About Stretford Grammar School
Stretford Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Stretford, Greater Manchester, admitting 150 pupils per year. It is part of the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium and uses the shared GL Assessment bespoke entrance paper. The qualifying score for Stretford Grammar is 334.
Stretford Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 75%. A-Level A*–B: 75%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Stretford Grammar School
Stretford Grammar School is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 150 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Trafford test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 13 September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Stretford Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (150 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Stretford Grammar School
Stretford Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Stretford Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Stretford, Greater Manchester, admitting 150 pupils per year. It is part of the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium and uses the shared GL Assessment bespoke entrance paper. The qualifying score for Stretford Grammar is 334.
- ✓Register at any one of the five Trafford Consortium schools (opens noon 23rd April 2026, closes noon 19th June 2026).
- ✓Sit two one-hour GL Assessment papers on Monday 14th September 2026.
- ✓Achieve a qualifying score of 334 or above for Stretford Grammar School.
- ✓Complete the Local Authority CAF by 31st October 2026, naming Stretford Grammar School.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children in the school's designated area who achieve the qualifying score.
- ✓Children of school staff on a permanent contract for 2+ years.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by distance from the school.
Stretford Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Stretford Grammar School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Stretford Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via individual school portals |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Stretford Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Trafford) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Stretford Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 13 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Stretford Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Stretford Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Stretford Grammar School
Stretford Grammar selects through the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment), sat once for the consortium's schools — two computer-marked, age-standardised multiple-choice papers, with a qualifying score of 334.
- Verbal reasoning: word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 number, measurement, geometry and statistics.
- Non-verbal reasoning: pattern recognition and spatial problem-solving.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Stretford Grammar School
Stretford Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Stretford Grammar School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Stretford Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Stretford Grammar School is a high-performing co-educational grammar in Trafford with strong GCSE and A-Level results, well-regarded pastoral care and a broad extracurricular programme.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with strong university progression.
- Specialism: a particular focus on mathematics and science.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Stretford Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium 11+, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the consortium's schools (Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale, Stretford and Urmston) — so a child sits it once. It is two computer-marked, age-standardised multiple-choice papers of around an hour each, taken in mid-September, assessing verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning, with a consortium standardised qualifying score of 334. Families register through one consortium school and apply via their local authority.
The school admits around 150 pupils to Year 7 and uses a catchment defined by postcodes M32, M33, M41, M15 and M16 (plus the adjoining M21). Entry is based first on meeting the qualifying score; after children with an EHCP and looked-after children, priority runs through catchment Pupil Premium pupils, then siblings, then catchment by distance, with applicants outside the area considered afterwards. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Stretford Grammar School is a selective co-educational state grammar for ages 11–18 on Granby Road in Stretford, in Trafford, Greater Manchester (M32 8JB). Founded in 1927, it is an academy that specialises in mathematics and science and is one of the five schools in the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium.
The school is known for academic excellence alongside strong pastoral support and a broad co-curricular programme spanning sport, music, drama and clubs. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stretford Grammar School
How do I apply to Stretford Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Stretford Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026 (varies)), then list Stretford Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Stretford Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Stretford Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Stretford Grammar School?
Stretford Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 150 places.
How many Year 7 places does Stretford Grammar School have?
Stretford Grammar School admits 150 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Stretford Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Stretford Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Stretford Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Stretford Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Stretford Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Stretford Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Stretford Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.