How to Apply for a Place

If you do not live in Manchester please apply through your local council website and free type The Barlow RC High School in your preferences.

"All children whose Education Health and Care Plan names the school must be admitted. If the school is not oversubscribed all applicants will be offered a place.” You can contact the school regarding admissions on 0161 445 8053 .

Year 7 Admissions

The admissions process begins at the start of the Autumn term, for entry the following September. The parents of Year 6 pupils will automatically receive information about the application process through the post or via their child's primary school. This will explain how you can apply for your child’s place at secondary school by using the Local Authority’s application form.

For applicants who live in Greater Manchester – Please click here for the application form or contact school admissions on 0161 245 7166.

For applicants who live in Stockport, please contact – Stockport Council on 0161 217 6022.

The deadline for applications for September 2024 places is now closed.

For any late applications, please contact the Local Authority as soon as you possibly can.

The deadline for applications for September 2025 places is 31st October 2024.

Our Open Evening takes place on Thu 3rd October 2024

In Year Admissions

New to the area or UK – please follow these steps:

Parents and carers of secondary school aged children who are new to the area/UK and are looking to apply to The Barlow, should contact Manchester Local Authority Admissions Team on 0161 245 7166 or complete an application form. For applications from the Stockport area please contact Stockport Council on 0161 217 6022.

In Year Transfers – please follow these steps:

Parents and carers of secondary school aged children who are at another Manchester or Stockport school and looking to transfer to The Barlow, should complete a transfer form which will be available on request from your child’s current school. The current school will support you through the transfer process.

Admissions Policy

The Barlow is an inclusive Roman Catholic Secondary School provided by the Diocese of Salford and maintained by Manchester Local Authority as a Voluntary Aided School.

The parish communities served by the school are St Ambrose Barlow, St Bernard’s St Bernadette’s, St Catherine’s and St Cuthbert’s. Nevertheless, our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and many are drawn from outside the parishes because parents, although not all Catholic, are attracted by the school’s inclusive and caring ethos.

The Barlow’s associated primary schools are St Ambrose, St Bernard’s, St Catherine’s and St Cuthbert’s, however, over recent years, children have come to us from a variety of schools, including:

Beaver Road Primary School, Didsbury
Broadoak Primary School, East Didsbury
Button Lane Primary School, Northern Moor
Cavendish Road Community Primary, West Didsbury
Didsbury C of E Primary School, Didsbury
Green End Primary School, Burnage
Ladybarn Primary School, Withington
Lum Head Primary School, Gatley
Mauldeth Road Primary School, Withington
Northenden Community School, Northenden
St Aiden’s RC Primary School, Northern Moor
St Kentigern’s RC Primary School, Fallowfield
St Mary’s RC Primary School, Levenshulme
St Paul’s C of E Primary School, Withington
St Wilfrid’s C of E Primary School, Northenden
St Richard’s RC Primary School, Longsight
The Divine Mercy RC Primary School, Rusholme

Admissions Criteria

Admission to the school will be made by the Governing Body in accordance with the stated parental preferences it receives and subject to the following set of criteria which will be used to form a priority order if there are more applications for admission than the school has places available.

1. Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children including children adopted from overseas.

2. Baptised Roman Catholic children who have a sibling in the school at the time of admission, resident in one of the above named parishes and attending/attended an associated primary school.

3. Baptised Roman Catholic children resident in one of the above named parishes and attending an associated primary school.

4. Baptised Roman Catholic children resident in one of the above named parishes and attending a Catholic primary school.

5. Other Baptised Roman Catholic children resident in one of the above named parishes.

6. Baptised Roman Catholic children not resident in one of the named parishes and attending an associated primary school.

7. Other Baptised Roman Catholic children.

8. Non-Baptised children who have a sibling at the time of admission.

9. Non-Baptised children attending associated Catholic primary schools.

10. Children with proven and exceptional medical and social needs. Where admission to the school might best help satisfy those exceptional medical/social needs.

11. Other children seeking a catholic education.

Oversubscription Criteria

Year 7 in September (Secondary Admissions Round):

With applicants for Year 7 in the secondary admissions round, when the School is oversubscribed with more applicants than places, students will be placed on a waiting list and allocated criteria as per the schools Admission Policy. The allocated criteria submitted will determine a waiting list order. Where vacancies occur parents/carers will be contacted should a place become available.

In Year Admissions:

For In Year admissions where the School is oversubscribed with more applicants than places, students will be placed on a waiting list and the above criteria will apply.

Appeals Procedure

In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998 amended by the 2002 Act, parents and carers have the right to appeal against the refusal of the Governors to admit the child. An independent appeals panel will hear the appeal.

Further information is available from Manchester City Council using the link provided below:

School place appeals

Appeals Guidance

Please see guidance below, Section 7 & 8 for appeal timeframes:

School Appeals Booklet 2024