St. Ambrose College 11 Plus Guide
At a Glance
Assessment: GL Assessment, Individual
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Boys Only
Places per year: 140
Competition: Medium
Ofsted Rating: Good
St. Ambrose College
St Ambrose College is a Catholic boys’ grammar school in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester. As part of the Edmund Rice family of schools, it upholds values of faith, service and academic excellence, encouraging pupils to grow both morally and intellectually.
The school combines traditional Catholic principles with a modern, broad curriculum. Students have access to a wide range of extracurricular activities in sport, music, languages and science, alongside enrichment opportunities that develop leadership, teamwork and resilience.
Highly regarded for its academic results and strong pastoral care, St Ambrose College is consistently oversubscribed. Each year, more pupils apply than there are Year 7 places, with admission determined by performance in the 11 Plus entrance exam.
Location & Contact Info
Contact details, address and parking information for St. Ambrose College
Ofsted Report
Ofsted report breakdown for St. Ambrose College
Exam Format
Learn about the 11 Plus exam format at St. Ambrose College
Preparing for the 11 Plus
Help your child prepare with tips, exam papers, and featured tuition agencies
Key Dates
All key dates and application information for St. Ambrose College
How to Apply
Information on the application process for St. Ambrose College
FAQs
Frequently asked questions and answers for St. Ambrose College
Schools Nearby
Search for other schools in the local area
St. Ambrose College’s Key Information
Here can be found key information regarding the school and how to contact it.
School Address
Full Address:
Saint Ambrose College, Hale RoadHale Barns
Altrincham
WA15 0HE
Contact Information
Parking in the school
There is parking within the school as well as on-street parking not far away.
Additional parking off site
- There are no available car parks within a 45 minute walk of the school.
St. Ambrose College Ofsted Report
Quick Summary
Overall rating: Saint Ambrose College has made significant improvements, providing an exceptional education that enables pupils to achieve highly across all subjects.
Academic strength: The curriculum is ambitious, well planned and expertly delivered, helping pupils develop strong knowledge, skills and study habits.
Teaching and curriculum: Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. They are respectful, motivated and eager to learn in a calm, positive environment.
Behaviour and culture: Students benefit from a rich programme of enrichment, leadership and life skills education that promotes confidence, resilience and social awareness.
Leadership and safeguarding: The school is exceptionally well led, with strong governance, supportive staff relationships and highly effective safeguarding procedures.
St. Ambrose College Exam Format
St. Ambrose College runs its own entrance assessment separate from the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium. This means that if you are applying, your child must register and sit the exam specifically for St. Ambrose College.
The St. Ambrose College Entry Exam: Overview
The entrance test is designed to measure a wide range of skills through 3 multiple-choice papers. The test is split into three papers, all taken on the same day, with a short break in between. Each paper is divided into short, timed sections designed to assess pupils’ speed and accuracy under pressure. All scores are standardised by age to ensure fairness and then combined to produce an overall result.
Paper One
Verbal Reasoning: produced by GL Assessment.
Paper Two
Mathematics: produced by the school.
Paper Three
English: produced by the school.
GL 11 Plus Assessment Criteria
| English | Maths | Verbal Reasoning | Non-Verbal Reasoning | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pass Mark
There is no set pass mark for the assessment. Instead, candidates are ranked by their total score, and offers are made to the highest-performing pupils according to the school’s admissions criteria.
Catchment Area
To be considered for a place, boys must reach the qualifying standard in the entrance exam. When more applicants achieve this standard than there are places available, the school uses the following oversubscription criteria:
-
Catholic boys who are looked after or were previously looked after
-
Catholic boys from practising families with a supporting parish reference
-
Catholic boys attending one of the named feeder primary schools
-
Catholic boys who have a sibling currently attending the school
-
Catholic boys living closest to the school
If places are still available after these criteria are applied, non-Catholic boys may be considered, ranked according to their entrance exam results and other relevant factors.
Additional Eligibility
Nominated Local Pastoral Areas
- Saint Ambrose Deanery (Diocese of Shrewsbury): postcodes WA14, WA15, M31 and M33
- St. Hugh and St John West TimperleyÂ
- St. Vincent de Paul’s AltrinchamÂ
- All Saints Ashton-on-MerseyÂ
- St. Margaret Ward SaleÂ
- St. Joseph’s SaleÂ
- Holy Angels Hale BarnsÂ
- Our Lady of Lourdes PartingtonÂ
- Holy Family Sale MoorÂ
- Saint Ambrose Barlow Deanery (Diocese of Salford): postcodes M16, M21, M32 and M41
- Our Lady’s & St. Alphonsus Moss Side/Old TraffordÂ
- St. Ann’s & St. Hugh of Lincoln StretfordÂ
- Our Lady and the English Martyrs’ Davyhulme/UrmstonÂ
- St. Monica’s FlixtonÂ
- St. John’s and St Teresa’s Firswood / ChorltonÂ
Click here to view the full St Ambrose College admissions policy.
Preparing for the 11 Plus Test at St Ambrose College
To help your son succeed in the St. Ambrose entrance exam, it’s important to take a structured, steady approach to preparation. Here are some tips:
Useful Tips
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or the start of Year 5. This allows plenty of time for steady progress without creating too much pressure.
Use Exam Papers
Work through timed exam papers together to build familiarity with the question style and develop exam technique.
Target Weak Areas
Keep track of their performance and focus extra time on any topics or question types they find more difficult.
Encourage Daily Reading
A regular reading habit helps expand vocabulary, improve comprehension and boost analytical thinking – all vital for the 11 Plus.
Make Use of Online Resources
Digital learning tools can provide personalised practice and clear feedback to make study time more effective and engaging.
Best Chance of Success
Keeping preparation steady, organised and encouraging will help your child feel confident and well-prepared when exam day arrives.
11 Plus Mock Exams in Your Area
We’re currently working on setting up a network of local test centres to offer in-person 11 Plus mock exams that closely match the format used by St Ambrose College. These sessions will provide a valuable opportunity for your child to practise under real exam conditions, helping to build confidence and improve performance. Although this service isn’t available just yet, you can register your interest by completing the form below. We’ll get in touch as soon as mock exams become available in your area.
St. Ambrose College’s Key Dates and Application Information
Here are the important dates regarding the 11 Plus entry test.
Entrance Exam Registration Opens
Registration Deadline
Entrance Test Date
Results Released
Common Application Form Deadline
Offer Day
St Ambrose College Application Process
To apply for a Year 7 place at St Ambrose College, families need to complete both the school’s registration form and the local authority’s application process.
Admissions Policy 2026
Make sure you read the St Ambrose College Admissions Policy PDF to ensure you and your child understand the process and eligibility criteria.
View Admissions PolicyEntrance Test Entry Form and Supplementary Information Form
Families must register directly with St. Ambrose College for the 11 Plus entrance exam using the form available on the school website between April and June 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. In addition, Catholic applicants should complete a Religious Practice Form and provide a reference from their parish priest to support their application under the school’s faith-based criteria.
Visit School WebsiteSupplementary Information Form
Catholic applicants should also complete a Religious Practice Form and obtain a reference from their parish priest. This form supports priority under the faith-based criteria.
Common Application Form (CAF)
This form must be submitted to your local authority, with Altrincham Grammar School for Boys listed as one of your preferences. The CAF deadline is 31st October 2025. Both forms must be completed, failure to submit either will result in an incomplete application.
St. Ambrose College FAQs
Register for the entrance exam on the school’s website between April and June, complete the Religious Practice Form if applicable, and submit the Common Application Form via your local authority by 31 October.
The 11 plus entrance exam includes papers in English, mathematics and verbal reasoning, assessing literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills. The test is designed to identify academic potential and readiness for the school’s selective curriculum.
Entry is highly competitive, with many candidates achieving the qualifying standard. Priority is given to practising Catholic boys, but places are limited, meaning only top-performing applicants are typically offered admission each year.