Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College
Altrincham, WA15 8HT · Trafford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
13th of 18 secondary schools in Trafford we can score, 19 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 717 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.8/10 among them, against 4.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.3 · 30 | 46% | 1.41 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.23 · 67 | 38% | 2.58 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 47.1 · 56 | 15% | 0.86 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 42.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.23 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.5 out of 10 among them, against 5.7 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join clubs such as Faith in Action, SVP group, and Student Council. Sports include netball and hockey. Trips visit Berlin, Iceland, Austria, Valencia, Greece, and Skipton. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,638 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,700. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their progress scores relative to similar-intake peers? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their attainment above the national median? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider pastoral care for secondary students?
What Ofsted said about Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College
Overview
Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College is described as a school where core values are actively lived out, fostering respectful relationships and a culture of high ambition. The report highlights that the school has "quicken[ed] its pace of improvement" following leadership changes, resulting in a "calm yet joyful atmosphere" where pupils are ready to learn. While most aspects of the school are rated Good, the report notes that improvements in the quality of education have been slower than in other areas due to inconsistencies in teaching adaptation and evaluation rigour.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate high academic achievement, including disadvantaged pupils, and sixth-form students develop strong independent study skills.
- Behaviour is excellent, with pupils conducting themselves sensibly and showing respect, supported by firmly embedded routines.
- The curriculum is well ordered, with a growing number of pupils studying the English Baccalaureate suite and a strong culture of reading.
- Personal development is supported by high-quality pastoral care, purposeful careers guidance, and opportunities for pupils to take on roles of responsibility.
- Staff enjoy working at the school, and the governing body effectively holds leaders to account.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must be equipped with the skills to use adaptive strategies effectively, as some pupils, including those with SEND, do not achieve as highly as they could due to unrectified misconceptions.
- Assessment strategies in some subjects are not used effectively to check pupil knowledge, hindering the development of deep subject understanding.
- Quality assurance processes lack rigour and focus, meaning leaders do not always have a clear understanding of what is working well or need further development.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.5 |
| 2024/25 | 48.9 |
| 2025/26 | 47.1 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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