Saint Ambrose College
104%
Capacity
1,091
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About Saint Ambrose College
If you're a parent in Trafford considering Saint Ambrose College, the feedback from other families is striking. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, a remarkable 96% of respondents said they would recommend the school. That's based on 188 responses, so it's a solid sample. The detail backs it up: 97% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, and 98% felt their child is safe. On behaviour, 100% agreed the school ensures pupils are well-behaved, with 86% strongly agreeing. The school is also heavily oversubscribed. For entry in 2025/26, there were 415 applications for 150 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.77. Of those, 205 were first-preference applications, and 140 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand tells you this is a school local families are actively choosing.
Academically, Saint Ambrose College is one of the strongest performers in Trafford. Its Progress 8 score of 1.04 is rated 'well above average' nationally and places the school third out of 19 secondary schools in the local authority, well ahead of the LA average of 0.36. Nationally, it ranks 65th out of 3,141 schools. The Attainment 8 score sits at 73.7, and 99.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 6.61, with 47.2% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. At A-level, the school's value-added score is 0.04, which is in the 'average' band, and the average points per entry is 41.46, equivalent to a B grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B grade too. In its most recent graded inspection in 2020, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, and an ungraded inspection in 2025 noted it had 'improved significantly' since then.
The school is a Roman Catholic boys' secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it operates above its official capacity of 1,050, with 1,091 pupils on roll. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a chapel, plus dedicated music rooms and art studios. The clubs list is extensive, covering everything from coding and chess to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model United Nations. For SEND, the school supports pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. With a low percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals at 6.3%, and a strong Catholic identity, this school will particularly suit families who value high academic expectations, a structured environment, and a faith-based community, though its popularity means securing a place is competitive.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Hale Road, Altrincham, Trafford, WA15 0HE |
| Headteacher | Dermot Rainey |
| Local Authority | Trafford |
| Number of Pupils | 1,091 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,091 / 1,050 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (29 Jan 2025): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Mar 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.04)
65th of 3,141
Nationally
8th of 445
In North West
3rd of 19
In Trafford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
44.7
'22/23
39.4
'23/24
41.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2382%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 173 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)82%
- Sixth form college7%
- FE college7%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
98% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2383%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 105 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
57%
Russell Group
67%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)83%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics56
- Chemistry42
- Economics40
- History40
- Biology38
- Physics37
- Business Studies:Single30
- Geography20
- Psychology18
- Computer Studies / Computing14
- Design and Technology (Product Design)13
- Mathematics (Further)13
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
188 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
415
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
205 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British50.1%
- Asian16.1%
- Mixed5.9%
- White (other)5.3%
- Black3.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Ambrose 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Hale Road, Altrincham
Trafford, WA15 0HE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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