Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College

About Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College

Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College sits in a competitive local authority where the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools is 0.36, but this school’s own score of 0.23 places it below that benchmark. That said, a score above zero still means pupils here make more academic progress than the national average, and the school’s Progress 8 banding is officially rated as ‘Above average’. In Trafford, which has 20 state secondaries including four rated Outstanding, Holford ranks 11th — squarely in the middle of the pack. Where it really stands out is in its recent Ofsted turnaround. In its previous inspection in 2022, the school was rated Requires Improvement across the board, including for quality of education, behaviour, and leadership. But in its most recent graded inspection in March 2025, every category jumped to Good, including sixth-form provision. That’s a significant shift in under three years, and suggests the leadership of headteacher Clare Hogg has driven real change.

At Key Stage 4, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 50.5, and 80.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 53.2% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 12.3%, and the EBacc average point score is 4.0. Breaking down Progress 8, the strongest area is the ‘open’ element (which includes non-EBacc subjects) at 0.81, while maths and EBacc subjects are slightly negative at -0.05 and -0.11 respectively. At sixth form, the picture is stronger: the school’s value-added score of 0.27 is rated ‘Above average’, and the average points per entry is 33.88, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at 34.41 points, also a C+. With 100 pupils in the sixth-form cohort, it’s a sizeable provision, and the school has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre among its facilities.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 769 applications for 290 places, a ratio of 2.65 to one, and all 211 first-preference applicants were offered a place. That suggests strong local demand, particularly from Catholic families given the school’s Roman Catholic character. Facilities are extensive, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, sports hall, tennis courts, and science labs. The school lists SEND support for a wide range of needs, from dyslexia and autism to hearing and visual impairments, though the parent view data shows mixed feelings: 47% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, while 44% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Overall, 79% of parents would recommend the school, and 83% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy here. This is a large, improving school that suits families who value a Catholic ethos, strong sixth-form outcomes, and a broad range of clubs and sports.

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