The Lowry Academy Review 2026: A United Learning secondary with a clear routines-first culture

A secondary school for ages 11 to 16, with an admissions profile that suggests steady local demand and a clearly signposted offer for pupils who want extra stretch. The school is part of United Learning Trust, a detail that matters because trust-wide systems often shape behaviour policy, staff development and curriculum consistency.

Academically, outcomes sit broadly in line with the middle 35% of secondary schools in England on the FindMySchool measure for GCSE outcomes, with a below-average Progress 8 score in the most recent dataset. That combination usually points to a school where routines and learning structures are important, but where outcomes can still vary meaningfully by subject, cohort and individual pathway.

For families, the practical advantage is straightforward: this is a state school with no tuition fees, and admissions for Year 7 are handled through the local authority timetable.

The public-facing message is consistent across the school website and policy framework: expectations are explicit, and the day is organised around clear routines and predictable systems. The published values are framed as daily behaviours, with emphasis on aspiration, respect, confidence, creativity and resilience, including specific examples such as meeting deadlines, being ready to learn, and participating in co-curricular activities.

The leadership identity is also clear. The Principal is Mrs Claire Coy, and the school positions itself as a community-facing comprehensive with an added academic stretch route through its Grammar Stream, described as broader academic study beyond the core curriculum for the most able students.

The most recent inspection evidence supports the idea of a calm, structured experience for pupils. The report describes clear and well-adopted routines for how pupils learn and behave, and indicates that pupils settle quickly, including those joining outside Year 7. This kind of finding matters for families who have had disrupted schooling or who are moving mid-phase, because it points to systems that help pupils integrate without everything relying on informal relationships.

Ranked 2,741st in England and 57th in Manchester for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance reflects solid results that sit in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

The most recent dataset shows an Attainment 8 score of 41.3 and an English Baccalaureate average point score of 3.59. The Progress 8 score is -0.37, which indicates pupils made below-average progress compared with pupils nationally who had similar starting points. A useful way to read this is that the school’s routines and curriculum intent may be stronger than outcomes suggest for some pupils, but consistency of impact across subjects and groups is the key lever for further improvement.

On the English Baccalaureate benchmark, 10.6% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above across the suite in the latest dataset. For many families, this matters less than the individual subject mix their child will take, but it is a signal that the EBacc pathway is not the dominant route for the cohort captured in the data.

Parents comparing options locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view these measures alongside nearby schools that serve the same Salford communities.

The curriculum is presented as deliberately knowledge-driven, with subject pages outlining what is taught year by year. English, for example, references core themes including power, class, gender and social justice, with a stated intention to build critical understanding as pupils move through Key Stage 3.

Reading is treated as a whole-school priority rather than a bolt-on intervention. The school describes a structured reading catch-up approach that uses NGRT testing to identify pupils reading below chronological age and then place them on a relevant support pathway based on specific gaps. This is a practical strength because it signals diagnostic intent, not just extra reading time.

Homework systems are also clearly described. For Years 7 to 9, homework is set weekly and run through named online platforms, including Sparx, Seneca and Languagenut. Clear routines like this can suit pupils who benefit from predictable expectations at home, and it helps families know what “normal” looks like early in Year 7.

With an upper age of 16, the main transition point is post-16 education rather than sixth form progression. The school meets the provider access requirement for pupils in Years 8 to 13, which is intended to ensure pupils receive information and engagement about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. While that does not tell you exactly where pupils go, it does indicate that careers and progression pathways are expected to be a visible part of school life.

For families planning early, the most useful next step is to ask, during a tour or open event, how guidance is structured in Year 9 options, and how the school supports pupils aiming for different routes at 16, including college, apprenticeships and A-level pathways elsewhere. The school also publishes a Guided Choices page for Year 9, positioning this as a supported process rather than a single form-filling moment.

Year 7 admissions are coordinated through the local authority. For September 2026 entry, the school states that the application process opens on 1 September 2025 and closes on 31 October 2025.

Demand indicators point to a school that is oversubscribed, rather than one where places are routinely available. In the most recent dataset, there were 271 applications for 163 offers for the main entry route shown, and first preference demand was slightly higher than first preference offers, which often means distance and priority categories matter for a meaningful share of applicants. Because the school does not publish a last distance offered figure here, families should treat admissions as competitive but not assume that living nearby guarantees a place.

The published admissions policy for 2026 to 2027 sets a Year 7 admission number of 180 and confirms there are no faith criteria and no selection by ability or aptitude. Oversubscription is then resolved using ordered criteria, starting with pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, followed by looked-after and previously looked-after children and other priority groups set out in the policy.

Parents who want to sense-check their chances can use the FindMySchool Map Search to measure their home-to-school distance consistently, then compare that with any local authority distance patterns once allocations are published for the relevant year.

Safeguarding information is clear and direct, with an emphasis on partnership work with appropriate agencies and on acting promptly to remedy any weaknesses in child protection arrangements.

The school’s wellbeing guidance for families frames behaviour as communication and lists a wide set of indicators that might suggest a child needs support, including sleep, eating, anxiety and withdrawal. The value of this kind of signposting is that it gives parents a shared language for early conversations with pastoral staff, rather than waiting until a situation becomes acute.

There is also an explicit Young Carers strand, with a dedicated page describing what a young carer is and normalising the fact that pupils may not label themselves that way. For families carrying caring responsibilities, this is a meaningful signal that the school expects to identify and support pupils whose home circumstances affect attendance, homework and emotional load.

Co-curricular life is presented through the ASPIRE Programme, described as lunchtime and after-school clubs with a stated expectation that pupils participate regularly. The school gives concrete examples rather than generic headlines, including Drama Club, Chess Club, Cooking, Football, Basketball, Running, Gardening, Music and Debate.

That specificity is helpful for parents because it indicates the offer is not confined to sport, and it suggests there are accessible “join and try” options for pupils who are still finding their feet socially. Practical clubs like cooking and gardening can suit pupils who enjoy learning by doing, while debate and chess can be a good fit for pupils who like structured competition without the intensity of a full team sport.

The Grammar Stream is also positioned as an enrichment route for the most able pupils, with broader academic study and extra opportunities aimed at stretching aspiration. Families considering this should ask how pupils are identified, how movement in and out works, and how the school avoids a two-tier feel in day-to-day teaching.

The published academy day runs from 08.30 to 15.00, with a structured five-period timetable and dedicated break and lunch times.

Transport information references Greater Manchester’s IGO pass for concessionary travel for 11 to 16 year olds, which may reduce costs for some families using buses and trams.

As a state school, there are no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual associated costs such as uniform, learning equipment, trips and optional activities, which vary by year group and individual choices.

• Progress measure. A Progress 8 score of -0.37 indicates outcomes below average for pupils with similar starting points in the latest dataset. This is a key question for families who want reassurance about consistency across subjects and pupil groups.

• Admissions competition. With 271 applications and 163 offers in the most recent dataset, demand is meaningful. Families should plan on submitting a strong, on-time application and maintain realistic alternatives.

• Academic stretch clarity. The Grammar Stream is positioned as an enhanced academic pathway. Families should ask how access is managed, what the experience looks like in lessons, and how the school supports pupils who would benefit from stretch without needing a separate track.

The Lowry Academy offers a structured secondary experience with clearly articulated routines, a values-led culture, and a visible commitment to co-curricular participation. The overall picture is of a school that aims to be calm and orderly, with additional academic stretch through its Grammar Stream and well-signposted support around reading and wellbeing.

It suits families who value clarity, predictable systems, and an expectations-led approach, and pupils who respond well to routine and explicit guidance. The main challenge is less about what is offered day to day, and more about driving stronger outcomes consistently across cohorts, particularly given the most recent progress measure.