GrammarPrep

Trafford 11+: the test is changing — what that means for your child

From the September 2027 sitting, the Trafford consortium test drops verbal and non-verbal reasoning for English and maths. Here's what changes, what doesn't, and how to prepare.

Trafford Grammar School Consortium 11+: key facts

Typical test date
September of Year 6 (moving to the late summer term of Year 5 from 2029 entry)
Papers
2 papers
Duration
About an hour each
Subjects
From the September 2027 sitting (2028 entry): English and maths, drawn from the KS2 curriculum to the end of Year 5 — no verbal or non-verbal reasoning
Indicative qualifying threshold
Each school sets a qualifying score — 334 at Stretford for 2027 entry — and passing is not by itself an offer
Registration window
One online registration in the spring of Year 5 (23 April – 19 June in 2026), naming a test centre and the schools to share results with

Why Trafford is different

Trafford has seven grammar schools. Five — Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar, Stretford Grammar and Urmston Grammar — form the Trafford Grammar School Consortium and share one entrance test, so a child sits it once and the result is shared with every consortium school the family names. Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College run their own, different test.

The test is changing, and that changes what to practise. The test sat in September 2026 (for 2027 entry) was set by GL Assessment: two papers of about an hour each, covering verbal, non-verbal and mathematical reasoning. From the test sat in September 2027 (for 2028 entry), the consortium's new provider is FSCE, and the content switches to the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics programmes of study up to the end of Year 5. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are no longer tested. From 2029 entry, the test moves again — to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5.

Where you live still matters, but differently by school. Trafford Council's guidance for Altrincham residents says children in the catchment area who pass and apply on time have been offered a place at the Altrincham boys' or girls' grammar or Sale Grammar in all recent years. Stretford Grammar is much more contested for families outside its priority postcodes: it allocates by priority categories, then straight-line distance, which reached 4.414 miles for 2026 entry.

How the Trafford Grammar School Consortium 11+ is structured

  • 2027 entry (test sat September 2026): GL Assessment, two papers of about an hour each, multiple choice, assessing verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills.
  • 2028 entry (test sat September 2027): FSCE, drawing on the KS2 English and mathematics national curriculum up to the end of Year 5. No verbal or non-verbal reasoning.
  • 2029 entry onward: the test moves from September of Year 6 to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5.
  • Scores are age-standardised and reported as a single standardised score per child; each school sets its own qualifying score (Stretford's was 334 for 2027 entry).
  • One registration covers all five consortium schools: you choose a test centre and which schools receive the result. Registering for the test is not an application — you still name schools on your council's form by 31 October.
  • Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College are not in the consortium and use a different test.

Notable grammar schools in Trafford

7 grammar schools — 5 share the consortium test.

  • Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
  • Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
  • Sale Grammar School
  • Urmston Grammar
  • Stretford Grammar School
  • Loreto Grammar School (separate test)
  • St Ambrose College (separate test)

School guides in Trafford

How to prepare your child for the Trafford 11+

If your child is in Year 5 now, prepare for the new test, not the old one. The September 2027 sitting assesses Key Stage 2 English and maths to the end of Year 5. Time spent drilling verbal-reasoning codes and non-verbal shape sequences — the core of most older Trafford advice — no longer maps to anything on the paper. Depth in arithmetic, fractions, problem-solving, reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar does.

Because the content is the Year 5 curriculum rather than a separate reasoning syllabus, the most useful preparation looks like strong schoolwork done fluently and under time: secure times tables and written methods, regular reading of challenging texts with discussion, and timed practice once the format is published. FSCE says its approach draws heavily on Key Stage 2 content; use the consortium's own familiarisation material as soon as it appears rather than older GL-style papers.

If your target list also includes a GL or CEM area (Kent, Bucks, Birmingham), keep reasoning practice for those — but treat it as a separate track. For Trafford alone, English and maths are now the whole test.

Frequently asked questions about the Trafford 11+

Is the Trafford 11+ changing?

Yes. The consortium test sat in September 2026 (2027 entry) was set by GL Assessment and covered verbal, non-verbal and mathematical reasoning. From the test sat in September 2027 (2028 entry), the provider is FSCE and the content is Key Stage 2 English and maths up to the end of Year 5, with no verbal or non-verbal reasoning. For 2029 entry onward, the test moves to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5.

When is the Trafford 11+ test?

Through 2028 entry, in September of Year 6 — the 2027-entry test was on 14 September 2026. From 2029 entry, it moves to the late summer term of Year 5. Registration has been in the spring of Year 5: for 2027 entry it ran from 23 April to 19 June 2026.

Do I have to register with each school separately?

Not for the five consortium schools. One registration covers Altrincham Boys, Altrincham Girls, Sale, Stretford and Urmston: you choose where your child sits the test and which schools get the result. Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College run a separate test with their own registration. Every family still names its preferences on the council's Common Application Form by 31 October.

What is the Trafford 11+ pass mark?

Each school sets a qualifying score, published in its admissions policy — Stretford Grammar's was 334 for 2027 entry. Reaching it is not an offer: places then follow each school's priority categories (looked-after children, catchment, pupil premium, siblings, distance). Scores are age-standardised and reported as one number.

Can children outside Trafford apply?

Yes, anyone can sit the test. Whether a qualifying score turns into an offer depends on each school's priority categories: catchment and distance matter, so an out-of-area child's chances vary a great deal from school to school. Check the school's most recent admission outcomes on the Trafford Council website.

Are all Trafford grammars equally hard to get into?

No, and not in the way people often assume. Trafford Council says catchment children who pass and apply on time have been offered a place at the Altrincham boys' or girls' grammar or Sale Grammar in all recent years. Stretford Grammar is much more contested for families outside its priority postcodes: for 2026 entry its final, distance-based category reached 4.414 miles. See our Stretford Grammar guide.

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