Exam area

Trafford 11+ 7 schools Shared test area

Updated for 2026 admissions cycle

Best Grammar Schools in Trafford

The grammar schools in Trafford constitute one of the North West's most formidable selective clusters, drawing attention far beyond the borough itself. Trafford's significance lies in the combination of academic reputation, dense urban geography, and the intricate travel patterns of South Manchester.

girls', boys', and co-ed options GL Assessment, Individual 3 counties across North West Data checked 11 May 2026 Uses published 2025 GCSE measures and verified shared-test route data

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Top schools

Top grammar schools in Trafford

Previewing the top 5 grammar schools in Trafford by GCSE results. The full table ranks schools by GCSE results and adds competition level, shared test route detail, and admissions context.

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Rank School GCSE score

Area map

Map of grammar schools in Trafford

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School ranking

Full grammar school ranking in Trafford

This table ranks schools by GCSE results. Before saving a school, check the shared test route, school-level admissions rules, Ofsted, competition level, and daily journey.

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UK Rank #13

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Cavendish Road, Bowdon

Ofsted: OutstandingGirls onlyCompetition: High

Overall GCSE score:85.1

Assessment: GL Assessment

Competition: 7.3 candidates per place

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UK Rank #31

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Marlborough Road, Bowdon

Ofsted: OutstandingBoys onlyCompetition: High

Overall GCSE score:78.9

Assessment: GL Assessment

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UK Rank #43

Sale Grammar School

Sale Grammar School, Marsland Road

Ofsted: OutstandingMixedCompetition: High

Overall GCSE score:74.3

Assessment: GL Assessment

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UK Rank #45

Saint Ambrose College

Saint Ambrose College, Hale Road, Hale Barns

Ofsted: GoodBoys onlyCompetition: High

Overall GCSE score:74.1

Assessment: GL Assessment, Individual

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UK Rank #64

Stretford Grammar School

Stretford Grammar School, Granby Road, Stretford

Ofsted: GoodMixedCompetition: Very High

Overall GCSE score:69.6

Assessment: GL Assessment

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UK Rank #84

Loreto Grammar School

Loreto Grammar School, Dunham Road

Ofsted: OutstandingGirls onlyCompetition: Moderate

Overall GCSE score:65.8

Assessment: GL Assessment

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UK Rank #94

Urmston Grammar Academy

Urmston Grammar Academy, Newton Road, Urmston

Ofsted: GoodMixedCompetition: High

Overall GCSE score:63.2

Assessment: GL Assessment

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Shared test guide

These schools share one test

The Trafford guide explains the test, dates, and papers these schools share. It is the quickest way to see the shared exam details in one place.

5 key dates 17 downloads GL Assessment, Individual

Open Trafford guide See all shared test guides

Next checks

Compare schools and guides for Trafford

Open focused comparisons and guides for the routes, admissions rules, and journeys that matter in Trafford.

Comparisons

Compare nearby schools

Compare Altrincham Grammar School for Boys with Saint Ambrose College Compare Altrincham Grammar School for Girls with Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Compare Altrincham Grammar School for Girls with Sale Grammar School

Guides

Open area guides

Grammar School Catchment Areas Explained

Understand what catchment means, what it does not mean, and how grammar school catchment rules interact with score, distance, priority areas and offers.

Explore other areas

Compare nearby grammar-school areas

Nearby areas can share similar routes, school mix, or journey patterns while still leading to different daily choices.

Regional overview

Best Grammar Schools in North West

19 grammar school profiles in 6 counties across North West, covering 5 local clusters in total, with local area hubs for route, admissions and journey detail.

Standalone area

Best Grammar Schools in Liverpool

1 grammar school profile in Merseyside, with the local admissions route and journey in view.

Shared route

Best Grammar Schools in Calderdale

2 grammar school profiles in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. The linked Yorkshire guide covers shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.

Shared route

Best Grammar Schools in Kirklees

1 grammar school profile in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The linked Yorkshire guide covers shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.

Trafford overview

Trafford grammar schools at a glance

7 grammar schools sit in 3 counties across North West. The early filters are school type, test route, catchment or distance rules, and the ordinary weekday journey.

Schools 7 schools

Main places Trafford

School mix Mixed

Tests GL

What stands out

Trafford has seven grammar schools in this ranking, spread across Altrincham, Sale, Stretford, Urmston and Hale Barns rather than one single town centre.

School mix and route

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls form the single-sex Altrincham pair. Sale, Stretford and Urmston are co-educational routes, while Loreto Grammar School and Saint Ambrose College add Catholic admissions detail.

Area shape

What stands out in Trafford

Trafford is a compact local area. The main differences here are school type, test route, catchment, and how competitive each school is.

Local school cluster

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Sale Grammar School, and 4 more schools sit close together in one compact cluster with boys', girls', and co-ed options.

School mix

The area includes boys' schools, girls' schools, and co-ed options.

Shared route

The schools here all sit in the Trafford route, so the shared exam picture is easier to follow than in areas where every school tests differently.

Admissions

Distance and catchment rules matter at every school here. Several of the schools here are very competitive.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which grammar schools are in Trafford?

The Trafford group includes Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Loreto Grammar School, Saint Ambrose College, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar.

Which Trafford grammar schools are co-educational?

Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar are co-educational. The Altrincham pair, Loreto Grammar School and Saint Ambrose College are single-sex routes.

How do the Altrincham schools differ from Sale, Stretford and Urmston?

The Altrincham schools create a boys' and girls' pair in one town. Sale, Stretford and Urmston are co-educational options in different parts of Trafford, so the route changes by both school type and journey.

Which Trafford grammar schools have faith-based admissions detail?

Loreto Grammar School and Saint Ambrose College are Catholic grammar schools, so their admissions pages deserve a separate read from the wider Trafford test route.