Irlam and Cadishead Academy

About Irlam and Cadishead Academy

Irlam and Cadishead Academy is a secondary school in Manchester, Salford, classified by the DfE as a sponsor-led academy. Around 775 pupils aged 11 to 16 attend the school. The school holds a 'Good' judgement from Ofsted. The school's average Attainment 8 score in the latest GCSE results was 43.6 — broadly in line with the national average (national average: 46). Its Attainment 8 score has risen by 3.1 points year on year. On our composite score, which combines the DfE attainment measures above, this places it in the lower half of secondary schools nationally.

47% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths, in line with the national average of about 45%. 63% achieved a standard pass (grade 4+) in English and maths. Getting a place is straightforward: for the September 2026 intake every family who made Irlam and Cadishead Academy their first choice was offered one of its 174 Year 7 places. After Year 11, 81% of its leavers went on to education, an apprenticeship or work that they stayed in for at least two terms. Overall pupil absence was 9.0%. There are about 18.5 pupils per teacher. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: about 40% of pupils have been eligible for free school meals in the last six years, compared with roughly 24% nationally — useful context when reading the results above. When comparing schools, it is still worth visiting in person to see whether the atmosphere and approach suit your child. This overview is generated automatically from the latest published DfE performance tables and Ofsted data; figures are rounded, and you can check the originals via the official links above.