The Trafford 11+
Five Trafford grammar schools share one test, and one sitting counts for all five. GL Assessment set it in September 2026; FSCE sets it from September 2027. A total of 334 qualified in 2026. Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College set their own tests.
At a glance
- The test
- The Trafford Grammar School Consortium entrance exam
- Set by
- GL Assessment (FSCE from the test sat in September 2027)
- Subjects
- Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths
- Answers
- Multiple choice, on a separate answer sheet
- Who sits it
- Altrincham Grammar School for Girls reports 1,470 students sat the entrance exam in September 2025, a further 49 the late test in March 2026, and 376 reached its qualifying score (school FAQ, for 2026 entry). No consortium-wide total found.
The papers
Two tests of about one hour each with a short break, each divided into verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics; multiple choice, answers marked on a separate computer-scored sheet; GL writes a bespoke paper for the consortium; maths covers content taught up to the start of Year 6. One sitting counts for all five consortium schools. Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College (Catholic grammars) are not in the consortium and set their own test: Loreto uses GL English (45 minutes) and GL verbal reasoning (50 minutes) plus its own maths paper (45 minutes); St Ambrose uses GL verbal reasoning (50 minutes) plus its own maths (35 minutes) and English (35 minutes) papers, all multiple choice, with no creative writing. From the test sat in September 2027 the consortium moves to FSCE: one paper on English and maths and a second on other KS2 subjects, up to the Year 5 programme of study, with content and format varying each year.
With Exam Prep, Thena sets practice papers in your child’s test’s style and goes over every mistake with them on her board: £49 a month with the Solo plan.
Dates, results and scores
When is the 11+ in Trafford?
The 2027 test: September 2027, the first FSCE test (exact day not yet published). From 2029 entry the test moves to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5. The 2026 test: Consortium: Monday 14 September 2026. Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College: Friday 18 September 2026.
How do you register for the 11+ in Trafford?
For the 2027 test (2028 entry): not published yet. For the 2026 test (2027 entry): Consortium: 12 noon Thursday 23 April to 12 noon Friday 19 June 2026, one online registration naming the test centre and the schools to receive a result. Loreto: 10am Saturday 27 June to 1pm Friday 31 July 2026. St Ambrose: Tuesday 21 April to 12 noon Monday 6 July 2026.
When do 11+ results come out in Trafford?
For the 2026 test: Consortium schools: before 31 October 2026 through the Applicaa portal (AGGS gives qualifiers a 'pass' rather than a score); Loreto by Wednesday 21 October 2026; St Ambrose by Friday 23 October 2026. Offers on Monday 1 March 2027.
What score qualifies in Trafford?
Consortium: a total age-standardised score of 334 or more qualifies at all five schools; AGGS, AGSB and Urmston accept 324 or more for looked after and/or pupil premium applicants, and Stretford automatically raises pupil premium scores of 324 to 333 to 334R. Each school standardises against its own applicants, so a child can qualify for one school and not another. Qualifying does not guarantee a place: each school then applies its own oversubscription criteria (catchment or priority area, distance, pupil premium quotas, top scores). St Ambrose College: a total age-standardised score of 320, then Catholic criteria. Loreto: a pass in the Governors' Entrance Examination (score not published), then faith-based categories.
Not confirmed yet
- Registration window and exact date for the consortium's September 2027 FSCE test (2028 entry).
- Whether the 334 qualifying score will carry over to the FSCE test.
- A consortium-wide count of children sitting the test (only AGGS's figures found).
- Loreto Grammar School's qualifying score (not published).
- Registration and test dates for Loreto and St Ambrose for 2028 entry.
Check these on the official page: trafford.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/starting-school-and-admissions/starting-secondary-school/entrance-test-grammar-schools
Good to know
Reviews
Stretford and Urmston run a Local Review. Stretford: candidates scoring 324 to 333 not already raised by the automatic pupil premium review are considered by a Review Panel of the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, an Assistant Headteacher, the Heads of English and Mathematics and a primary headteacher. Urmston: scores of 321 to 333 (321 to 323 for pupil premium) can be reviewed by its Admissions Review Panel (Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, an independent literacy adviser). A successful review gives a score of 334R; decisions come after 31 October 2026.
Late testing and moving to the area
Consortium: registrations after 12 noon Friday 19 June 2026 are not tested until after 1 March 2027; a child ill on the day gets an alternative date if the Special Circumstances Form arrives by 12 noon Thursday 17 September 2026. Loreto: a Late Entrance Examination on Wednesday 28 April 2027 (registration 10am Monday 22 February to 1pm Friday 12 March 2027), with successful candidates placed on the waiting list. St Ambrose: late applications considered only after 1 March 2027.
Who runs admissions
Each grammar school's governing body or academy trust is its own admission authority, and families register for the test with the schools, not the council; Trafford Council co-ordinates offers (common application form by Saturday 31 October 2026).
Grammar schools in Trafford
Schools with a page of their own have their places, qualifying scores and priority areas, from their admissions policies.
| School | Town | Takes |
|---|---|---|
| Altrincham Grammar School for Boys website | Altrincham | Boys |
| Altrincham Grammar School for Girls website | Altrincham | Girls |
| Loreto Grammar School, Altrincham website | Altrincham | Girls |
| Sale Grammar School website | Sale | Mixed |
| St Ambrose College website | Altrincham | Boys |
| Stretford Grammar School | Manchester | Mixed |
| Urmston Grammar | Urmston | Mixed |
More on the 11+
Sources
Every fact here comes from the official pages below. Dates and scores change from year to year, so check them there before you rely on them.
- trafford.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/starting-school-and-admissions/starting-secondary-school/entrance-test-grammar-schools
- aggs.bright-futures.co.uk/admissions/september-2027-entry
- aggs.bright-futures.co.uk/admissions-2028
- aggs.bright-futures.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Admissions-Timeline-2027.pdf
- aggs.bright-futures.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Information-Booklet-2027.pdf
- aggs.bright-futures.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Admission-Policy-2027.pdf
- aggs.bright-futures.co.uk/admissions/frequently-asked-questions
- agsb.co.uk/page/?title=Entrance+Examination&pid=52
- agsb.co.uk/page/?title=New+Entrance+Exam+Provider&pid=386
- agsb.co.uk/_site/data/files/admissions/entrance-exam/2026/49A6C0ACF2FD3059225189CABD11809E.pdf
- agsb.co.uk/_site/data/files/admissions/entrance-exam/8D874464D67CED7B01DF701BDE9DDCA8.pdf
- salegrammar.co.uk/6731/september-2027-entry
- 0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/sale/uploads/document/Information-Booklet-Admissions-2027.pdf
- 0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/sale/uploads/document/Admissions-Policy-2027-1.pdf
- stretfordgrammar.com/attachments/documents.asp?id=1
- urmstongrammar.org.uk/page/?title=Admission+of+children+to+Year+7+for+September+2027&pid=206
- urmstongrammar.org.uk/page/?title=Admissions+Update+%2D+Autumn+2026&pid=297
- urmstongrammar.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=1491&type=pdf
- loretogrammar.co.uk/Admissions/Entry-into-Year-7-September-2027
- loretogrammar.co.uk/docs/Admissions/Parent_Information_Booklet_2026.pdf
- loretogrammar.co.uk/docs/Admissions/ADMISSIONS_TIMELINE_2026_to_2027_-_KMC_-_JANUARY_2026.pdf
- loretogrammar.co.uk/Admissions/Late-Entrance-Examination
- st-ambrosecollege.org.uk/page/?title=Year+7+Admissions+2027&pid=503
- st-ambrosecollege.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=5076&type=pdf
- st-ambrosecollege.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=5051&type=pdf
Checked 2 November 2026.
Practice in the style of their test
Thena sets practice papers like the real ones, marks them straight away, then goes over each mistake with your child on her board, out loud.
Try 3 lessons free