All Hallows Catholic College Review 2026: A Values-Led Community with Strong Academic Foundations

Set against the edge of the Peak District in Macclesfield, All Hallows Catholic College serves a broad catchment across Cheshire East as a voluntary academy. The college provides a distinctive all-through secondary experience for students aged 11 to 18, anchored in its Catholic identity while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for the wider community. With a capacity of 1,200, it is large enough to offer a diverse curriculum and specialist facilities, yet it retains a reputation for knowing its students as individuals. The most recent external assessments confirm its status as a high-performing choice, with results that sit comfortably in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

The college operates with a clear sense of purpose, guided by its mission to provide a Christian education that values the dignity of every student. Since his appointment in September 2022, Principal Tim Beesley has overseen a period of stability and continued focus on the college's core values. The physical environment at Brooklands Avenue reflects this dual commitment to tradition and modern learning, featuring well-equipped science laboratories and dedicated creative spaces.

As part of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Academy Trust (OLHOC), which it joined in recent years, the college benefits from shared expertise across a network of local Catholic schools. This partnership has strengthened the curriculum and provided students with broader opportunities for collaboration. The atmosphere is calm and orderly; students move between lessons with a sense of ownership over their environment. This is not a school that feels like a factory, but rather a community where the spiritual and the academic are treated with equal weight.

Academic performance at All Hallows remains consistently reliable. At GCSE, the college achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 48.6, outperforming the England average of 46.2. The college ranks 1,544th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and ranks 3rd among secondary schools in Macclesfield. This performance reflects a solid standard of teaching that ensures students of all abilities make expected progress from their starting points.

The Sixth Form results tell a similar story of steady achievement. Over half of A-level entries (52.8%) achieved A* to B grades, which is significantly above the England average of 47.2%. Ranked 1,074th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 4th locally in Macclesfield, the college provides a competitive post-16 environment. These metrics indicate that while All Hallows is not an ultra-selective pressure cooker, it provides the academic rigour necessary for students to reach the top tier of higher education.

The curriculum at All Hallows is broad and balanced, designed to meet the needs of a mixed-ability intake. At Key Stage 4, there is a strong emphasis on the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects, with 20.6% of pupils achieving grades 5 or above in this suite of subjects. Teachers use their subject expertise to challenge students, and the use of digital technology in the classroom is integrated thoughtfully to support independent study.

In the Sixth Form, the college offers a wide range of A-level and vocational pathways. Small class sizes in the post-16 phase allow for more seminar-style learning, which students find helpful as they transition toward university-level study. The teaching staff are well-regarded for their accessibility, often providing additional support outside of formal lesson times to ensure students remain on track.

Where Students Go Next

For the 2024 leavers, the progression routes demonstrate the college's success in preparing students for adult life. Half of the cohort (50%) progressed directly to university, while a notable 25% entered the workforce, reflecting the college's strong focus on employability and vocational readiness. A further 7% of students secured apprenticeships, which is a popular route for those looking to combine professional training with further study.

The college maintains a steady pipeline to higher education, including applications to the most competitive institutions. In the most recent measurement period, seven students submitted applications to the University of Oxford. While competition for such places is fierce, the college provides dedicated support for elite applications, including mock interviews and entrance exam preparation via platforms like Unifrog.

Admission to All Hallows is primarily coordinated by Cheshire East Local Authority. As a Catholic college, priority is given to baptised Catholic children from designated feeder parishes, though the school is open to applications from families of other faiths or none who support its ethos.

The college is consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent intake, there were 365 applications for approximately 209 places, representing a subscription proportion of 1.75. This high demand means that families outside of the traditional feeder schools or parishes may find it more difficult to secure a place. Parents are encouraged to attend the annual open evening in October to understand the specific criteria used in the oversubscription policy.

Fees & Financial Aid

As a state-funded academy, All Hallows Catholic College does not charge tuition fees. Education is provided free of charge to all enrolled students.

For families who may face financial barriers to participation in elective activities, the college offers support through the 16-19 Bursary Fund for Sixth Form students. This is designed to help with the costs of transport, equipment, or essential school trips. For students in Years 7-11, the Pupil Premium funding is utilised to ensure that students from lower-income backgrounds have equal access to the full curriculum and extracurricular opportunities, including assistance with uniform costs or music tuition where eligibility is met.

Pastoral care is a significant strength, deeply rooted in the college's Catholic identity. The Learning Community structure ensures that every student has a dedicated form tutor and a Learning Leader who monitors both their academic progress and their personal wellbeing. This system creates a strong safety net, particularly during the transition from primary school or into the high-stakes environment of the Sixth Form.

The college provides a range of support services, including access to school chaplains and a dedicated Wellbeing Hub. Students report that they feel heard and that the college works proactively to recognise mental health concerns. There is a genuine sense of inclusivity, with the college working hard to ensure that students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are fully integrated into the life of the school.

Extracurricular life at All Hallows is varied, with a strong emphasis on service and the arts. The college is well-known for its musical productions and its Community Choir. The sports facilities support a wide range of competitive teams, with football, netball, and athletics being particularly popular.

STEM: Innovation and Skills

The college has made significant strides in its STEM provision, particularly through its involvement in robotics and computing initiatives. Students have access to a dedicated coding club and participate in careers-related MOOCs through the Unifrog platform. The science department frequently hosts initiatives that bring in guest speakers from engineering and pharmaceutical industries to highlight local career pathways.

The school day typically begins at 8:50 am and concludes at 3:15 pm. While the college does not provide formal before or after-school childcare in the style of a primary school, various extracurricular clubs run until approximately 4:15 pm. For students in the lower years, supervised areas are often available for early arrivals. Transport links are good, with several dedicated bus routes serving Macclesfield and the surrounding villages in Cheshire and Staffordshire.

• Oversubscribed Status: With 1.75 applications for every offer made, the college is highly popular. Families not meeting the faith criteria should have a clear secondary choice as entry is not guaranteed even for those living relatively close.
• Catholic Ethos: The religious character of the school is central to its daily operations. This includes regular collective worship and Masses. Families who are uncomfortable with explicit faith-based education should weigh this carefully before applying.
• Varying Progress Measures: While attainment is high, the Progress 8 score of 0 indicates that students, on average, make progress in line with their peers nationally. Families seeking a school with high "value-added" scores may wish to compare this with other local providers.

All Hallows Catholic College is a robust and welcoming institution that successfully balances its spiritual mission with academic ambition. It suits families who value a disciplined, values-led environment and a community where students are encouraged to be the best version of themselves. While the admissions process is competitive, those who secure a place benefit from a stable, high-achieving environment that prepares them well for both university and the modern workplace.