Schools by area › Trafford › Saint Ambrose College
Saint Ambrose College
Secondary · Boys · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Hale Road, Hale Barns, Altrincham WA15 0HE · st-ambrosecollege.org.uk · 0161 980 2711
On the mapSearch near WA15 0HE
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Nov 2025 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 76.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Trafford 57.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,096
- 46 over 1,050 places · 104%
- Local authority
- Trafford
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Selective
- Free school meals
- 6.4%
- First language not English
- 9.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 223 families put the school first and 149 places were offered; 61% 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 | 149 | 223 | 1.5▲ | 61% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 150 | 205 | 1.4▲ | 68% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 176 | 253 | 1.4▲ | 67% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 149 | 218 | 1.5▲ | 67% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 150 | 192 | 1.3▲ | 74% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 76.2, and 98% 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 B+ (44.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲76.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲98.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲100.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲77.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲7.10 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 84.8 | +6.1 |
| Sixth form college | 11.2 | −4.8 |
| Further education | 2.2 | −0.8 |
| Other education | 0.6 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.6 | — |
| Activity not captured | 0.6 | 0 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 126 students | B+ (44.5) | Above average +0.17 | |
| 127 students | B+ (43.8) | Average +0.11 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 132 | B (41.5) | +0.04 |
| 2022/23 | 138 | B (39.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 105 | B+ (44.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 101 | B- (36.9) | -0.21 |
| 2017/18 | 120 | B- (37.7) | +0.14 |
| 2016/17 | 120 | B (38.4) | +0.12 |
| 2015/16 | 104 | B- (36.6) | -0.09 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 78.9 | −3.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 6.8 | +2.1 |
| Employment | 7.5 | −1.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3 | +2.1 |
| Activity not captured | 3.8 | +1 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Saint Ambrose College on 25 November 2025 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Exceptional
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Exceptional
- Post-16 provision: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 25 Nov 2025
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Exceptional |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Exceptional |
| Post-16 provision | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Improved significantly, ungraded inspection, Jan 2025
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jan 2025Ungraded inspectionImproved significantly
Safeguarding Effective Feb 2020Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jul 2009Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding Nov 2005Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
98% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (246 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 98%
- Positive
- 97%
- Replies
- 246
- 23% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 74% who raised concerns
based on 12 parents (5%) whose child was bullied
based on 39 parents (16%) with SEND