About St. Ambrose College
St Ambrose College is a Catholic selective boys' grammar school in Hale Barns, Altrincham. It is NOT part of the Trafford Consortium and uses its own three-paper entrance test: Maths and English (school-set, multiple-choice) and Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment). Priority is given to Baptised Roman Catholic boys. There are approximately 140 Year 7 places.
St. Ambrose College provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 74.6%. A-Level A*–B: 80.3%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for St. Ambrose College
St. Ambrose College is a boys state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 140 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Trafford test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 13 September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
St. Ambrose College is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (140 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for St. Ambrose College
St. Ambrose College Admissions Criteria
St Ambrose College is a Catholic selective boys' grammar school in Hale Barns, Altrincham. It is NOT part of the Trafford Consortium and uses its own three-paper entrance test: Maths and English (school-set, multiple-choice) and Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment). Priority is given to Baptised Roman Catholic boys. There are approximately 140 Year 7 places.
- ✓Register directly with St Ambrose College (not via the Trafford Consortium) — application deadline in July of Year 5.
- ✓Sit three entrance papers: school-set Maths, school-set English (both multiple-choice), and GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning paper.
- ✓Results notified in October.
- ✓Baptised Roman Catholic boys who are looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Baptised Catholic boys in receipt of Pupil Premium who live in a nominated Local Pastoral Area.
- ✓Baptised Catholic boys who attend an associated primary school and live in a nominated Local Pastoral Area.
- ✓Baptised Catholic boys who attend an associated primary school.
- ✓All other Baptised Catholic boys.
- ✓Non-Catholic boys who achieve the required score, ranked by distance.
St. Ambrose College Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 140 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by St. Ambrose College)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — St. Ambrose College 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via individual school portals |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to St. Ambrose College via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Trafford) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at St. Ambrose College
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 13 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List St. Ambrose College as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join St. Ambrose College's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at St. Ambrose College
St Ambrose College sets its own entrance examination (it is not part of a consortium) — three age-standardised papers, with the verbal reasoning and English papers set by GL Assessment and a school-set mathematics paper.
- Verbal reasoning (50 min): word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension (GL Assessment).
- English: comprehension and literacy (GL Assessment).
- Mathematics (35 min): Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving (school-set, multiple-choice).
GL Assessment Practice Papers for St. Ambrose College
St. Ambrose College uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the St. Ambrose College 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at St Ambrose College (GCSE & A-Level Results)
St Ambrose College is a high-achieving Catholic boys' grammar with a strong academic record, a broad curriculum and excellent sporting facilities, and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Specialism: gained specialist maths and computing status in 2005.
- Ofsted: rated Good.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for St Ambrose College
Admission to Year 7 is by the College's own entrance examination — it is not part of a consortium. The exam is three papers: a verbal reasoning paper and an English paper (both set by GL Assessment) and a school-set mathematics paper, with age-standardised scores. Families register directly with the College over the summer and also apply through their local authority's Common Application Form by 31 October.
The College admits around 140 boys to Year 7 and, as a Catholic school, prioritises faith in its oversubscription criteria rather than a conventional distance catchment. Its 'catchment' is a set of Nominated Local Pastoral Areas (Catholic parishes) covering postcodes including WA14, WA15, M31 and M33 (and M16, M21, M32 and M41). After baptised Roman Catholic looked-after boys, priority runs through baptised Roman Catholic boys on Pupil Premium within a Local Pastoral Area, then those within the Pastoral Areas, then other Roman Catholic boys, then other groups, with distance used as a tie-break. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
St Ambrose College is a Christian Brothers' Roman Catholic boys' grammar (state-funded) for ages 11–18 on Hale Road, Hale Barns, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (WA15 0HE), with around 1,055 pupils. Founded in 1946 by Dr Joseph Robertson, it became an academy in 2012 and was completely rebuilt, and carries the motto 'Vitam impendere vero' (To devote one's life to truth).
Pupils are organised across four houses (Aquinas, Augustine, Ignatius and Newman), and the College is known for its strong sport offer — including a 25-metre swimming pool and floodlit all-weather pitches — alongside a broad academic and co-curricular programme. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about St Ambrose College
How do I apply to St. Ambrose College for Year 7?
Applications to St. Ambrose College are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026 (varies)), then list St. Ambrose College on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does St. Ambrose College use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — St. Ambrose College uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for St. Ambrose College?
St. Ambrose College sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 140 places.
How many Year 7 places does St. Ambrose College have?
St. Ambrose College admits 140 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for St. Ambrose College in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join St. Ambrose College's waiting list.
Is St. Ambrose College a state school or fee-paying?
St. Ambrose College is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the St. Ambrose College 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find St. Ambrose College's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for St. Ambrose College 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.