Ashton-on-Mersey School

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.

Academically, Ashton-on-Mersey delivers solid but not exceptional results. Its Progress 8 score of 0.04 is rated as ‘Average’ nationally, meaning pupils make roughly the expected level of progress from their starting points. This is below the Trafford local authority average of 0.36, but Trafford is a high-performing area with four outstanding schools nearby, including Sale Grammar School just 1.6 km away. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 50.5, and 59.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. A notable 62.7% of pupils entered the EBacc, and 37.6% achieved it at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding for sixth-form provision. The previous inspection in 2013 had rated it Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating represents a slight step down, but the ungraded inspection in 2024 confirmed the school remains Good.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, science labs, sports hall, and a sixth form centre. Its SEND provisions cover ten different needs, from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder, and the Parent View survey suggests that 73% of respondents agree or strongly agree that SEND children get the support they need, though 28% disagree. Behaviour is seen positively, with 85% of parents agreeing the school ensures good behaviour. The school is heavily oversubscribed, so families need to be realistic about admission chances unless they live very close. With a strong sixth form, a broad set of clubs including Debate, DofE, and Model UN, and a full sports programme, it suits families looking for a large, inclusive secondary that offers plenty of opportunity without the selective pressure of Trafford’s grammar schools.

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