Saint Ambrose College 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Saint Ambrose College.
How to get into Saint Ambrose College
Saint Ambrose College is a selective secondary school in Greater Manchester. To get into Saint Ambrose College children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Saint Ambrose College with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). Saint Ambrose College is a selective Catholic Grammar School for boys aged 11-18 years old [1].
All children must take the 11 plus exam to be eligible for a place, with baptised Catholic boys prioritised under the school's admissions policy. As a state funded school, there are no fees [1].
- Children must pass the Saint Ambrose College 11+ examination
- Baptised Catholic boys receive priority under the oversubscription criteria
- Children from Nominated Local Pastoral Areas receive enhanced priority
- Families must live within specified postcode areas including WA14, WA15, M31, M33, M16, M21, M32, and M41
Application Process
The application process involves two separate steps. Registration for the exam opens in mid-April 2025 and closes in mid-July. The entrance examination takes place on Friday 19th September 2025 (see key dates).
Families must name the school as one of their preferred schools on the secondary school common application form, available from early September and must be submitted by 31st October 2025 (see key dates) [1].
- Register for the entrance examination through the school website in mid-April to mid-July 2025
- Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) through the local authority
- Submit CAF by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- Results are received in October, before the secondary school application deadline
- Final school allocations announced by 1st March 2026 (see key dates)
- Contact details available in the school information section
Examination Structure
Children take three 11 plus papers. The verbal reasoning paper is provided by GL Assessment, while the mathematics and English papers are created by the school. Papers are marked and age-standardised, taking into account the child's age in years and months.
- Verbal Reasoning Paper: 50 minutes, multiple-choice questions testing logic and problem-solving skills
- Mathematics Paper: 35 minutes, covering topics up to and including Year 5
- English Paper: 35 minutes, including reading comprehension and spelling, punctuation and grammar questions, with no creative writing task
- All papers use multiple-choice format
- Short breaks provided between papers
Oversubscription Criteria
When applications exceed available places, the school applies specific criteria to prioritise candidates. If categories are oversubscribed, priority goes to boys receiving Pupil Premium, followed by boys with highest exam marks.
- Baptised Catholic boys who are looked after or previously looked after children
- Baptised Catholic boys receiving Pupil Premium within Nominated Local Pastoral Areas
- Baptised Catholic boys with a brother attending the school
- Baptised Catholic boys within Nominated Local Pastoral Areas
- Other baptised Catholic boys receiving Pupil Premium
- Christian boys from other denominations with minister's reference
- Contact details available in the school information section
Preparation Guidance
Families should begin preparation well in advance of the examination date. Key skills tested include reading fluency, vocabulary knowledge, and the ability to discover and apply rules. The school recommends attending open mornings to understand admission procedures.
For comprehensive preparation resources, families should access practice 11 plus papers. Professional tutoring support is available through 11 plus tutor services.
- Start preparation at least 12 months before the examination date
- Focus on Year 5 mathematics curriculum topics
- Develop verbal reasoning skills through regular practice
- Strengthen reading comprehension and vocabulary
- Practice multiple-choice exam techniques under timed conditions
- Attend the Open Morning on Saturday 28th June 2025 from 9:30 to 12:30 (see key dates)
Practical Advice
Successful preparation requires consistent practice and understanding of the examination format. Passing the 11 plus does not guarantee allocation to the preferred school, making backup options essential.
Families should ensure children are familiar with multiple-choice answer sheets and develop time management skills. Regular practice with past papers helps build confidence and identifies areas requiring additional focus.
Saint Ambrose College 11+ Information
In order to get into Saint Ambrose College, children need to pass the Saint Ambrose College 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Saint Ambrose College 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Saint Ambrose College 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Maths
- English
The 11 plus exam for Saint Ambrose College is a challenging assessment that evaluates a child's academic abilities across three key subjects. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and is designed to test a student's skills in verbal reasoning, mathematics, and English.
The verbal reasoning paper assesses a child's capacity to solve problems using written information, testing skills such as reading fluency, vocabulary knowledge, and the ability to apply rules. The maths paper covers topics taught up to Year 5 in the national curriculum. The English paper includes a reading comprehension task and questions that evaluate spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Each subject is allocated a specific duration, with verbal reasoning being the longest at 50 minutes, while maths and English papers last 35 minutes each. Success in this exam requires a well-rounded understanding of the tested subjects and the ability to apply knowledge effectively under time pressure.
Saint Ambrose College 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Saint Ambrose College is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.
Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
Saint Ambrose College 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Saint Ambrose College 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).
Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Saint Ambrose College, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
11+ Tutor for Saint Ambrose College
As the Saint Ambrose College 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Saint Ambrose College 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Saint Ambrose College 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Saint Ambrose College
Unfortunately, Saint Ambrose College has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Saint Ambrose College 11+ Ensure you double-check with Saint Ambrose College which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Saint Ambrose College 11+ to get into Saint Ambrose College.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Saint Ambrose College.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Saint Ambrose College 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Saint Ambrose College.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Saint Ambrose College.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Saint Ambrose College ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Saint Ambrose College by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Saint Ambrose College together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Saint Ambrose College, Hale Road, Hale Barns, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 0HE |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.st-ambrosecollege.org.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01619802711 |
| Email Address | admissions@st-ambrosecollege.org.uk |
| Gender | Boys only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 140 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1082 (0 Girls / 1082 Boys) |
| Principal | Dermot Rainey |
Saint Ambrose College is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 1,082 pupils attend Saint Ambrose College and it's led by the Principal, Dermot Rainey.
Saint Ambrose College Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Saint Ambrose College was last inspected by Ofsted on 18/02/2020 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 16/03/2020, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 18/02/2020 | 1 | 16/03/2020 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
Saint Ambrose College was inspected by Ofsted on 18 February 2020 and received an overall outcome of Good. The quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision were all rated as Good.
The inspection found that the school provides a high-quality education for its students, with effective leadership and management ensuring that all areas of the school are performing well. The behaviour and attitudes of students were also praised, with the report noting that students are well-behaved and have positive attitudes towards their learning.
The sixth form provision at Saint Ambrose College was also rated as Good, with the report highlighting the strong progress made by students in their studies. Overall, the inspection found that Saint Ambrose College is a successful and well-run school that provides a high-quality education for its students.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Saint Ambrose College for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Saint Ambrose College per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Biology | 128 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 8 | 21 | 33 | 34 | 31 |
| Chemistry | 128 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 20 | 31 | 36 | 36 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 58 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 6 |
| Design & Technology | 66 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 10 |
| English Language | 180 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 22 | 49 | 43 | 35 | 24 |
| English Literature | 180 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 17 | 51 | 45 | 36 | 25 |
| French | 26 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | 4 | 12 | 8 |
| Geography | 136 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 10 | 33 | 36 | 29 | 22 |
| History | 82 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 26 | 14 |
| Latin | 14 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | - |
| Mathematics | 180 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 18 | 23 | 49 | 60 | 24 |
| Music | 24 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Physics | 128 | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 18 | 30 | 40 | 32 |
| Religious Studies | 179 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 35 | 39 | 51 | 38 |
| Spanish | 73 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 14 | 8 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 24 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 9 | 5 | - |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 65 | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 15 | 19 | 11 | 5 | 7 |
| Science: Double Award | 52 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Biology | 38 | - | 1 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 30 | - | - | 4 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 2 | |||
| Chemistry | 42 | - | 2 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 5 | 5 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 14 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 13 | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Economics | 40 | - | 2 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 5 | 2 | |||
| English Language | 11 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | - | |||
| English Literature | 11 | - | - | 1 | - | 7 | 3 | - | |||
| Geography | 20 | - | - | - | 1 | 10 | 9 | - | |||
| Government and Politics | 7 | - | - | - | 4 | 3 | - | - | |||
| History | 40 | - | 1 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Mathematics | 56 | - | - | 7 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 10 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 13 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 13 | - | - | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | - | |||
| Physics | 37 | - | 1 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 4 | |||
| Psychology | 18 | - | 1 | 3 | 10 | 4 | - | - | |||
| Religious Studies | 12 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 7 | - | |||
FAQ
Is Saint Ambrose College hard to get into?
Yes, Saint Ambrose College is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Saint Ambrose College a private school?
No, Saint Ambrose College is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Saint Ambrose College free?
Yes, Saint Ambrose College is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Saint Ambrose College won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Saint Ambrose College?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Saint Ambrose College for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
Is Saint Ambrose College a boys-only school?
Yes, Saint Ambrose College is a boys-only school.
