A selective girls grammar school in Altrincham, Cheshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,072 pupils on roll.
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At a glance
Loreto Grammar School is a selective Catholic grammar school for girls in Altrincham, with a sixth form and around 1,072 pupils. Its identity is explicitly Loreto and Mary Ward: freedom, sincerity, justice, truth, joy, excellence and internationality are not tucked away as slogans but used to explain the school's spiritual, academic and pastoral life.
The curriculum is presented as formation of the whole person as well as preparation for examinations. Loreto's official curriculum statement puts ethical reflection, justice, environmental responsibility and service within the taught programme, while keeping high academic expectations. In sixth form, applicants do not have to be Catholic, but they are expected to support the Catholic ethos; small tutor groups, daily tutor time and chaplaincy are part of the pastoral structure.
That Catholic and international character gives Loreto a different texture from many selective schools nearby. Religious education, chaplaincy, extra-curricular activities, languages, leadership and service are all part of how the school describes its day-to-day life. Published outcomes show Outstanding Ofsted, +1.06 Progress 8, 96.8% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 33.6% AAB or better at A level.
Year 7 entry has 150 places and is through the Governors' Entrance Examination. For September 2027 entry, the school lists a mathematics paper, GL English and GL verbal reasoning, with registration and baptism-certificate deadlines published on the admissions page. Once girls have met the required standard, the oversubscription rules are led by the school's Catholic admissions categories and distance.
Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Trafford and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Trafford and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Trafford and England.
Whole-school roll of 1,075 pupils; 1,065 had a recorded ethnic group.
Applicants must pass the Governors' Entrance Examination. Oversubscription priority is mainly Catholic-category led, with Pupil Premium, exam rank and distance used within categories.
Local Pastoral Area residence can affect priority for associated Catholic primary school applicants. Within oversubscribed categories, Pupil Premium is considered before exam marks, then distance.
EHCP naming the school
Admitted where the child has passed the Governors' Entrance Examination and the plan names the school.
Baptised Roman Catholic looked-after girls
Includes previously looked-after and international previously looked-after girls.
Baptised Roman Catholic girls with sisters at the school
Applies where the sister is at the school at the time of admission.
Baptised Roman Catholic girls from associated primary schools and local pastoral areas
Priority for associated primary school and nominated Local Pastoral Area applicants.
Other Baptised Roman Catholic girls
Remaining Baptised Roman Catholic applicants.
Other looked-after and previously looked-after girls
Looked-after priority outside the Roman Catholic category.
Official exam resources
No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.
Free parent account
Create a free parent account to open the official papers, sample questions and guidance listed here.
Open Day
27 June 2026, 9:30am to 1:00pm
PastOnline registration opens
27 June 2026, 10:00am
PastBaptism/access evidence deadline
10 July 2026
PastBaptism certificates and SEND/access evidence are due by this date.
Online registration closes
31 July 2026, 1:00pm
PastLate applications will not be accepted.
Registration postcard sent
After 9 September 2026
Governors' Entrance Examination
18 September 2026, morning
PastResults issued
On or before 21 October 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
PastNational offer day
1 March 2027, or the next working day
Appeal registration deadline
31 March 2027
Year 7 appeals
Week commencing 3 May 2027
Waiting list closes
31 December 2027
Late entrance-test registration opens
22 February 2027, 10am
For candidates who did not sit the September 2026 examination; this route is for waiting-list consideration.
Late entrance-test registration deadline
12 March 2027, 1pm
Late applications cannot be accepted. This is not a resit for unsuccessful September 2026 candidates.
Late-test baptism certificate deadline
12 March 2027
Where applicable, send the original certificate with a stamped addressed return envelope. Scanned or electronic copies are not accepted.
Late-test SEND or medical evidence deadline
12 March 2027
Provide the primary-school SEND coordinator’s letter and supporting diagnostic or medical reports detailing normal assessment support.
Late entrance examination
28 April 2027
For candidates who did not sit on 18 September 2026. Successful candidates may join the waiting list for September 2027 entry.
Read the admissions policy
Check the 2027 policy for Catholic, sibling, pastoral-area and tie-break rules.
Open policyRegister for the entrance examination
Complete the registration process by the published June deadline and provide baptism/access-arrangement evidence by the policy deadline if relevant.
Sit the Governors' Entrance Examination
Candidates sit the Loreto examination in September 2026.
Submit the CAF
Apply through the home local authority CAF for the March 2027 allocation.
Latest inspection: 29 September 2022
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Trafford area and similar girls' selective route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Same wider selective region with a comparable travel distance
Same wider selective region with a comparable travel distance
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
For September 2027 entry, Loreto Grammar School uses GL Assessment + school-set papers. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.
1. Read the admissions policy: Check the 2027 policy for Catholic, sibling, pastoral-area and tie-break rules. 2. Register for the entrance examination: Complete the registration process by the published June deadline and provide baptism/access-arrangement evidence by the policy deadline if relevant. 3. Sit the Governors' Entrance Examination: Candidates sit the Loreto examination in September 2026. 4. Submit the CAF: Apply through the home local authority CAF for the March 2027 allocation.
Open Day: 27 June 2026, 9:30am to 1:00pm. Online registration opens: 27 June 2026, 10:00am. Baptism/access evidence deadline: 10 July 2026. Online registration closes: 31 July 2026, 1:00pm. Registration postcard sent: After 9 September 2026. Governors' Entrance Examination: 18 September 2026, morning. Results issued: On or before 21 October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027, or the next working day. Appeal registration deadline: 31 March 2027. Year 7 appeals: Week commencing 3 May 2027. Waiting list closes: 31 December 2027. Late entrance-test registration opens: 22 February 2027, 10am. Late entrance-test registration deadline: 12 March 2027, 1pm. Late-test baptism certificate deadline: 12 March 2027. Late-test SEND or medical evidence deadline: 12 March 2027. Late entrance examination: 28 April 2027
Loreto Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 29 September 2022.
