The Watkin Centre
The Watkin Centre is an independent special school in Manchester for pupils aged 11 to 16. It has 47 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for The Watkin Centre is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in July 2025.
Ofsted inspection: July 2025.
| Type | Independent School / Other independent special school |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Mulberry House Claverton Road Wythenshawe Manchester M23 9TT |
| Reference Number | 150525 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 47 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 82.98%
Girls: 17.02% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 8 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 9 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 10 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 11 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|
The Watkin Centre is demonstrating strong compliance with independent school standards and is on track to implement significant changes to accommodate more pupils. With a focus on safeguarding, the school has developed robust policies that prioritize the welfare and health of students. As the institution prepares to move to new, purpose-built facilities in September 2025, the leadership has shown commitment to ensuring a smooth transition for students and staff alike, with careful planning in place to support an expanded student body, particularly those with special educational needs.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Requires Improvement |
| Last Report Date | 10 Jun 2025 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 10 Jun 2025 | Additional inspection |
| 10 Dec 2024 | Standard inspection: |
| 14 Mar 2024 | Pre-registration inspection |
| Proposed to open |
Strengths
- Robust safeguarding policies and training for staff
- Suitable health and safety policies in compliance with regulations
- Well-designed premises that cater to the needs of pupils
- Comprehensive understanding of staff suitability standards
- Effective leadership that holds the school accountable for standards
In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at The Watkin Centre were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).
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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
| Name | Distance |
|
St Wilfrid's CofE Aided Primary School Northenden
Patterdale Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4NR |
0.14 miles |
|
Northenden Community School
Bazley Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4FL |
0.25 miles |
|
St. Aidan's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Rackhouse Road, Northern Moor, Manchester, M23 0BW |
0.86 miles |
|
Benchill Primary School
Benchill Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 8EJ |
1 miles |
|
Rack House Primary School
Yarmouth Drive, Northern Moor, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M23 0BT |
1.02 miles |
|
St Ambrose RC Primary School
Princess Road, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 7QA |
1.12 miles |
|
Manchester Muslim Preparatory School
141 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M20 2PQ |
1.13 miles |
|
Moor Allerton Preparatory School
131 Barlow Moor Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, Lancashire, M20 2PW |
1.13 miles |
|
Broad Oak Primary School
Broad Oak Lane, East Didsbury, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M20 5QB |
1.19 miles |
|
Didsbury CofE Primary School
Elm Grove, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6RL |
1.21 miles |
|
Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Catholic Primary School
Woodhouse Lane, Benchill, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M22 9NW |
1.33 miles |
|
Gatley Primary School
Hawthorn Road, Gatley, Cheadle, Stockport, Cheshire, SK8 4NB |
1.36 miles |
|
Beaver Road Primary School
Beaver Road, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6SX |
1.39 miles |
|
Button Lane Primary School
Button Lane, Northern Moor, Manchester, M23 0ND |
1.4 miles |
|
The Birches School
Newholme Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2XZ |
1.41 miles |
|
Baguley Hall Primary School
Ackworth Drive, Baguley, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M23 1LB |
1.46 miles |
|
Haveley Hey Community School
Nearbrook Road, Benchill, Manchester, M22 9NS |
1.49 miles |
|
Crossacres Primary Academy
Crossacres Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5AD |
1.49 miles |
|
St Catherine's RC Primary School
School Lane, Didsbury, St Catherines Rc Primary Scho, Manchester, M20 6HS |
1.53 miles |
|
Barlow Hall Primary School
Darley Avenue, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, Lancashire, M21 7JG |
1.53 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Oakbrook School
Anglo House, Chapel Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M22 4JN |
0.16 miles |
|
Southern Cross School
Roundwood Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4AB |
0.56 miles |
|
Pioneer House High School
200 Yewtree Lane, Northern Moor, Manchester, M23 0FF |
1.01 miles |
|
Lancasterian School
Elizabeth Slinger Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2XA |
1.27 miles |
|
Parrs Wood High School
Wilmslow Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5PG |
1.46 miles |
|
The Barlow RC High School
Parrs Wood Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6BX |
1.59 miles |
|
Didsbury High School
4 the Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2ET |
1.61 miles |
|
Dixons Brooklands Academy
Moor Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M23 9BP |
1.7 miles |
|
Piper Hill High School
Firbank Road, Newall Green, Manchester, M23 2YS |
1.75 miles |
|
Saint Paul's Catholic High School
Firbank Road, Newall Green, MANCHESTER, M23 2YS |
1.77 miles |
|
The Kingsway School
Foxland Road, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 4QX |
1.79 miles |
|
Manchester Enterprise Academy
Simonsway, Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, M22 9RH |
1.85 miles |
|
Bowersgate School
Floats Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M23 9PL |
1.89 miles |
|
Loreto High School Chorlton
Nell Lane, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 7SW |
1.9 miles |
|
Dixons Newall Green Academy
Greenbrow Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M23 2SX |
2.07 miles |
|
Sale High School
Norris Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 3JR |
2.1 miles |
|
Chorlton High School
Nell Lane, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M21 7SL |
2.12 miles |
|
CHS South
451 Mauldeth Road West, Chorlton, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M21 7SX |
2.14 miles |
|
Inscape House School
Together Trust Campus, Schools Hill, Cheadle, Stockport, Cheshire, SK8 1JE |
2.39 miles |
|
Priestnall School
Priestnall Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 3HP |
2.44 miles |
All schools in Manchester · Manchester local authority: places and applications
What is The Watkin Centre's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for The Watkin Centre is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in July 2025.
When was The Watkin Centre last inspected by Ofsted?
The Watkin Centre was last inspected in July 2025.
How many pupils does The Watkin Centre have?
The Watkin Centre has 47 pupils on roll.
What age range does The Watkin Centre cover?
The Watkin Centre for pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is The Watkin Centre?
The Watkin Centre is at Mulberry House, Claverton Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M23 9TT.