Skip to content
A free, independent guide for parents - updated each admissions cycle. 26,506 schools · England & Wales
catchment.school

Saint Ambrose College Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Saint Ambrose College is an academy converter secondary school in Altrincham, Trafford , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1091 pupils, and a capacity of 1050 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,091

Pupils

1,050

Capacity

104%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2020

Saint Ambrose College Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Saint Ambrose College?

The catchment area for Saint Ambrose College is the geographic zone Trafford uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, though entry first depends on passing the selective admissions test. Trafford publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Entry to Saint Ambrose College is selective, and applicants must pass the relevant admissions test. Among qualifying applicants, Trafford may use distance or catchment area as a tiebreaker when the school is oversubscribed. Check the admissions policy for how the selection and distance criteria interact.

Currently oversubscribed: 1091 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1050 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Trafford publishes the 2027 Saint Ambrose College numbers →

The full admissions policy, including test registration dates, qualifying scores, and any distance criteria, is published by Trafford before each admissions cycle. Verify your child's eligibility and your home address directly with the council.

Find Trafford catchment area documents →

Saint Ambrose College: at or above its 1050 place limit

Saint Ambrose College has a published admission number of 1050 places. 1091 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 104%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1050 places. Trafford allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 6.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Altrincham.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Trafford publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Trafford school admissions →

Saint Ambrose College: School Information

Full address
Hale Road, Hale Barns, Altrincham, WA15 0HE
Local authority
Trafford
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Gender
Boys
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Admissions policy
Selective
Free school meals
6.3% of pupils
DfE URN
138134

Other Secondary Schools in Altrincham

If Saint Ambrose College is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Altrincham are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Trafford

Saint Ambrose College shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Trafford. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Saint Ambrose College by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Saint Ambrose College

What is the catchment area for Saint Ambrose College?

The catchment area for Saint Ambrose College is the geographic zone Trafford uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, though entry first depends on passing the selective admissions test. Trafford publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Saint Ambrose College oversubscribed?

Yes, Saint Ambrose College currently has 1091 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1050 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Saint Ambrose College?

Saint Ambrose College is a selective school: admission requires passing the relevant admissions test. Trafford publishes the full policy each year, including test dates, qualifying scores, and any distance tiebreaker.

What age range does Saint Ambrose College cover?

Saint Ambrose College is a secondary school in Altrincham, Trafford, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Saint Ambrose College?

Saint Ambrose College was rated Good by Ofsted in 2020. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

Get admissions updates by email

Join parents who get catchment boundary changes and key admissions dates - free, once per term.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.