A selective boys grammar school in Altrincham, Cheshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,091 pupils on roll.
Saint Ambrose College
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At a glance
Saint Ambrose College is a selective Roman Catholic boys' grammar in Altrincham, serving ages 11 to 18 with a substantial sixth form. Its identity is both academic and Catholic: the school presents faith, service and community as part of the same experience as examination success. The public sixth-form material describes a vibrant community in which the Catholic faith is lived out as an integral part of school life, while the admissions pages set out the selective route into Year 7.
The curriculum evidence is clearest at sixth-form level, where Saint Ambrose describes a traditional values-led sixth form, a wide subject choice, Religious Education as an essential part of the programme, a common room and dedicated IT suite, and support with university entrance exams and interview techniques. A minimum grade 6 is required in a subject to study it at A level. Computer science and sixth-form study add further academic signals lower down the school.
Outside lessons, the school-site evidence is unusually rich. The sixth-form page lists rugby, football, basketball, badminton, cross-country, athletics, tennis, skiing, debating, public speaking, orchestra and choir, drama, Duke of Edinburgh, chaplaincy, charity work, pro-life activity and mentoring younger pupils. That gives Saint Ambrose a rounded boys' grammar identity, with sport, performance, faith and service all visible rather than hidden in generic enrichment language.
Year 7 admission has 140 places. The 2027 entrance examination includes a 50-minute GL Assessment verbal reasoning paper, a 35-minute in-house mathematics paper and a 35-minute in-house English paper. The qualifying score is a total age-standardised score of 320, and qualification does not by itself guarantee an offer. Results are sent before the end of October so families can complete the local authority application. Public measures show Ofsted Good from 2020, +1.04 Progress 8, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 39.7% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Trafford and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Trafford and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Trafford and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,091 pupils; 1,089 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 50.1% | White | 547 |
| African | 14% | Black | 153 |
| Indian | 10.3% | Asian | 112 |
| Any other White background | 5.3% | White | 58 |
| Any other Black background | 3.4% | Black | 37 |
| Chinese | 2.7% | Asian | 30 |
| Irish | 2.7% | White | 30 |
| Any other mixed background | 2.3% | Mixed | 25 |
| Any other Asian background | 2% | Asian | 22 |
| White and Asian | 1.8% | Mixed | 20 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.6% | Other | 18 |
| White and Black African | 1.2% | Mixed | 13 |
| Pakistani | 1.1% | Asian | 12 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.6% | Mixed | 7 |
| Caribbean | 0.4% | Black | 4 |
| Unclassified | 0.2% | Unclassified | 2 |
| Traveller of Irish heritage | 0.1% | White | 1 |
Admissions priority combines Catholic oversubscription categories with nominated local pastoral areas, Pupil Premium priority and distance tie-breaks.
Baptised Catholic looked-after and previously looked-after boys
Qualified baptised Catholic boys who are looked after or previously looked after.
Baptised Catholic boys with a brother at the school
Qualified baptised Catholic boys with a brother attending the school at the time of admission.
Baptised Catholic boys in a nominated Local Pastoral Area
Qualified baptised Catholic boys whose home postcode falls within a nominated Local Pastoral Area.
Other baptised Catholic boys
Qualified baptised Catholic boys not covered by the higher Catholic categories.
Other looked-after and previously looked-after boys
Qualified boys who are looked after or previously looked after and are not in category 1.
Catechumens and Eastern Christian Church members
Qualified catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church.
The 2027 entrance route has a September examination with verbal reasoning, mathematics and English elements. Results are sent before the end of October so families can complete the CAF.
Shared exam route
Saint Ambrose College uses the shared Trafford route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Trafford practice papersPaper 1
Verbal reasoning
Verbal reasoning
A 50-minute GL Assessment verbal reasoning paper.
Paper 2
Maths
Mathematics
A 35-minute in-house mathematics paper.
Paper 3
English
English
A 35-minute in-house English paper.
English, Maths and Verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
A 50-minute GL Assessment verbal reasoning paper.
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Online applications open
21 April 2026
PastOpen Morning
27 June 2026, 9:30am to 12:30pm
Online applications close
6 July 2026, midday
Access arrangements deadline
6 July 2026, midday
Exam arrangements sent
week commencing 7 September 2026
Entrance examination
18 September 2026
Entrance exam outcomes
by no later than 23 October 2026
Common application form deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027, or nearest school day
Read the 2027 admissions information
Check the qualifying score, Catholic evidence, local pastoral area rules and supporting evidence before registering.
Open admissions informationRegister for the entrance examination
Complete the online school registration between 21 April 2026 and midday on 6 July 2026.
Open registration detailsSit the entrance examination
The entrance examination is on Friday 18 September 2026; exam arrangements are sent in the week commencing 7 September.
View exam detailsSubmit the Common Application Form
Name the school on the home local authority CAF by 31 October 2026 after results are issued.
View application routeLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 72.8 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 72.8 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 73.7 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 76.2 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B+ average (44.7 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B average (39.4 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (41.5 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (44.5 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 98% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 100% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 19 February 2020
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Trafford area and similar boys' selective route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Saint Ambrose College currently uses GL Assessment, Individual.
1. Read the 2027 admissions information: Check the qualifying score, Catholic evidence, local pastoral area rules and supporting evidence before registering. 2. Register for the entrance examination: Complete the online school registration between 21 April 2026 and midday on 6 July 2026. 3. Sit the entrance examination: The entrance examination is on Friday 18 September 2026; exam arrangements are sent in the week commencing 7 September. 4. Submit the Common Application Form: Name the school on the home local authority CAF by 31 October 2026 after results are issued.
Online applications open: 21 April 2026. Open Morning: 27 June 2026, 9:30am to 12:30pm. Online applications close: 6 July 2026, midday. Access arrangements deadline: 6 July 2026, midday. Exam arrangements sent: week commencing 7 September 2026. Entrance examination: 18 September 2026. Entrance exam outcomes: by no later than 23 October 2026. Common application form deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027, or nearest school day
Saint Ambrose College is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 19 February 2020.