What year groups does Southern Cross School teach?

Southern Cross School teaches children aged 9 to 16. It is a special school in Manchester.

Who is the headteacher of Southern Cross School?

The headteacher of Southern Cross School is Mrs Kate Burke, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.

When was Southern Cross School last inspected?

Ofsted has inspected Southern Cross School, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.

How big is Southern Cross School?

Southern Cross School has 165 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 9 to 16.

Is Southern Cross School full?

Southern Cross School has capacity for 169 pupils and 165 on roll (98%), so it is close to full. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.

Is Southern Cross School a faith school?

No. Southern Cross School has no designated religious character.

Who runs Southern Cross School?

Southern Cross School is part of AMBITION COMMUNITY TRUST. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.

What SEN provision does Southern Cross School have?

The schools register lists Southern Cross School's special educational needs provision as: SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health. Contact the school to discuss how it would support a particular child.

What is Southern Cross School's absence rate?

Southern Cross School's overall absence rate is 40.7% in the latest published census.

Does Southern Cross School publish exam results?

OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for Southern Cross School. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

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Manchester
Southern Cross School

Southern Cross School

Roundwood Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4AB

Phase: Academies
School type: Academy special converter
Ages: 9 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Trust: AMBITION COMMUNITY TRUST
Headteacher: Mrs Kate Burke
SEN provision: SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Constituency: Wythenshawe and Sale East
Setting: Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Capacity: 169
Pupils on roll: 165
URN: 151407
Local authority: Manchester
Website: School website
Telephone: 01618812695

About this school

Southern Cross School is a special academy in Manchester. It teaches children aged 9 to 16 and has 165 pupils on roll.

You can read Ofsted's latest judgement for the school below. Where the Department for Education has published them, its results and pupil characteristics appear below. Numbers and a report only go so far, so visit in person before you apply.

Ofsted judgement

England: previous inspection framework

Inspected 27 September 2023 · short inspection

Good

Confirmed by a short inspection, not a full one

Ofsted's most recent visit was a short inspection on 27 September 2023, where inspectors confirmed the school remains Good. The school's last full inspection took place before September 2019, so its area grades are not part of Ofsted's current published data. Older reports are on the school's Ofsted page.

This inspection took place when the school was registered as Southern Cross School (URN 105623).

Read the full report on Ofsted's website

School context

From the 2024/25 school census and absence figures.

Free school meals (last 6 years): 89.7%
English as an additional language: 1.8%
Overall absence: 40.7%
Persistent absence: 79.41%

Location

Nearby schools

Oakbrook School
Special schools · Manchester

0.5 miles
The Watkin Centre
Special schools · Manchester

0.6 miles
Pioneer House High School
Free Schools · Manchester

1.1 miles
Piper Hill High School
Academies · Manchester

1.2 miles
Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School
Special schools · Manchester

1.3 miles

Other schools in Manchester

Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School Special schools
Bridge College Other types
Bridgelea Pupil Referral Unit Local authority maintained schools
Camberwell Park Specialist Support School Academies
Cambian Tyldesley School Special schools
Changing Lives Special schools
Cloughside College Special schools
Delamere School Special schools
Digital Advantage Other types
Egerton High School Special schools
Fairfield House School Special schools
Grange School Academies

Common questions

What year groups does Southern Cross School teach?: Southern Cross School teaches children aged 9 to 16. It is a special school in Manchester.
Who is the headteacher of Southern Cross School?: The headteacher of Southern Cross School is Mrs Kate Burke, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
When was Southern Cross School last inspected?: Ofsted has inspected Southern Cross School, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.
How big is Southern Cross School?: Southern Cross School has 165 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 9 to 16.
Is Southern Cross School full?: Southern Cross School has capacity for 169 pupils and 165 on roll (98%), so it is close to full. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.
Is Southern Cross School a faith school?: No. Southern Cross School has no designated religious character.
Who runs Southern Cross School?: Southern Cross School is part of AMBITION COMMUNITY TRUST. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.
What SEN provision does Southern Cross School have?: The schools register lists Southern Cross School's special educational needs provision as: SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health. Contact the school to discuss how it would support a particular child.
What is Southern Cross School's absence rate?: Southern Cross School's overall absence rate is 40.7% in the latest published census.
Does Southern Cross School publish exam results?: OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for Southern Cross School. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. This page was last updated on 10 July 2026.