Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #13 in Trafford public Top 20% UK

Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Clare Hogg

location_onAltrincham, WA15 8HT

language Visit Website phone 1619118090

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,585

trending_up

Attainment 8

48.9

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GCSE Rank

#11 in Trafford

#1,091 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Altrincham, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College is a voluntary aided school in Altrincham, Trafford, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,614 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.9, placing the school #11 in Trafford and #1,091 of 3,216 nationally. 42.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 17.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 19 A-level subjects. 41.4% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 15.5% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.01 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

48.9

Grade 5+ E&M

42.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)17.9%

Entering EBacc9.60%

EBacc APS3.79

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12.30%

EBacc APS4

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.20

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS3.70

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS4.3

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS3.95

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.27

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc25%

EBacc APS3.96

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

106

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.8%

Achieving A*–A15.5%

Achieving A*–B41.4%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate96.2%

A-level subjects offered19

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.27

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate96.60%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate97.80%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate95.8%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

18 March 2025

Inspection Report

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04 October 2022

Inspection Report

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19 June 2013

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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03 June 2009

Inspection Report

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11 June 2008

Inspection Report

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22 January 2007

Inspection Report

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27 September 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-03-18

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-10-04

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-06-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2008-06-11

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.1%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.2%(36 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,614 pupils. During this period, there were 50 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.1%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,614	50	3.1%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,623	36	2.2%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,576	40	2.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,593	42	2.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,599	38	2.4%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,577	30	1.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,585	43	2.7%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,590	22	1.4%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,547	36	2.3%	4.7%	3
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,555	22	1.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,566	29	1.9%	4.4%	3
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,546	19	1.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,555	10	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,561	31	2.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,487	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,487	16	1.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,501	37	2.5%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,388	23	1.7%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,394	37	2.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,403	26	1.9%	3.8%	5
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,309	45	3.4%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,319	20	1.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,326	27	2.0%	3.7%	3
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,223	15	1.2%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,228	16	1.3%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,234	24	1.9%	3.1%	3

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 85 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 73 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 36 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 34 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 31 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 29 pupils

Physical Disability 10 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 6 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

89.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree59%

agree31%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree40%

agree40%

disagree12%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree38%

agree20%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

not applicable28%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes24%

no76%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree27%

agree43%

disagree17%

strongly disagree13%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree60%

agree28%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree32%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree46%

agree35%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree36%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree69%

agree26%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree53%

agree30%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes88%

no12%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Trafford

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Sale Grammar School

Saint Ambrose College

Stretford Grammar School

Loreto Grammar School