As of April 2025, Moorside High School has an enrolment of 1,160 pupils, exceeding its capacity of 1,050.[3] The school is situated at 57 Deans Road, Swinton, and shares its campus with Moorside Community Primary School and The Deans Youth Centre, fostering a collaborative educational environment.[4]
In its most recent inspection in March 2022, Ofsted rated the school as "Good," noting that pupils feel safe and are happy at school, and that staff resolve any bullying issues quickly and effectively.[5]
History
Moorside High School was established in 1934 to serve the growing community of Swinton, Salford. Originally a small secondary school, it expanded steadily throughout the 20th century in response to increasing demand for education in the area.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the school underwent several expansions to accommodate a rising student population. By the early 2000s, the original buildings had become outdated, prompting plans for major redevelopment.
Between 2011 and 2013, Moorside High School underwent a significant £35 million rebuild as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme, a national government initiative aimed at rebuilding secondary schools across England.[6] The project resulted in a modern campus, with new facilities and a new entrance accessible from the East Lancashire Road (A580).
In 2013, former pupil and Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs officially opened the new school buildings.[citation needed]
In March 2018, Moorside High School converted from a community school administered by Salford City Council to academy status. It is now part of the Consilium Academies Trust.[7]
Today, Moorside High School shares its campus with Moorside Community Primary School and The Deans Youth Centre, promoting educational collaboration across different age groups.[8]
Admissions
Moorside High School admits students aged 11 to 16, with an annual intake of 210 pupils into Year 7. In the 2024 admissions cycle, the school received 617 applications for these places, indicating high demand. All available places were allocated, with offers made to applicants in oversubscription categories 1–5 up to a distance of 0.666 miles from the school.[9]
The school's oversubscription criteria, applied when applications exceed available places, are as follows:
1. Looked after children and previously looked after children**, including those adopted from outside England.
2. Children in need, as defined by the Children Act 1989.
3. Siblings of current students in Years 7–10 at the time of admission.
4. Children living nearest to the school, measured in a straight line from the child's home address to the school's centre.[9]
In cases where applicants have identical distances from the school, a random allocation process is used to determine offers. The school also maintains a waiting list until 31 December each year, re-ranked according to the oversubscription criteria as new applications are received.[9]
Notable former pupils
Notable alumni of Moorside High School include:
Ryan Giggs – Former professional footballer and manager, best known for his career at Manchester United and as a Wales international. He attended Moorside High School in Swinton before beginning his professional sports career.[10]
Jorgie Porter – Actress and model, known for her role as Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Porter has spoken in interviews about growing up in Salford.[11]
Chris Johnson – Television presenter, recognised for his work with CBBC. Johnson has mentioned in local press interviews that he grew up in Swinton.[12]
Danielle Nicholls – TV presenter and radio host, best known for presenting CITV. Nicholls attended Moorside High School before beginning her entertainment career.[13]
Harrison Hansen – Professional rugby league player who has played for teams including Wigan Warriors, Salford Red Devils, and Widnes Vikings.[14]
Raffey Cassidy – Actress known for her roles in Tomorrowland and Vox Lux. She attended Moorside High School in Swinton during her early teens.[15]
Peter Maxwell Davies – Renowned composer and conductor, who served as Master of the Queen's Music from 2004 to 2014.[citation needed]
Jonathan Keating – Mathematician, known for work in quantum chaos and random matrix theory.[citation needed]
Dave Robinson – Rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s for Swinton, Wigan, Lancashire, and Great Britain.[citation needed]
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