Manor Community Academy Review 2026, inclusive, expectations-led 11 to 16 provision in Hartlepool

A school that frames its work through inclusion and practical next steps. Manor Community Academy is part of Northern Education Trust and serves students aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. The current principal is Mr Steve Jones.

The most recent inspection is unusually informative for parents because it uses a newer style of reporting that breaks the school down into clearly-labelled areas rather than relying on older headline labels. The overall picture is a school that is strongest when it is narrowing in on core literacy and numeracy, and when it is putting structures around vulnerable learners, with a smaller number of areas still working towards consistent impact across the whole cohort.

For families weighing up local options, the academic data sits in the middle band nationally, but the local ranking is relatively strong within Hartlepool. That combination often points to a school that is doing credible work in its context, while still having clear improvement priorities that parents should ask about directly.

Manor’s identity is closely tied to an outcomes-first culture that is explicit about high expectations, and explicit about who it is for. The Trust’s published values stress non-selective admissions and inclusion, and that tone runs through Manor’s own messaging, from its emphasis on high expectations to its focus on widening participation in enrichment and careers.

The school presents itself as structured rather than laissez-faire. Students are expected on site by 8:20am, and breakfast provision starts at 7:30am, which can matter for working families and for students who benefit from predictable routines before lessons begin. The day is built around lessons plus an after-school enrichment window, which signals that the academy wants participation beyond the timetable to be normal rather than niche.

Pastoral language is practical and systems-based. The careers programme, for example, is not described as a one-off experience; it is framed as an entitlement with planned encounters, interviews, and ongoing access to advice. Weekly Careers Corner is a simple but meaningful detail, as it implies that support is accessible when decisions arise, not only at formal points in the year.

A final cultural marker is the way the school positions students as representatives beyond the gates. In competitions and trips, success is not only described as winning, but also as behaviour, conduct, and integrity under pressure, which gives a sense of how the school wants students to be perceived publicly.

Manor is a state school. There are no tuition fees.

On FindMySchool’s GCSE measures, the academy is ranked 2,387th in England and 2nd in Hartlepool for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data). This places results in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), while still being near the top locally.

The underlying headline metrics show where the academic priorities likely sit. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 42.1, and Progress 8 is -0.4, indicating that, on average, students make below-average progress from their starting points across eight subjects. EBacc-related measures are also modest, with 16.1% achieving grade 5 or above in the EBacc and an EBacc average point score of 3.74. The England average EBacc point score is 4.08, which provides some context for that measure.

Those figures point to a school where sustained improvement depends on consistency: consistent teaching quality, consistent curriculum sequencing, and consistent attendance and behaviour routines that protect learning time. It also points to a school where parental engagement around homework, attendance, and revision routines is likely to have a visible impact on outcomes.

A useful nuance is that the most recent inspection material describes rapid improvement in some areas of academic outcomes, especially after a specific dip for disadvantaged pupils, which suggests a school that is capable of diagnosing problems and changing practice quickly.

Manor’s curriculum narrative is clear about priorities. Reading, writing, and mathematics are treated as core life skills, and the school describes a curriculum that can be adapted responsively as students progress. That is an important distinction, as it suggests the school is actively adjusting provision rather than treating curriculum as a fixed document.

A notable feature is the way personal development is built into the taught offer. The school’s LIFE curriculum covers Religious Education, relationships and sex education, careers education, and broader personal, social, moral and cultural content, and is supported by co-curricular activity. For families, the practical implication is that personal development should not be left to assemblies alone. The question to ask is how consistently this is taught across year groups and staff, and how it is quality assured.

For students who need additional literacy support, the most recent inspection evidence describes a strong approach to building fluency and closing gaps, which matters in a school where outcomes depend heavily on secure foundations.

Because the academy finishes at 16, the “destination story” here is about post-16 transition, not university statistics. The school puts substantial emphasis on careers education and guidance across Years 7 to 11, including independent guidance interviews for all students by age 16, with interviews described specifically for Year 9 and Year 11.

The programme is designed to expose students to further education, higher education, training providers, and apprenticeships routes, with a stated expectation of meaningful employer encounters each year and at least one workplace experience by age 16. For families, that matters because it reduces the risk that “post-16 options” becomes a rushed conversation in Year 11. It also suggests the school is trying to keep options open for students whose confidence and attainment may not fit a single narrow pathway.

In practice, parents should still ask two grounded questions. First, how does the school support students who are at risk of disengagement in Year 10 and Year 11, so that post-16 options remain positive. Second, how does the school track and support leavers after GCSE results day, particularly those who need help securing an apprenticeship or a suitable college place.

Admissions are non-selective and are managed within Hartlepool’s coordinated arrangements, with the academy acting as its own admissions authority as part of Northern Education Trust. For September 2026 entry, the published admission number is 250.

The oversubscription criteria are structured and familiar to many families. Priority is given to children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, then looked-after and previously looked-after children, then siblings, then a defined set of partner primary schools (with a further local zone distinction), then exceptional circumstances, then distance measured as a straight line using the local authority’s system. If distance ties cannot be separated, the admissions materials describe a random selection mechanism within the measurement system.

For 2026 to 2027 entry, the academy publishes key dates clearly: applications open 1 September 2025, close 31 October 2025, with offers on 2 March 2026, and appeals timelines running through spring into early summer.

Families considering Manor should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check distance sensitivity, and to compare likely travel patterns against other local options. Even where the school is not operating a tight “last distance offered” narrative, practical distance still shapes daily life and punctuality.

Pastoral strength at Manor is expressed through two themes: inclusion and accessibility of support. The most recent inspection report describes an inclusive culture that is designed to enable vulnerable pupils to achieve academically, socially, and emotionally, and it emphasises warm relationships between adults and pupils alongside a calm environment where learning is generally purposeful.

Bullying is described as infrequent, with systems in place for staff to act when concerns are raised. Families should still ask about the practical process, including how concerns are logged, typical response times, and how parents are kept informed, as these operational details shape trust in the school.

Behaviour is also framed honestly. Suspension levels are described as falling but still higher than leaders want, which is an important detail for parents of children who may struggle with regulation or attendance. The right conversation here is not whether behaviour is “strict” or “soft”, but whether expectations are applied consistently, and what the reintegration support looks like when sanctions occur.

A credible enrichment offer is one of the clearest signals of whether a school is building confidence and belonging, especially for students who are not motivated by exams alone. Manor runs enrichment after the academy day, and it explicitly positions catch-up sessions alongside broader activities, which is a sensible mix for a school balancing recovery and aspiration.

Two examples show how this works in practice.

First, sport is not only recreational. In July 2023, a Year 8 team competed in the National Dodgeball Finals at Fenton Manor Sports Complex after winning both local and regional competitions, finishing as runners-up nationally. The school’s own write-up emphasises preparation, strategy, and conduct as much as the result. That matters for students who respond well to structured team environments and clear goals.

Second, STEM is treated as applied problem-solving, not just classroom science. In the Shell Bright Ideas Competition, a Year 10 team won the North East regional event with a proposal focused on reducing plastic pollution through a circular economy approach, and the project description highlights extensive research and the role of named staff in supporting the work. The award included £2,500 for the school and workshop opportunities, which indicates a programme that connects ideas to external recognition and real audiences.

The performing arts also surface in a concrete way. The most recent inspection report references a whole-school performance of Legally Blonde, which is a good proxy for a school willing to mount large productions that require commitment over time. For some students, that is where confidence and belonging are built.

Alongside these, the iASPIRE programme adds a character-development layer. It is built as ten challenges with tiered awards from bronze to platinum, and it is designed to nudge students into contribution beyond the curriculum, including community involvement and leadership. For parents, iASPIRE is worth asking about in practical terms, such as how widely it is taken up, how achievements are recorded, and how it is used in Year 11 to strengthen post-16 applications.

The published day structure highlights early starts and a clear routine. Breakfast starts at 7:30am, students are expected on site by 8:20am, and enrichment typically runs 2:30pm to 3:30pm.

As a secondary school serving a wide local intake, travel is often a mix of walking, cycling, and public transport. Parents should check Hartlepool’s school transport guidance where relevant, particularly if medical needs or safety considerations apply. For families comparing options, FindMySchool’s Local Hub comparison tools can help you see how local outcomes and admissions rules sit side by side before you attend open events.

• Academic progress is still a live priority. A Progress 8 score of -0.4 suggests that, on average, students are not yet making the progress you would expect from their starting points. Families should ask how the school is ensuring consistency across subjects, especially in Years 9 to 11.

• Behaviour has improved, but remains an area to watch. Suspension levels are described as falling, but still higher than leaders want. This will suit some students, and be challenging for others, particularly those who need calm, predictable adult responses and strong reintegration support.

• Personal development impact varies. The school has a structured personal development offer through LIFE and enrichment, but the most recent inspection evidence highlights that the impact is not yet consistent for all pupils. Ask how this is being tightened so that participation and benefit are not patchy.

• Understand the partner primary and distance implications. The admissions criteria include a defined list of partner primary schools and a straight-line distance measure as the final priority, which can materially affect your chances of entry.

Manor Community Academy reads as a school that is serious about inclusion, routines, and practical next steps at 16. The most recent inspection evidence highlights strong practice in achievement, inclusion, and leadership and governance, and that matters in a school serving a wide range of needs.

Best suited to families who value structure, clear expectations, and a school that invests in support for vulnerable students alongside catch-up and enrichment. The key decision point is whether the school’s improvement work, especially around consistent progress and consistent personal development impact, aligns with what your child needs to thrive.