About Trafford Grammar Schools
Trafford has seven grammar schools. Five form the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium and share a single GL Assessment 11+: Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar, Stretford Grammar and Urmston Grammar. Your child sits that test once for all five.
The other two — Loreto Grammar School (girls) and Saint Ambrose College (boys), both Catholic — are not in the consortium and set their own separate tests, so you register with them individually.
For September 2027 entry, consortium registration opens 23 April 2026 and closes 19 June 2026; the test is on Monday 14 September 2026, with results in mid-October. You then list schools on your home authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October; the consortium qualifying score is 334, after which each school applies its own catchment and oversubscription rules.
Trafford Grammar Schools
Trafford’s grammar schools, with their test routes. The five consortium schools share one test; Loreto and Saint Ambrose set their own. Click any school for its detailed admission guide, catchment and key dates:
The five consortium schools share one result (qualifying score 334) but each sets its own catchment and oversubscription criteria. Loreto Grammar and Saint Ambrose College are selective Catholic schools outside the consortium and run separate tests, so register with them directly.
About the Trafford 11+
The Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium 11+ is the shared test used by the five consortium schools. It is provided by GL Assessment and your child sits it once, even when applying to several of the five.
Format: two papers, each about an hour (with a short break), assessing verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. All questions are multiple-choice on separate answer sheets, marked and standardised by the provider.
The test is on Monday 14 September 2026 for 2027 entry; results follow in mid-October. The standardised qualifying score is 334 across the five schools — reaching it makes a child eligible, after which each school ranks applicants by its own criteria (distance, pupil premium, siblings).
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Trafford Grammar Schools
The five consortium schools share one Trafford 11+: register your child once (via the consortium portal or any consortium school’s website) during the window — for 2027 entry, 23 April to 19 June 2026. Your child sits the test on Monday 14 September 2026; results arrive in mid-October with a qualifying score of 334. You then list schools on your home authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October, with offers on National Offer Day (1 March). Reaching 334 makes a child eligible but does not guarantee a place — each school then applies its own criteria (distance, pupil premium, siblings). Loreto Grammar and Saint Ambrose College sit outside the consortium and run their own separate tests, so register with them directly.
What the Trafford 11+ Covers
The Trafford Consortium 11+ assesses verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics across two papers. Practising realistic GL-style papers across these areas is the most effective preparation.
Trafford 11+ Practice Papers for Trafford Grammar Schools
Trafford Grammar Schools 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 Trafford 11+
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.
Trafford Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
How many grammar schools are in Trafford?
Seven. Five are in the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium (Altrincham Boys, Altrincham Girls, Sale, Stretford, Urmston); Loreto Grammar and Saint Ambrose College sit outside it.
What is the Trafford 11+?
The Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium 11+ — a single GL Assessment test of two papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics.
Do I sit a separate test for each school?
For the five consortium schools, no — you sit once and the result counts for all five. Loreto and Saint Ambrose require their own separate tests.
What is the qualifying score?
334 (standardised) across the five consortium schools. Reaching it makes a child eligible; each school then applies its own oversubscription criteria.
How do I register?
Register once via the consortium portal or any consortium school's website. For 2027 entry the window is 23 April to 19 June 2026, and the test is on 14 September 2026.
How do I apply for a place?
List your chosen schools on your local authority's Common Application Form by 31 October; offers are made on National Offer Day (1 March).
How do Loreto and Saint Ambrose differ?
Both are selective Catholic schools that set their own separate entrance tests and rank applicants by score, so you register with each directly.
Does the qualifying score guarantee a place?
No — consortium schools are oversubscribed, so places are allocated by each school's criteria (often distance) among children who qualify.