Ashton-on-Mersey School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 19
Ofsted: Good

Cecil Avenue, Sale, M33 5BPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Ashton-on-Mersey School is a secondary school in Sale for ages 11 to 19. It is one of the 101 schools in Trafford. It ranks 2nd of 2 secondary schools in Sale. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2019.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 22 January 2019, report published 11 February 2019

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 April 2024

Pupils, and students in the sixth form, usually achieve well at Ashton-on-Mersey School. They are supported to learn deeply across a broad range of subjects. They learn with increasing confidence because staff are ambitious about what they can accomplish. Staff expect and support pupils to behave well. Staff purposefully show pupils how to treat others with respect. They support pupils to thoughtfully reflect on their behaviour where necessary. Pupils enjoy positive relationships with staff. Pupils benefit from well-established routines at the start, during and at the end of the school day. Pupils are usually calm and courteous. They show consideration for other pupils, staff and visitors and enjoy a highly positive culture of behaviour. Pupils regularly learn about the world from different perspectives. They are keen to explore and understand different cultures, beliefs and points-of-view. They show a keen interest in the differences between people in their school and in the wider community. Pupils benefit from a wide range of additional opportunities that go beyond the academic curriculum. For example, pupils enjoy taking part in sports events and performing arts. This ensures that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), regularly practise and develop their interests and talents.

What the school should improve

  • In a few subjects, staff are still refining how they explain subject matter and then check pupils' understanding in lessons. In these subjects, pupils do not progress through the curriculum as smoothly as they do elsewhere. The school should ensure that staff are confident in the pedagogical practices needed to help pupils gain and retain knowledge.
  • A small minority of pupils do not take full advantage of information that teachers provide about gaps in their knowledge. These pupils miss out on helpful practise of recalling and applying the knowledge they have been taught. This sometimes hinders their progress. The school should ensure that pupils engage fully with the opportunities that are provided to help them to consolidate or develop their learning further, using the knowledge that they have learned previously.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

254 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score52.1

52.1, 6 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths58.3%

58.3%, 12.9 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths81.9%

81.9%, 17.1 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc64.2%

64.2%, 23.7 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score4.78

4.78, 0.69 above the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

58 students

Average point score per A level entry25.61

25.61, 9.39 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C-, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,609 pupils on roll, with places for 1,570

Eligible for free school meals14.4%

14.4%, 12.1 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language15.5%

15.5%, 6.1 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support18.1%

18.1%, 3.3 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.7%

3.7%, 2.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Ashton-on-Mersey School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Sale Grammar School1 mileOfsted: OutstandingAttainment 8: 76.1
Sale High School1 mileOfsted: GoodNot published
Wellington School2 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 57.3
St Antony's Roman Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy2 milesOfsted: Requires improvementAttainment 8: 42.4
Dixons Brooklands Academy2 milesOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to goodAttainment 8: 36.1

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
THE DEAN TRUST
Age range
11 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Lee McConaghie
Address
Cecil Avenue, Sale, M33 5BP
Local authority
Trafford
URN
138123

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.