---
type: "School Guide"
title: "St Ambrose College Catchment Area and 11+ Guide"
description: "Effectively yes, via faith: Catholic boys in Nominated Local Pastoral Areas (WA14/WA15/M31/M33) are prioritised after passing the test. Map, distances and the test."
resource: https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/st-ambrose-college-catchment-area
tags: ["grammar-schools", "grammar schools", "catchment areas", "pip"]
timestamp: 2026-10-13T19:42:37Z
image: https://pip11plus.com/og-grammar.png
---

Catchment or distance priority Boys Trafford

# St Ambrose College catchment area

Hale Barns · boys grammar school · ages 11 to 18

Location matters

### Does St Ambrose College have a catchment area?

**Yes.** Effectively yes, via faith: Catholic boys in Nominated Local Pastoral Areas (WA14/WA15/M31/M33) are prioritised after passing the test.

Admissions

Catchment or
distance priority

Intake

Boys · ages 11 to 18

11+ test

St Ambrose Entrance Exam (VR/Maths/English)

Year 7 places

140

Location

Hale Barns, Trafford

Catchment, explained

## How catchment works at St Ambrose College

Pass the entrance exam (VR, maths, English), then ranked by faith/pastoral-area categories, with distance used within categories as the tie-break.

Check whether the school uses a named priority area, home-to-school distance, or other priority groups. The map is a starting point, not an admissions decision.

Grammar schools near Hale Barns

Trafford

Nearby options

## Other grammar schools near Hale Barns

[Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Altrincham · Area or distance priority 1.3 miles away](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/altrincham-grammar-school-for-boys-catchment-area)

[Loreto Grammar School Altrincham · Area or distance priority 1.8 miles away](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/loreto-grammar-school-catchment-area)

[Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Altrincham · Area or distance priority 1.9 miles away](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/altrincham-grammar-school-for-girls-catchment-area)

[Sale Grammar School Sale · Area or distance priority 3.7 miles away](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/sale-grammar-school-catchment-area)

[Stretford Grammar School Stretford · Area or distance priority 5.8 miles away](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/stretford-grammar-school-catchment-area)

[Urmston Grammar Urmston · Score + location 6.2 miles away](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/urmston-grammar-catchment-area)

Applying

## Sitting the 11+ for St Ambrose College

1

### Read the rules

Check [St Ambrose College's admissions information](https://www.st-ambrosecollege.org.uk/page/?title=Admissions&pid=3) for the current priority categories, address rules and entry year.

2

### Register for the test

Find the current St Ambrose Entrance Exam (VR/Maths/English) instructions and deadline from the school, consortium or local authority. Registration routes can differ.

3

### Apply for a place

Submit your secondary school preferences by your local authority's deadline. A qualifying test result makes your child eligible; it is not an offer.

FAQs

## St Ambrose College catchment, your questions answered

**Does St Ambrose College have a catchment area?**

Effectively yes, via faith: Catholic boys in Nominated Local Pastoral Areas (WA14/WA15/M31/M33) are prioritised after passing the test.

**How are places allocated at St Ambrose College?**

Pass the entrance exam (VR, maths, English), then ranked by faith/pastoral-area categories, with distance used within categories as the tie-break. Check the [school's current admissions information](https://www.st-ambrosecollege.org.uk/page/?title=Admissions&pid=3) before applying.

**What test does my child need to take?**

St Ambrose College lists St Ambrose Entrance Exam (VR/Maths/English) as its entrance test. Check its current registration instructions and dates before making plans.

**How many Year 7 places does St Ambrose College offer?**

The published admission number in our source data is 140. Confirm the number for your child's entry year in the school's current policy.

**Does passing the entrance test guarantee a place?**

No. Meeting the qualifying standard makes a child eligible for consideration. Offers then follow the school's published priority and oversubscription rules.

### Practise the subjects this test uses

Pip offers short maths, English and reasoning practice. Check St Ambrose College's current test subjects before choosing what to work on.

[Get Pip free →](https://pip11plus.com/#get)

Admissions details can change each year. Check [St Ambrose College's published information](https://www.st-ambrosecollege.org.uk/page/?title=Admissions&pid=3) and your local authority's current arrangements before applying. The map shows nearby schools; it does not predict an offer.