The Lowry Academy

The Lowry Academy, part of United Learning Trust, has shown significant improvements since its previous inadequate inspection. With the current inspection highlighting the overall effectiveness of the school as good, it is evident that the leadership has successfully implemented well-structured routines, leading to a positive atmosphere where pupils feel happy and motivated. Regular attendance is emphasized and supported, although challenges remain with some pupils being persistently absent, which hinders their learning.

Strengths

• Pupils settle in quickly and engage with ambitious learning goals.
• Strong leadership has fostered a positive transformation in the school's culture.
• Teachers provide effective targeted support for pupils with SEND.
• A broad curriculum is in place, with increased participation in EBacc subjects.
• Robust systems for collaboration and teacher training are in effect.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent checks on pupils' prior learning lead to gaps in knowledge.
• High levels of persistent absenteeism affect some pupils' achievement.
• Limited time for personal, social and health education for older pupils.

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 The Lowry Academy attended 90.0% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 27.1% 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, 6.7% of pupils at The Lowry Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 8 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 The Lowry Academy had 14.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.7% 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, 11.8% of pupils at The Lowry Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.7% 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 The Lowry Academy received £10,574 and spent £10,576 for each of its 924 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £826,000 (£894 per pupil).

Across all 93 schools of United Learning Trust, income was £8,687 and spending £8,616 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 Manchester · Salford local authority: places and applications

The Lowry Academy is part of United Learning Trust, which runs 98 schools. The nearest others:

• Dukesgate Academy Salford
• Salford City Academy Manchester
• The Albion Academy Salford
• Irlam and Cadishead Academy Manchester
• Brentnall Academy Salford
• Cadishead Primary Academy Manchester
• Marlborough Road Academy Salford
• Cravenwood Primary Academy Manchester
• Manchester Academy Manchester
• William Hulme's Grammar School Manchester

What is The Lowry Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Lowry Academy is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was The Lowry Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Lowry Academy was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does The Lowry Academy have?

The Lowry Academy has 884 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Lowry Academy cover?

The Lowry Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Lowry Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 42.1, and 42% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Lowry Academy?

The Lowry Academy is at Hilton Lane, Little Hulton, Worsley, Manchester, M28 0SY.