St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School
Manchester, M27 9QP · Salford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 15 secondary schools in Salford we can score, 16 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 4.0/10 against 812 of them, against 3.6/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 39.4 · 36 | 30% | 1.07 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.23 · 32 | 25% | 0.81 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.8 · 43 | 10% | 0.43 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 38.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 for 2023/24 was -0.23, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,078 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,050. 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
What specific support is available for pupils who need to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while addressing the gap between its Attainment 8 and the national median?
What Ofsted said about St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School
Overview
The report describes a “welcoming school” where pupils feel “valued, cared for and happy.” It highlights that the school has improved significantly since its previous inspection, with staff and pupils taking pride in this progress. The overall effectiveness is judged as Good, with personal development rated as Outstanding.
Strengths
- Pupils develop their knowledge well over time through a “broad and ambitious curriculum” that identifies key learning points.
- Personal development is promoted “extremely well,” with pupils learning about democracy, diversity, and receiving high-quality career advice.
- Staff are “well trained” to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who receive appropriate help and support.
- The school has made reading a priority, with well-trained staff enabling pupils who need additional help to “catch up quickly with their peers.”
- Leaders create a supportive environment for staff well-being, and governors provide “appropriate challenge and support.”
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, strategies to identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge are “less effective,” leaving some key stage 4 pupils with misconceptions.
- A small minority of pupils persist in misbehaving when not closely supervised, which undermines the positive culture.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.8 |
| 2024/25 | 44.2 |
| 2025/26 | 44.8 |
| 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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