GCSE rank #31 In-site school
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Altrincham, Trafford
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
Consortium guide
Trafford 11 Plus
Understand how the Trafford grammar-school route works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
7 schools GL Assessment / Individual 5 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
The Trafford 11 Plus is used by all 5 grammar schools in the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium.
Test Format
The test provider is GL Assessment, and includes two papers with content in the areas of: maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Eligibility
Any child in Year 6 can sit the Trafford 11 Plus.
Places Available
Planned Admission Numbers (PANs) can vary by year for each school in the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium.
Applications
Grammar schools in the Trafford area are over-subscribed. In September 2022 around 1,500 students sat the entrance exam.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Trafford 11 Plus is an 11 Plus exam set by GL Assessment. Used only by grammar schools within the Trafford area, the exam is made for identifying pupils performing at the level expected for grammar school entry.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Trafford 11 Plus is a shared route used by 5 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Trafford route itself is clear, the shortlist usually improves when you compare travel, admissions rules, and school fit instead of treating every school on the route as interchangeable.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Trafford route.
GCSE rank #13 In-site school
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham, Trafford
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #84 In-site school
Loreto Grammar School
Altrincham, Trafford
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
GCSE rank #45 In-site school
Saint Ambrose College
Altrincham, Trafford
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #43 In-site school
Sale Grammar School
Sale, Trafford
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
GCSE rank #64 In-site school
Stretford Grammar School
Manchester, Trafford
Ofsted: Good Mixed
GCSE rank #94 In-site school
Urmston Grammar Academy
Manchester, Trafford
Ofsted: Good Mixed
What to compare next
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Trafford 11 Plus includes multiple choice papers in maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. They are designed to assess your child’s academic ability and reasoning skills, and compare their results against their cohort of applicants.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Both Papers (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
Based on Year 5 and early Year 6 curriculum topics, with a focus on applying knowledge to unfamiliar problem-solving questions
Includes codes, sequences and logic using words, letters and symbols
Not included on the national curriculum
Focuses on patterns, shapes, sequences and 3D spatial awareness
Both papers are sat on the same day with a short break between them. Both papers will consist of a mixture of verbal, non-verbal and mathematical reasoning and last around an hour in length. They start with an introduction and some practice questions.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
Your child’s Trafford 11 Plus Test raw mark is age-standardised to ensure that younger age on the date of sitting does not cause unfair advantages. Each child receives a final score is calculated using a weighting system.
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
Every year a minimum total weighted score or qualifying standard is determined based on a set proportion of the total number of children attending Trafford schools getting a place. This number becomes the cut off for the highest scoring children who take the test.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for the Trafford 11 Plus, complete the online application on the council website. This is required whether you live in Trafford or are applying from outside the area.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration opens
Thursday 24th April 2025
Registration closes
Friday 20th June 2025
Trafford 11 Plus Exam Date
Monday 15th September 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National offer day
Monday 2nd March 2026
Application steps
Register online with the Trafford 11 Plus Form
Visit the school’s website or council website to fill out the registration form during the registration window. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend.
Test centre for non-Trafford schools
You will be assigned a test centre where your child can sit the Trafford 11 Plus in September if they do not attend a Trafford primary school.
Keep your confirmation email
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email which you should keep to refer to it later.
07 / Shortlisting
Admissions points to compare school by school
Once the route itself is clear, treat the linked schools as separate choices. This is usually where travel, oversubscription rules, and school fit start to matter most.
In this section
- Travel and realism
- Oversubscription rules
- School-by-school fit
The shared route keeps the testing process simpler, but the final shortlist usually depends on how each linked school applies its admissions rules and how practical each option still looks once travel is taken seriously.
Check these before you rank schools
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation for the Trafford 11 Plus makes a huge difference. Here are some practical steps you can take to help them succeed:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to give them ample time to confidently build the skills they need.
Use Practice Papers
Work through Trafford 11 Plus-style 11 Plus test papers in simulated test conditions. This helps your child get accustomed to the format and practices exam technique.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track your child’s progress to identify the areas and topics they find the most difficult to succeed in.
Encourage Daily Reading
Reading regularly strengthens their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which help out with the the English and reasoning papers.
Try Online Tools
Use online platforms that offer Trafford 11 Plus test papers specific practice questions and personal feedback to help make revision more engaging and effective.
Keeping preparation consistent, structured, and positive can help your child feel confident and ready for the test on the day.
09 / FAQs
Questions families often ask
Use these answers as a planning guide, then confirm the live admissions details for your application year.
In this section
- Common questions
- Decision checks
- Application-year details
Does one Trafford grammar-school route result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Trafford grammar-school route route lets one test result support several school applications. The important caveat is that final admissions rules can still differ between the schools using that route.
Does a qualifying score guarantee a place? +
No. A strong or qualifying result may keep a school in play, but final offers still depend on the admissions policy, oversubscription rules, and how competitive that year is.
What should parents compare once the route itself is clear? +
Parents usually make better decisions when they compare boys’, girls’, mixed, and faith-based options across Trafford, plus what changes after the shared admissions test has been sat. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Trafford? +
The live process usually sits with the Trafford grammar schools and the local authority process. This page helps you understand the route, but the final registration and admissions instructions should always be checked on the live official pages for the relevant year.