Schools by area › Salford › St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School
St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Voluntary aided
37 Ash Drive, Wardley, Swinton, Manchester M27 9QP · stambrosebarlowswinton.org · 0161 921 1570
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Feb 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Salford 42.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,078
- 28 over 1,050 places · 103%
- Local authority
- Salford
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 30%
- First language not English
- 19.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 220 families put the school first and 203 places were offered; 84% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 203 | 220 | 1.1▲ | 84% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 208 | 194 | 0.9 | 93% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 209 | 157 | 0.8 | 99% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 207 | 155 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 224 | 189 | 0.8 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.2, and 38% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Salford it was 42.9, and across England 46.
In 2018/19 the average A level result was grade D- (17 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼38.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ●66.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼31.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.85 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 1 | −0.4 |
| Sixth form college | 21.3 | −1.9 |
| Further education | 64.3 | +5.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.9 | +0.5 |
| Employment | 2.9 | +0.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.3 | −3.4 |
| Activity not captured | 1.4 | 0 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2018/19 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59 students | D- (17) | Well below average -0.92 | |
| 59 students | D- (17) | Well below average -0.92 | |
| 48 students | Merit+ (26.9) | Average -0.18 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 66 | D (21.3) | -0.75 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2018/19 | Since 2016/17 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 43 | +5 |
| Other education | 8 | +3 |
| Apprenticeship | 13 | — |
| Employment | 21 | −17 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10 | +5 |
| Activity not captured | 4 | −10 |
Ofsted
St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 28 February 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 28 Feb 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Mar 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2022Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective - Mar 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
Nov 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Oct 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2008Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
68% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (120 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 68%
- Replies
- 120
- 11% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 78% who raised concerns
based on the 37% who had a child bullied
based on 31 parents (26%) with SEND