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Voluntary aided school · Salford

St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,078Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Roman CatholicReligious character
  • 105989URN

37 Ash Drive, Wardley, Swinton, Manchester, M27 9QP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2024 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.3per place
0.7 above Salford median (1.6)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Salford

459 applications for 203 places · 5th of 14 in Salford
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
44.8of 90
10th of 15 in Salford
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 28 February 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
2.3applications per place, Year 7
0.7 above Salford median (1.6) close to England median (2.2)

459 applications · 203 places offered · 220 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 2.3; Salford median median 1.6
  2. 2025 2.0; Salford median median 1.7
  3. 2024 1.8; Salford median median 1.6
  4. 2023 1.7; Salford median median 1.5
  5. 2022 1.6; Salford median median 1.5
  6. 2021 1.8; Salford median median 1.4
  7. 2020 2.0; Salford median median 1.5
  8. 2019 2.2; Salford median median 1.5
  9. 2018 2.1; Salford median median 1.3
  10. 2017 2.4; Salford median median 1.3
  11. 2016 2.2; Salford median median 1.3
  12. 2015 2.3; Salford median median 1.4
  13. 2014 2.1; Salford median median 1.6
More applications per place than the Salford median in 13 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Salford median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262034592.32201.08
Sep 20252084222.01940.93
Sep 20242093841.81570.75
Sep 20232073561.71550.75
Sep 20222243561.61890.84
Sep 20212083651.81660.80
Sep 20202104262.02030.97
Sep 20192094522.22321.11
Sep 20182094422.11990.95
Sep 20172085032.42451.18
Sep 20162094672.22251.08
Sep 20151794162.32351.31
Sep 20142064302.12441.18

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

208 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)44.810th of 15 in Salford
Grade 5 or above in English and maths39%12th of 15 in Salford
Grade 4 or above in English and maths59%
  • This school
  • Salford median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.23
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)20844.839%59%–
2024/2520544.238%67%–
2023/2420745.844%64%−0.23
2022/2321044.443%63%−0.38

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Voluntary aided school
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
105989 · 355/5400
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Capacity
1,050 pupils · 1,078 on roll
Free school meals
30.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Address
37 Ash Drive, Wardley, Swinton, Manchester, M27 9QP
Local authority
Salford

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources