Schools by area › Trafford › Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College
Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided
Urban Road, Altrincham WA15 8HT · bthcc.org.uk · 0161 768 6030
On the mapSearch near WA15 8HT
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 48.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Trafford 57.9, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 4.58 mi
- 7.37 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Category 5 · Trafford Council
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,638
- 96% of 1,700 places
- Local authority
- Trafford
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 14.5%
- First language not English
- 10.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Category 5” went to a home 4.58 mi (7.37 km) from the school. Source: Trafford Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 209 families put the school first and 285 places were offered; 99% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 285 | 209 | 0.7 | 99% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 290 | 211 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 279 | 209 | 0.7 | 94% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 281 | 287 | 1▲ | 83% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 290 | 285 | 1 | 89% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Category 5 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 4.58 mi7.37 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 48.9, and 42.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Trafford it was 57.9, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (31.9 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲48.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼42.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ●66.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼9.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.79 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 49.4 | +14 |
| Sixth form college | 20.4 | −3.4 |
| Further education | 21.2 | −7.7 |
| Other education | 0.4 | −0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.1 | −3.2 |
| Employment | 1.1 | −1.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.3 | −0.3 |
| Activity not captured | 3 | +1.9 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 students | C+ (31.9) | Average -0.01 | |
| 112 students | C+ (32.2) | Average +0.01 | |
| 32 students | Dist+ (38.3) | Well above average +0.76 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 100 | C+ (33.9) | +0.27 |
| 2022/23 | 91 | B- (36) | — |
| 2021/22 | 91 | B (39.2) | — |
| 2018/19 | 68 | C+ (33.5) | +0.49 |
| 2017/18 | 87 | C+ (34.9) | +0.72 |
| 2016/17 | 63 | C (30.8) | +0.21 |
| 2015/16 | 65 | C (29.3) | -0.01 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 61.9 | +4.3 |
| Further and other education | 3.8 | −0.6 |
| Further education | 2.9 | — |
| Other education | 1 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 7.6 | +1.1 |
| Employment | 19 | −9.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.8 | +1.5 |
| Activity not captured | 2.9 | — |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College on 18 March 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 18 Mar 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Oct 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2022Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2013Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Jun 2008Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (322 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 79%
- Replies
- 322
- 20% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 39% who had a child bullied
based on 100 parents (31%) with SEND