Aquinas College
About Aquinas College
Aquinas College sits at the top of the Stockport secondary school rankings, ranked first out of 13 schools in the local authority based on Progress 8 scores. That puts it ahead of its nearest peers, including Laurus Cheadle Hulme, Priestnall School, and Marple Hall School. It’s a Roman Catholic sixth-form college that takes students from age 16 to 99, with headteacher Jo Dommett at the helm. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 admissions, it received 770 applications for 205 places, with 156 first-preference applications and 155 first-preference offers. That’s an oversubscription ratio of 3.76, making it a clear first choice for many local families. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management and sixth-form provision both judged Good. That’s a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2011, but the ungraded inspection confirmed the school remains Good.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 May 2024Latest monitoring visit (2 May 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 2 Dec 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Aquinas College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications