Classpot

Ashton-on-Mersey School

Trafford, M33 5BPSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2024
Progress 8
+0.04
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
300 1st-choice / 264 places
Ranking
#1,431
of 3,141 nationally

About Ashton-on-Mersey School

Ashton-on-Mersey School is a large, mixed secondary in Trafford that is clearly in high demand. With 1,600 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,570, the school is operating slightly above its official limit. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 1,088 applications for 264 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.12 applicants per place. Of those, 300 families put it as their first preference, and 229 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15.3%, which is above the national average for secondary schools and gives a sense of the school’s genuinely mixed intake. The school is non-selective and has no religious character, so it draws from a broad catchment. Its popularity suggests it is seen as a strong local option, particularly for families who want a large, comprehensive environment with a sixth form attached.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressCecil Avenue, Sale, Trafford, M33 5BP
HeadteacherLee McConaghie
Local AuthorityTrafford
Number of Pupils1,600
Free School Meals (FSM)15.3%
School Capacity1,600 / 1,570 (102% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 169 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Apr 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (11 Apr 2024): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 11 Feb 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
TheatreScience LabsTennis CourtsICT SuiteDining HallGymnasiumArt StudiosSports HallLibrarySixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

CricketTennisDanceAthleticsBasketballSwimmingRoundersRugbyGymnasticsFootball

Clubs & Activities

DebateNewspaperChoirDuke of EdinburghOrchestraCodingModel United NationsYoung Enterprise

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ashton-on-Mersey School

Ashton-on-Mersey School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.