Saint Ambrose College
Saint Ambrose College at a glance
Saint Ambrose College is a boys’ grammar school in Altrincham for students aged 11 to 18, with about 1100 pupils. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It is part of The Laetare Catholic Multi Academy Trust. Year 7 places are given through the Trafford Grammar Schools consortium test, and the school has a sixth form.
For September 2026 entry it offered 149 places and was the first choice of 223 families — about 1.5 for every place. 34% of all applications came from families in other council areas.
In 2024/25, 98% of its GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths, against 45% across England’s state schools. Its A-level students averaged B+ per entry, and 40% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects. 73% of sixth-form leavers went on to university (destinations measured in 2022/23).
Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given
- Test
- Trafford Grammar Schools consortium test
- Set by
- GL Assessment (a paper written for the consortium)
- What it covers
- Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths
At this school: Its own entrance test, with Catholic faith criteria.
How places are given
Each school sets its own qualifying score and priority area.
How to register and apply
Register with the consortium between April and June of Year 5, and name the schools on your secondary application by 31 October.
Admissions rules change each year. Check the school’s current admissions policy — area details last checked October 2026.
Scores needed for a place
We have not yet added published entry scores for this school. Many schools publish the lowest score offered a place each year in their admissions pages — check the school’s website, and see how places are given above.
How many families apply
| Entry | Places | 1st choices | 1st choices per place | All applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | 149 | 223 | 1.5 | 458 |
| Sept 2025 | 150 | 205 | 1.4 | 415 |
| Sept 2024 | 176 | 253 | 1.4 | 460 |
| Sept 2023 | 149 | 218 | 1.5 | 421 |
| Sept 2022 | 150 | 192 | 1.3 | 376 |
| Sept 2021 | 146 | 206 | 1.4 | 485 |
Source: DfE, secondary school applications and offers. Places offered on National Offer Day; first preferences are families who put the school first on their council application.
Exam results
GCSE, 2024/25 · 150 pupils
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Grade 4 or above in English and maths
Attainment 8 (average across 8 subjects)
| Year | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | EBacc points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 98.0% | 76.2 | — | 7.1 |
| 2023/24 | 96.6% | 73.7 | +1.04 | 6.61 |
| 2022/23 | 95.0% | 72.8 | +0.9 | 6.55 |
A level, 2024/25 · 126 students
- Average grade
- B+
- England: B-
- AAB or better*
- 40%
- England: 18%
- Value added
- +0.17
*AAB or better, with at least two in facilitating subjects. Value added compares students’ results with others who started from similar GCSEs; above 0 is better than expected.
Source: DfE school and college performance tables. England figures are for all state-funded schools. Progress 8 was not published for 2024/25.
Where students go next
- University
- 73%
- Apprenticeship
- 1%
- Employment
- 17%
- Any sustained destination
- 92%
Source: DfE 16–18 destination measures, students who left after A levels or equivalent, destinations measured in 2022/23 (138 students). Categories overlap slightly and do not sum to 100%.
Key facts
- Admits at 11
- Boys
- Ages
- 11–18
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Pupils
- 1,096 (capacity 1,050)
- Free school meals
- 6.4% of pupils eligible
- School type
- Academy converter
- Trust
- The Laetare Catholic Multi Academy Trust
- Local authority
- Trafford
- Constituency
- Altrincham and Sale West
From the Department for Education’s register (URN 138134), October 2026.
Thinking about Saint Ambrose College?
See where your child stands with our free 15-minute 11+ readiness check — a score for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, judged against their year.