AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK

AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK has received its first inspection under section 5 since joining the Aldridge Education Trust in 2018, with an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school offers a specialist technical curriculum focused on the creative and technical digital industry, complemented by partnerships with industry experts such as the BBC and ITV. Leaders set high expectations for behavior and learning, fostering an environment where pupils feel happy, safe, and supported, leading to improved behavior and enthusiasm for learning.

Strengths

• High expectations for learning and behavior
• Strong focus on pupil engagement and support
• Opportunities for real-life projects with industry partners
• Qualified and knowledgeable teachers delivering the curriculum well
• Effective personal development programs for pupils
• Strong safeguarding culture in the school

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils have persistently low attendance
• Underdeveloped support for pupils with gaps in reading knowledge

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK attended 89.4% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 33.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 3.9% of pupils at AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK had 16.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 27.8% of pupils at AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 9.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK received £8,279 and spent £8,392 for each of its 456 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £1,260,000 (-£2,764 per pupil).

Across all 9 schools of Aldridge Education, income was £9,171 and spending £8,780 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Salford · Salford local authority: places and applications

AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK is part of Aldridge Education, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Aldridge UTC Warrington Warrington
• Darwen Aldridge Community Academy Darwen
• Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary Darwen
• Aldridge UTC Darwen Darwen
• Darwen Vale High School Darwen
• Duke's Aldridge London
• Portslade Aldridge Community Academy Brighton
• Brighton Aldridge Community Academy Brighton

What is AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK is Good, from an inspection in April 2023.

When was AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK last inspected by Ofsted?

AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK was last inspected in April 2023.

How many pupils does AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK have?

AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK has 464 pupils on roll.

What age range does AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK cover?

AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK for pupils aged 13 to 19.

Where is AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK?

AldridgeUTC@MediaCityUK is at 100- 102 Broadway, Salford, Greater Manchester, M50 2UW.