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Grammar Schools in Trafford: Complete Guide

Exam Information 10 min read
Table of contents
  1. About Trafford Grammar Schools
  2. Key information for 2027 entry into Trafford Grammar Schools at 11 plus (11+)
  3. Exam format for the Trafford Grammar School 11 plus (11+) entrance exam
  4. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
  5. Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
  6. Sale Grammar School
  7. Stretford Grammar School
  8. Urmston Grammar School
  9. Saint Ambrose College
  10. Loreto Grammar School
  11. Examberry Papers

About Trafford Grammar Schools

Making the right choice between different grammar schools can be a tough decision for parents. Whilst all grammar schools offer great starts for children, it is often difficult to find comprehensive information concerning the different schools available and the best options for your children out there.

This guide aims to provide clear and concise information regarding the seven grammar schools in Trafford. This includes general information, information concerning the tests followed by key details about each school including statistics, facilities, results, and Ofsted reviews.

In the coming sections of this article, the below listed key terms mean the following:

  • CAF: Common Application Form, the form you must submit to your local authority listing the schools of your choice in order of preference 
  • PAN: Published Admission Number, the number of places available for year 7 entry in 2027 at 11 plus (11+) level
  • EHCP: Education, Health and Care Plan, a legal document that describes a person’s special educational needs
  • Pupil Premium: a grant that improves educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils
  • PLAC: (previously) looked after children

Key information for 2027 entry into Trafford Grammar Schools at 11 plus (11+)

It is important to note that the following information applies to the five schools in the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium. Information on Saint Ambrose College and Loreto Grammar School, the two schools not in the consortium, which varies from the information provided on the consortium schools will be provided later in the article.

Important dates:

Admissions information:

  • Scoring: 334 (subject to admissions policy)
  • Eligibility criteria: Year 6, within the cut-off distance
  • Appeals: via an independent panel
  • Admission Contact details: by individual school, see below

Schools information:

Exam format for the Trafford Grammar School 11 plus (11+) entrance exam

For Trafford Grammar School Consortium schools, students must take the Trafford 11 plus (11+) test; only one entrance test is required for entrance into all the grammar schools in the consortium. This entrance test is composed of two papers each lasting approximately 60 minutes. All questions are multiple-choice and are marked by a computer. These papers, which are produced by GL Assessment, will test the following areas:

  • Maths – questions are based on the KS2 curriculum 
  • Verbal Reasoning – test of skill, problem-solving questions like written instructions requiring a solution, sequences, or number/letter code-cracking
  • Non-Verbal Reasoning – test of visual thinking, questions may involve deciphering relationships, determining similarities/differences between different sequences, shapes, and patterns.

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

School type: Boys’ selective grammar school 

Number of pupils: 1,152

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 202

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 16

Headteacher: Graeme Wright

Address: Marlborough Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, WA14 2RS

Open event: check school website for more open event listings

Priority areas: WA13, WA14, WA15, M33, M23 postcodes

Priority criteria: Age-standardised scores are placed into 6 groups:

  • Group 1: PLAC with a score of at least 324
  • Group 2: candidates who qualify for free school meals & live within the priority admission area & currently attend a Trafford state primary school with a score of at least 324 (20 places max.)
  • Group 3: candidates who qualify for free school meals & currently attend a Trafford state primary school with a score of at least 324 (10 places max.)
  • Group 4: candidates who live within the priority admission area with a score of at least 324
  • Group 5: candidates who score at least 324, candidates who qualify for free school meals who are not affected by groups 2 & 3 & score at least 324 
  • Group 6: all other candidates who did not qualify

Facilities: rugby pitches, indoor & outdoor cricket nets, all weather pitch, fitness suite, sports hall & grass cricket squares

2022 Results: GCSE: 87.5% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 91.5% students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Outstanding

School’s Contact details: 0161 928 0858, [email protected], www.agsb.co.uk

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

School type: Girls’ selective grammar school

Number of pupils: 1,408

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 204

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 5

Headteacher: Stephanie Gill

Address: Cavendish Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, WA14 2NL

Open event: Summer term 2023 

Catchment area: 8-mile radius from the main entrance of the school measured in a straight-line distance 

Priority criteria: Age-standardised scores are placed into 4 bands:

  • Band W: Candidates who score at least 334
  • Band X: Candidates who qualify for school meals or PLAC & score 324-333
  • Band Y: Candidates who score 333 or below
  • Band Z: Candidates who qualify for free school meals or PLAC who score 323 or below

Oversubscription criteria: candidates who have a statement of SEN or EHCP that names the school, are PLAC, live in the catchment area & qualify for free school meals, live in the catchment area & have a sister at the school, live in the catchment area, with priority given to candidates who live closer to the school

Facilities: Artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, sports hall

2022 Results: GCSE: 96.8% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 95% students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Outstanding

School’s Contact details: 0161 912 5912, [email protected], www.aggs.bright-futures.co.uk

Sale Grammar School

School type: Co-educational selective grammar school

Number of pupils: 1,304

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 190

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 41

Headteacher: Rebecca Smith

Address: Marsland Road, Sale, M33 3NH

Open event: 6 July 2023 (5.00-8.00pm), see school’s website for more information 

Priority areas: M33, M23, WA14, WA15 

Priority criteria: Oversubscription criteria: candidates who are PLAC, qualify for school meals (15 places max.): live in the priority area in order of distance to the school (priority 1) & attend a Trafford state primary school but do not live in the priority area (priority 2), in order of test scores, live in the priority area in order of distance to the school, live outside the priority area in order of their test scores & then distance to the school

Facilities: artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, sports hall

2022 Results: GCSE: 80% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 87% students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Outstanding

School’s Contact details: 0161 973 3217, [email protected], www.salegrammar.co.uk

Stretford Grammar School

School type: Co-educational selective grammar school

Number of pupils: 951

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 160

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 104

Headteacher: Michael Mullins

Address: Granby Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 8JB

Open event: 29 June 2023

Catchment area: M15, M16, M21, M32, M33 & M41 postcodes

Priority criteria: candidates who are PLAC, have been in state care outside of England & ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, receive free school meals (32 places max.) in rank order of test scores (if this category is fewer than 32, candidates who scored 324 and above in rank order will be considered), secured one of the top 20 scores, who have a sibling at the school in Years 7-11, who achieve the qualifying score & live in the catchment area, live closest to the school (measured in a straight-line distance) prioritised in order of how close they live to the school

2022 Results: GCSE: 79% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 72.3% students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Good

School’s Contact details: 0161 865 2293, [email protected], www.stretfordgrammar.com

Urmston Grammar School

School type: Co-educational selective grammar school with academy status

Number of pupils: 1117

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 150

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 213

Headteacher: Riffat Wall

Address: Newton Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 5UG

Open event: virtual open evening

Priority areas: M41 & M31 postcodes

Priority criteria:

  • Entry category A: Children with an EHCP naming the school who achieved the qualifying score, PLAC
    • Entry category B: Highest-scoring candidates in order (20 places max.)
  • Entry category C: Highest-scoring candidates who qualify for free school meals
  • Entry category D: Urmston Grammar staff members’ children (staff members must have a contract for 8 years min.)
  • Entry category E: Candidates who achieved the qualified score, in order of closest distance to the school

Facilities: theatres, field, science laboratories, grass pitch, 

2022 Results: GCSE: 74.6% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 58.2% students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Good

School’s Contact details: 0161 748 2875, [email protected], www.urmstongrammar.org.uk

Saint Ambrose College

Registration deadline & portal: 14 July 2023, online form via school website 

Exam date & type: 22 September 2023, school’s own & GL Assessment

Results: 20 October 2023

Scoring: scores across papers are age-standardised & combined for a total score, qualifying score of 320

Number of pupils: 1,073

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 140

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 85

Headteacher: Dermot Rainey

Address: Hale Road, Hale Barns, Altrincham, WA15 0HE

Open event: 1 July 2023

Priority areas: local pastoral areas: WA14, WA15, M31, M33, M16, M21, M32, M41

Priority criteria: Baptised Roman Catholic girls who are PLAC, who get free school meals & live in a Local Pastoral Area, who have a sibling at the school, who live in the Local Pastoral Area, who get free school meals, Other Baptised Roman Catholic boys, other boys who are PLAC, Baptised Christian boys who have a sibling at the school, other boys who get free school meals, Christian boys practising in other Christian denominations supported by a minister’s reference, other boys, oversubscription criteria: prioritised in rank order of school in the exam

Facilities: rugby pitches, indoor/outdoor cricket nets, tennis courts, 3G rugby/football pitch, fitness suite, sports hall, cricket squares, & indoor swimming pool

2022 Results: GCSE: 65.8% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 81.7% students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Good

School’s Contact details: 0161 980 2711, [email protected], www.st-ambrosecollege.org.uk

Loreto Grammar School

Registration deadline & portal: 31 July 2023

Exam date & type: 22 September 2023, GL Assessment

Results: 1 March 2024 (National School Offer Day)

Scoring: scores are age-standardised & combined for a total score across papers, no specific qualifying score

Number of pupils: 1,071

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 150

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 61

Headteacher: Jane Beever

Address: Dunham Road, Altrincham, WA14 4AH

Open event: 1 July 2023 (morning) 

Priority areas: local pastoral areas: Saint Ambrose Deanery (Diocese of Shrewsbury) & associated primary schools, Our Lady’s Deanery (Diocese of Salford) & associated primary schools

Priority criteria: Baptised Roman Catholic girls who are PLAC, who get free school meals & live in a Local Pastoral Area, who have a sibling at the school, who live in the Local Pastoral Area, who get free school meals, Other Baptised Roman Catholic girls, other girls who are PLAC, Baptised Christian girls who have a sibling at the school, other girls who get free school meals, Christian girls practising in other Christian denominations supported by a minister’s reference, other girls, oversubscription criteria: girls who receive free school meals, girls who achieved the highest marks in the entrance exam, girls who live closest to the school

2022 Results: GCSE: 75.4% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 84.4% students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Outstanding

School’s Contact details: 0161 928 3703, in[email protected], www.loretogrammar.co.uk

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