Admissions
For September 2025 entry into Year 7
The Laurus Trust is the Admissions Authority for Didsbury High School. The co-ordination and administration of student admissions for entry is undertaken by the Local Authority.
Manchester Local Authority’s application portal opens on 1 July 2024 and the deadline for applications is 31 October 2024.
Note: Didsbury High School does not have a catchment area. If a tie-break is required to determine which children get a place at the school then those living closest will have priority. See the FAQs below for further information.
Offers will be made in March 2025 by the Local Authority.
In year admissions are also co-ordinated by the Local Authority. For more information please visit this link.
FAQs
What is the difference between a Free School and a Local Authority School?
Free Schools are academies and are funded directly from central government rather than via the Local Authority.
How do I apply?
Applications are made using the Local Authority’s online admission form. The closing date is 31st October.
How do the admissions criteria work?
The school has 220 Year 7 places. If more than 220 applications are received, priority will be given to children in accordance with the oversubscription criteria which can be found in the Admissions Policy below. Didsbury High School does NOT have a catchment area. If a tie-break is necessary to determine which children are admitted then children living nearest to the school will be given priority.
For places in Year 7 in September 2024, students had to live within 0.858 miles of the school as denoted on the map above. This is for information only and is no guarantee of a place. There is also no guarantee that the demand for future years places will be the same.
How will I be told if my application is successful?
You will be informed by email in March and by letter two to three days later.
What happens if my application is unsuccessful?
All parents have a statutory right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. For more information please see the Admission Policy below.
Do you have a waiting list?
Yes, and it will be open to any parent/carer to ask for his or her child’s name to be placed on the waiting list, following an unsuccessful application. Vacant places will be allocated to children on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria in the Admissions Policy.
Do you have a entrance exam?
No, Didsbury High School is a non-selective fully comprehensive school for age 11-16 children. Academic entry criteria for the Sixth Form will be set and reviewed on an annual basis.
How do I apply for the Sixth Form?
Applications for the Sixth Form should be made directly to Didsbury Sixth Form. For more information on the entry criteria and application process, please visit the Sixth Form section of the website, found here