Saint Ambrose College 11+ Guide

About Saint Ambrose College

Saint Ambrose College is a selective secondary school in Greater Manchester. For children to get into Saint Ambrose College they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Saint Ambrose College is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the charming village of Hale Barns, Saint Ambrose College is a renowned Catholic grammar school for boys aged 11-18. As an academy, the school is committed to providing an exceptional education guided by the profound motto "Vitam impendere vero", which translates to "To devote one's life to truth". This ethos permeates every aspect of school life, nurturing students to become well-rounded individuals with a strong moral compass.

Saint Ambrose College offers a comprehensive curriculum that spans a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, humanities, PSHCE, languages, and religious education. Students benefit from the expertise of dedicated teachers and enjoy access to spacious, modern facilities that enhance their learning experience. The school's commitment to academic excellence is evident in its impressive record of supporting students in gaining entry to prestigious Russell Group Universities.

Beyond the classroom, Saint Ambrose College places great emphasis on physical education and extracurricular activities. The school boasts an impressive array of sports facilities, including a 25-metre swimming pool, an all-weather floodlit 4th generation pitch, cricket nets, and an all-weather football pitch. Boys can participate in a variety of team sports, such as rugby, cricket, and athletics, while also having the opportunity to explore their interests in drama and music.

As a Catholic institution, Saint Ambrose College prioritizes the moral and social development of its students. The school fosters a supportive Christian community that nurtures compassion, empathy, and a genuine concern for the needs of others. Through active involvement in the school's liturgical life, boys develop a deep sense of faith and spirituality, which is integral to their personal growth and well-being.

With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Saint Ambrose College has earned an "Outstanding" rating from the Diocese of Shrewsbury. The school's dedication to providing a holistic education, coupled with its state-of-the-art facilities and supportive community, ensures that students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, both academically and personally.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Saint Ambrose College together with their admissions contact details.

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:

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.

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.

Saint Ambrose College 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Saint Ambrose College 11+ tests (to get into Saint Ambrose College) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Saint Ambrose College as they may well change.

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

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 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)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Saint Ambrose College has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

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.