Why Trafford scores need school names
A result should be read with the school, September entry year and applicant category. These determine whether the academic requirement is met and how an eligible child is placed in the allocation order.
The AGGS 2027 policy and AGSB 2027 policy provide useful examples. Both include 334 within their qualification arrangements, but their categories and lower-score provisions differ. Neither policy is a substitute for the policy of Sale, Stretford, Urmston or a Catholic grammar school.
School + year
Open the policy for the actual school and September 2027 entry.
Result + category
Read the score or band against the provisions that apply to the child.
Allocation rule
Check how eligible children are ordered when places are contested.
How to read Trafford offer context
AGGS’s 2027 policy uses catchment, pupil premium, sibling and distance criteria within its priority order. AGSB uses its own priority admission area and score-ranking provisions. This is why a higher number cannot be interpreted in isolation from the named school.
Example
These are AGGS policy examples only, using fictional scores. They are not a Trafford-wide calculator and do not predict a school offer.
Worked examples
Same school, different qualification bands
Qualified for consideration
Under AGGS’s 2027 policy, 334 reaches Band W. The application still needs to be considered under the school’s oversubscription criteria.
Check the application categoryFictional AGGS examples. The policy definitions and oversubscription rules still apply.
What parents should check
- The school-specific result
Keep the score, qualification statement and any band or group together. Use the result issued for the named school, not an informal comparison between children.
- The policy’s exact definitions
Check how it defines pupil premium, looked-after status, siblings and the home address. A similar category name at another school may have different conditions.
- The address rule and journey
Find the policy’s priority area or catchment and its distance measurement. Then check the normal school-day journey; a map boundary does not describe travel time.
- The CAF and alternative preferences
Apply through your home authority on time. The Trafford directory helps compare schools, while the CAF preference guide explains consideration of lower choices.
Where the result does not establish qualification, use the named school’s published review or appeal instructions. The general appeals guide explains the distinction between challenging a result and appealing a refused place.
Common questions
A few more answers
Is 334 the pass mark for every Trafford grammar school?
Do not use it as a universal Trafford rule. AGGS and AGSB publish 334 within their 2027 qualification arrangements, with specified lower-score provisions. Read the separate policy for every school you intend to name.
What are AGGS bands W and X?
For 2027 entry, Band W is a score of 334 or above. Band X covers applicants described by the policy as looked after or in receipt of pupil premium who score 324–333. Both are qualified for consideration, subject to oversubscription.
Can a child qualify but not receive an offer?
Yes. Qualification and allocation are separate. A school can have more eligible applicants than places and must apply its priority categories and tie-breaks.
Does a score below 334 rule out every Trafford school?
No Trafford-wide conclusion can be drawn from that number alone. Check the named school’s qualification conditions and any applicable category provisions; do not assume an exception at one school applies at another.
Official sources
Checked 28 Sept 2026