Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester Review 2026: Catholic primary with ambitious expectations and strong KS2 outcomes

A small, single-form entry Catholic primary in Moss Side, Holy Name combines clear academic ambition with a strong sense of belonging for families who want faith to be a real part of school life. It serves pupils from Nursery to Year 6, with leadership structured around an Executive Headteacher and a Head of School.

Academic outcomes at the end of primary are a clear strength. In 2024, 82.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, above the England average of 62%.

The most recent Ofsted inspection took place on 8 and 9 May 2024, and the published judgement was Outstanding, including early years provision.

The school projects a warm, purposeful tone that starts early. In the early years, the emphasis on a calm start to learning is clear, with routines and relationships designed to help children settle quickly, develop language, and build confidence in class. Across the school, expectations for behaviour are high and consistent, which matters in a busy inner-city primary where children need predictable structure to learn well.

Diversity is treated as a lived feature of daily school life rather than a poster slogan. The inspection evidence describes pupils taking pride in their community and understanding difference as something to respect and celebrate. That kind of culture tends to show up in small details, such as how children speak about one another, how adults intervene early, and how quickly new pupils can feel part of the group.

Leadership is shared across the federation. The school website lists Mrs Catherine Gordon as Executive Headteacher and Mr Damian Regan as Head of School, with classroom leadership roles also clearly set out.

Faith identity is explicit and meaningful. The admissions policy frames the school as serving its parish community and promoting Catholic values in partnership with home and parish. For families seeking a school where worship, Catholic religious education, and a faith-informed approach to relationships are central, that clarity is an advantage.

Holy Name’s end-of-primary outcomes are strong by both absolute and comparative measures.

In 2024, 82.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 23.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores also point to secure attainment. Reading was 107 and mathematics was 109 in 2024. Grammar, punctuation and spelling was 107.

One nuance is worth understanding: science (expected standard) is shown as 75% in 2024, below the England average of 82%. For most families this will not outweigh the overall picture, but it is a useful prompt to ask how the school builds scientific knowledge and practical enquiry over time, especially for children who learn best through hands-on experiences.

Rankings are also positive. Holy Name is ranked 2,522nd in England for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), and 48th in Manchester, placing it above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

Teaching is described in official evidence as carefully sequenced from Nursery through to Year 6, with staff checking understanding frequently and addressing gaps quickly. That sort of approach usually translates into lessons where retrieval is normal, misconceptions are corrected early, and pupils are expected to explain their thinking rather than simply complete tasks.

Reading appears to be a central pillar. The inspection evidence highlights a cultivated love of reading, strong engagement with books, and confident participation from older pupils. Phonics is described as delivered exceptionally well, with rapid support for pupils who struggle to keep pace, including those who speak English as an additional language. For parents, the implication is a school that treats early reading as a gateway skill, and invests in getting it right before gaps widen.

The curriculum content on the school website also suggests a joined-up approach through topic work, including explicit links across subjects. For example, the geography curriculum describes linking Roman Manchester with trade and settlements, supported by artefact work through art. This kind of cross-curricular coherence tends to help children remember more, because knowledge is reinforced in more than one context.

As a primary school, Holy Name’s main transition point is into local secondary provision in Manchester. Families should expect the move to be shaped by the city’s coordinated secondary admissions, transport considerations, and (for some) faith-based pathways.

Because the school is Catholic, a common next-step question is whether children progress to Catholic secondary options. The strongest way to confirm likely destinations is to ask the school which secondaries are most common for recent cohorts, and to check Manchester’s secondary admissions guidance for eligibility and priority rules. (This matters because faith criteria and distance criteria can interact in complex ways, and patterns can shift year to year.)

For pupils who join in-year or later in primary, transition support matters even more. The inspection evidence notes that many pupils join at different points in the school year, including some with limited English, and the school takes deliberate steps to integrate them quickly. That experience can be helpful when supporting children through the Year 6 to Year 7 jump, where change can feel big.

Holy Name is a voluntary aided Catholic school. Manchester Local Authority coordinates the main Reception application process, while the governing board is the admissions authority and applies the school’s oversubscription criteria.

Demand is clearly higher than supply. Recent admissions data shows 64 applications for 22 offers, which works out at roughly 2.91 applications per place. In plain terms, entry is competitive, and families should take deadlines and paperwork seriously.

The admissions policy sets a Reception intake number of 30 for the relevant year, and explains how faith criteria operate. If parents want their application assessed against the school’s religious criteria, the policy states they must complete the Local Authority preference form and also complete a supplementary form available from the school. Evidence of Catholic baptism (or reception into the Catholic Church) is required for categories that are specifically for baptised Catholic children, with the policy detailing what counts as acceptable written evidence.

If a category becomes oversubscribed, the policy describes distance as a tie-breaker, measured using the Local Authority method. This is important for families who assume faith status alone guarantees a place. It does not. In practical terms, applicants often need both priority under the criteria and a realistic home-to-school distance.

For September 2026 Reception entry in Manchester, the application round opens on 18 August 2025 and the closing date is 15 January 2026, with offers made on 16 April 2026.

Parents comparing local options can use FindMySchool’s Map Search to sense-check travel times, and the Comparison Tool in the Local Hub to weigh outcomes alongside admissions pressure.

A calm, consistent culture is a core pastoral asset, especially in primary where children’s learning depends on feeling safe and predictable. The inspection evidence presents behaviour as exceptionally strong from early years through to Year 6, with pupils learning kindness and respect as explicit expectations rather than optional extras.

Support for pupils who face additional challenges is described as deliberate and practical. That includes pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, pupils who arrive mid-year, and pupils who are new to English. The described approach is not just about identifying needs, but about acting quickly to address gaps and help children integrate into routines and friendships.

Safeguarding leadership is also clearly signposted on the school website, with the Executive Headteacher listed as Designated Safeguarding Lead. Parents should still expect the usual safeguarding questions during open events, such as how concerns are recorded, how staff are trained, and how online safety is handled across year groups.

For a small school, the enrichment offer is unusually concrete. The inspection evidence highlights a broad personal development programme with clubs including coding, drama and chess, plus opportunities to build confidence through performance and debating. This matters because enrichment is not just entertainment, it is often where children find their “thing” and begin to see themselves as capable in a wider range of settings.

The school website adds more named examples, including Eco gardening club, a prayer group, and music opportunities such as learning to read music and playing an instrument. Taken together, the picture is of a school that aims to balance strong classroom expectations with experiences that help children speak up, perform, compete, and collaborate.

Trips are another distinctive feature. The inspection evidence explicitly references residential trips, including a visit to Spain, and drama and music performances involving local theatre companies. For families, the implication is broader cultural capital, especially for pupils who might not otherwise access those experiences.

Sport and physical activity sit within the practical realities of an urban primary. One specific detail published by the school is that Year 4 pupils go swimming weekly, which can be a significant life-skill boost by the end of primary.

The school day ends at 3.00pm. The website states a weekly total of 30 hours 25 minutes.

Wraparound care is partly published. A breakfast club operates from 8.00am to 8.55am, with a charge of £3 per child. After-school clubs usually run from 3.00pm to 4.00pm, and are priced at £1.50 per session (or £19.50 for the term). If your family needs childcare beyond 4.00pm, it is sensible to ask directly what is available, as that is not clearly set out in the same place.

Transport details are not set out in a single clear travel section on the school website, so families should plan around their own route, pick-up logistics, and after-school commitments, especially if children will attend clubs.

• Competitive entry. Recent admissions data shows materially more applications than offers, so admission is a real constraint. Families should prioritise deadlines, and make sure any faith paperwork is completed correctly where relevant.

• Faith criteria are operational, not decorative. The admissions policy expects families to understand and respect the school’s Catholic ethos, and religious criteria require evidence for some categories. If you are uncomfortable with faith being integral to daily school life, this may not be the right fit.

• Science is the one softer result area in the published outcomes. In 2024, science expected standard is shown below the England average, so it is worth asking how practical science, vocabulary, and working scientifically are built over time.

• Wraparound beyond clubs needs checking. Breakfast club is clear, and clubs run after school, but families needing later childcare should confirm what the school can offer, and what is available locally.

Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester offers a persuasive combination of strong KS2 attainment, a calm behavioural culture, and enrichment that is specific rather than generic. The Catholic character is a genuine organising principle, shaping admissions, worship, and community expectations.

Best suited to families who want a faith-grounded primary education, value high expectations in learning and behaviour, and are ready to engage carefully with admissions requirements in a competitive year.