequate | 15.98% |
| 15 | Harrytown Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.32 | - | 15.32% |
| 16 | Reddish Vale High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.29 | Inadequate | 15.16% |
| 17 | St Anne's RC Voluntary Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 12.13% |
| 18 | Castle Hill High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.71 | Outstanding | 0% |
| 19 | Inscape House School | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | -2.49 | Good | 0% |
| 20 | Windlehurst School | Community special school | Mixed | -2.13 | Good | 0% |
| 21 | Acorns School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 22 | Broadstones School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 23 | Covenant Christian School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 24 | Penarth Group School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 25 | Progress Schools - Stockport | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 26 | Reddish Hall School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.
All secondary schools in Stockport
Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Stockport, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.
| School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorns School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Agricultural and Rural Centre | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Ashcroft School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Bramhall High School | Community school | Mixed | -0.08 | Good | 22.23% |
| Bridge House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Brinksway School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Broadstones School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Castle Hill High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.71 | Outstanding | 0% |
| Cheadle Hulme High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.87 | - | 40.38% |
| Cheadle Hulme School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 60.5% |
| Covenant Christian School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Harrytown Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.32 | - | 15.32% |
| Hazel Grove High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.19 | Good | 23.74% |
| Heaton School | Community special school | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | - |
| Hulme Hall Grammar School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 21.65% |
| Inscape House School | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | -2.49 | Good | 0% |
| Laurus Cheadle Hulme | Free schools | Mixed | +0.51 | Outstanding | 30.09% |
| Marple Hall School | Academy converter | Mixed | - | Good | - |
| Marple Hall School | Community school | Mixed | +0.28 | - | 23.14% |
| North West Hospital School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Pear Tree Specialist Support High School | Free schools special | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Penarth Group School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Priestnall School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.4 | Requires improvement | 35.26% |
| Progress Schools - Stockport | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Reddish Hall School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Reddish Vale High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.29 | Inadequate | 15.16% |
| Royal School, Manchester | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | - | Outstanding | - |
| St Anne's RC Voluntary Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 12.13% |
| St James' Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | +0.23 | Good | 27.4% |
| Stockport Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.24 | - | 16.83% |
| Stockport Grammar School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 61.93% |
| Stockport School | Community school | Mixed | +0.25 | Good | 19.48% |
| The Kingsway School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.26 | Requires improvement | 19.42% |
| Werneth School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.45 | Inadequate | 15.98% |
| Willow House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Windlehurst School | Community special school | Mixed | -2.13 | Good | 0% |
Disclaimer
All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 results, or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.How we ranked the best schools in Stockport?
Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2023/2024 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.
We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:
- Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
- GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
- Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings
Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.
Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.
Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Stockport, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.
How to support your child at home
Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.
If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.
Boosting confidence before exams
Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.
Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.
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