Altrincham College, Altrincham

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Altrincham College on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have established an extensive and coherent programme for pupils' personal development."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious and well-tailored 16 to 19 study programme."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve securely across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders use their detailed analysis to better understand attendance patterns across different groups and individuals."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders provide clear strategic direction for curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Staff identify pupils' needs early."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Recent changes to leadership and staffing in a small number of subject areas have brought greater stability to the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on their work to support staff in adapting teaching activities more consistently. This will enable pupils to access the curriculum equally well across subjects"; "Leaders should help teachers to further refine how they use checks on learning to give clear feedback and to shape teaching so that it helps pupils to make rapid progress".

In its own words: "It is a great privilege to serve as Headteacher of Altrincham College, a dynamic, forward-thinking, and fully inclusive school where the happiness and wellbeing of our students are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to offering each student an engaging and enriching secondary education."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Altrincham College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 58.2 in Trafford and 47 across England.

39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 66% in Trafford and 47% in England.

That is down from 48.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.03: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 35.5, against 52.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 120 families put Altrincham College as their first choice and 1080 named it as one of their preferences, for 190 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Altrincham College are Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 47.1); Wellington School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 55.7); Saint Ambrose College (0.9 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 72.3); and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys (1.2 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 79.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Altrincham College.

Altrincham College is one of 2 schools run by Achieve and Learn Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 169 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 64 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 55% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 20% into work. 14% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

The nearest railway station is Altrincham Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Altrincham College of Arts (outside), 40 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Altrincham College stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Altrincham College issued 74 suspensions, 7.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Altrincham College are Cloverlea Primary School (0.5 miles), Well Green Primary School (0.6 miles), Stamford Park Primary School (0.7 miles) and Broomwood Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.