The Heys School Review 2026, A values-led 11 to 16 secondary in Prestwich

A calm tone and clear expectations sit at the centre of daily life here, with the school’s “Be Respectful, Be Kind, Be Determined” values repeatedly reinforced through routines, rewards, and conduct.

Leadership has recently changed. Mrs Lindsay Turner became headteacher on 31 March 2025, after serving as deputy, which matters because the school’s most recent full inspection was conducted under the previous head.

Academically, the FindMySchool GCSE outcomes ranking places the school below England average overall. That is not the whole story, though, because external evaluation describes improving curriculum ambition and stronger learning culture than historic published results may suggest.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The best evidence on day-to-day feel comes from the most recent inspection, which highlights a calm, friendly environment where staff model respectful communication and where behaviour is generally settled and learning disruption is uncommon. Pupils are encouraged to take pride in achievements and to engage with community activity.

The school’s published ethos aligns with that description. The core values, “Be Respectful, Be Kind, Be Determined”, are presented as a shared language for how students behave and how the community functions, not as a decorative slogan.

Safeguarding messaging is prominent and names a designated safeguarding lead on the school’s safeguarding information, which is useful for parents seeking clarity on points of contact and process.

A practical point for families assessing fit is that the intake is 11 to 16 only, so students will need a separate post-16 pathway at the end of Year 11.

For GCSE outcomes, the school is ranked 2,902nd in England and 64th in the Manchester local area (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places it below England average overall, within the bottom 40% of schools in England on this measure.

The underlying headline performance indicators available present a mixed picture:

• Attainment 8: 41.3

• Progress 8: -0.52, indicating students make less progress than pupils nationally with similar starting points

• EBacc average point score: 3.5, compared with an England average of 4.08

• Percentage achieving grades 5 or above across the EBacc measure: 7.4

A key contextual nuance is that the most recent inspection notes the school has overhauled its curriculum in recent years, and that older published performance data may not reflect how well current pupils are learning, particularly as teaching checks and curriculum sequencing strengthen subject knowledge over time.

What this means for parents: the numbers indicate that outcomes, on average, trail England benchmarks, but there is also credible evidence of improvement work that may be visible in current books, routines, and assessment practice. A visit, and a close look at how intervention and catch-up are implemented, becomes more important than it is at consistently high-performing schools.

The curriculum picture described in the latest inspection is one of raised ambition, with a wide subject range and a structured approach designed to help pupils build securely on prior learning. Where teaching is strongest, staff check understanding, correct misconceptions quickly, and build in regular opportunities for pupils to retrieve and reflect on learning so it sticks.

Reading is treated as a priority area. Evidence from the inspection describes regular class reading, confident oral reading for many pupils, and targeted identification of those who struggle, with staff diagnosing specific gaps so support is more precise.

The school’s own subject pages reinforce the presence of structured support. For example, science describes optional Year 11 masterclass lessons after school that run until 4pm, alongside revision and preparation activity.

A point to understand early is curriculum breadth versus the English Baccalaureate. The inspection notes that EBacc entry remains relatively low because the school has prioritised giving pupils more choice at GCSE. For some families this flexibility will feel positive, particularly for pupils with clear interests; for others it will be worth asking how well options choices are guided, and how the school ensures pathways remain open for selective post-16 or post-18 ambitions.

Where Students Go Next

As an 11 to 16 school, the key transition is post-16. The school does not publish detailed destination statistics within the provided data, so parents should ask directly about typical routes into sixth form, further education, and apprenticeships.

What can be evidenced is that careers and technical education access is treated as a statutory requirement, with the inspection confirming the school meets provider access expectations so pupils in relevant year groups receive information and engagement on approved technical education and apprenticeships.

A sensible way to use this: if your child is considering a technical route, ask what employer encounters look like across Years 8 to 11, how impartial guidance is delivered, and how the school supports applications and interviews.

Admissions for Year 7 are coordinated by Bury Council for families living in the borough. For entry to September 2026, the published window was 1 September 2025 to 31 October 2025, with late applications warned as potentially reducing chances of securing preferred schools.

Bury’s published admissions schedule for that cohort states:

• applications open: 1 September 2025

• deadline: 31 October 2025

• offer communications: 2 March 2026 (with emails for online applicants and letters for paper applicants)

• appeal deadline: 31 March 2026

• appeal hearings: May to July 2026

Open events for the September 2026 cohort were also published by the local authority. The schedule lists an open evening for The Heys on 11 September 2025 (6pm to 8pm). For families planning for later years, this provides a reliable indication that open evenings typically run in September.

Because the admissions data for Year 7 demand and distance is not available provided, families should not assume competitiveness from rumour. If demand is a concern, ask the local authority about recent preference patterns and how oversubscription criteria are applied in practice.

Parents comparing options can use the FindMySchoolMap Search to understand local travel patterns and to sense-check alternatives in neighbouring areas.

The strongest externally verified themes are calm behaviour, respectful relationships, and skilled support for pupils who need help regulating behaviour and emotions. That combination matters because it suggests a culture where expectations are high, but support is available when students struggle to meet them.

SEND is explicitly addressed in the inspection evidence, which notes that pupils with SEND access the same broad and balanced curriculum as peers, alongside tailored strategies to support additional needs.

A practical question to ask at visit: how attendance is monitored and improved, and what early intervention looks like, particularly for students whose engagement dips in Key Stage 4.

The school’s facilities provide several clear anchors for wider life beyond lessons, particularly in performance and sport.

A distinctive feature is The Paragon, described as a flexible theatre and auditorium space with seating for up to 300 and a stage with published dimensions. This supports drama, productions, and events, and is a meaningful signal for families with creatively inclined students.

On the sport side, the school publishes lettings information for a sports hall and refers to an all-weather pitch and playing fields, which indicates provision for indoor games and outdoor training across the year.

For club specifics, the English department references a Creative Writing Club and a Book Club, which should appeal to students who enjoy reading and writing beyond the curriculum.

The most useful approach for parents is to ask for the current term’s enrichment timetable, since club line-ups can change seasonally and by staffing.

The published school day indicates pupils are expected in school at 8.25am, with lessons running through to 3.05pm on the standard timetable published.

Open evenings for secondary transfer in this area typically fall in September, based on the local authority’s published schedule for the September 2026 cohort.

For transport planning, families should consider how the morning arrival expectation fits with commuting time, and confirm any local travel arrangements relevant to their address.

• Outcomes below England average. The FindMySchool GCSE ranking and the Progress 8 figure indicate underperformance relative to national benchmarks, so families should probe how improvement work translates into consistent classroom practice and exam readiness.

• EBacc entry is relatively low. More choice at GCSE can suit many students, but it is worth checking how options guidance protects future pathways for competitive sixth forms or subject-specific ambitions.

• Leadership has recently changed. The headteacher started in late March 2025, after the June 2024 inspection, so parents should ask what has shifted since then and what is being prioritised in the current school improvement plan.

• No sixth form. If continuity to 18 is important, the post-16 transition needs early planning, including visits to local sixth forms and colleges during Year 10 and early Year 11.

The Heys School presents as a structured, values-driven 11 to 16 setting with externally evidenced calm behaviour norms and improving curriculum ambition. Outcomes data suggests the school is still working to convert that culture and curriculum work into stronger GCSE performance at scale.

Best suited to families who want a clear behavioural framework, visible safeguarding culture, and a school that supports a broad range of learners, and who are prepared to engage actively with post-16 planning and with the school’s improvement journey.