England's largest single-sex grammar school — 204 places, Trafford consortium GL Assessment, test date Monday 14 September 2026. Expert one-to-one preparation from Leading Tuition.
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Updated for 2028 entry onwards — August 2026
AGGS and the four other Trafford consortium schools have appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) to replace GL Assessment for entry to Year 7 from September 2028, with the content moving to Key Stage 2 English and mathematics. For entry from 2029 the test is sat earlier, in the summer term of Year 5. The GL paper on 14 September 2026, for 2027 entry, is unchanged.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (AGGS) is a selective state grammar school located on Cavendish Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, WA14 2NL. With approximately 1,250 pupils on roll, it is widely recognised as the largest single-sex grammar school in England. The school holds an Outstanding judgement from Ofsted, most recently confirmed in October 2022, placing it among the highest-performing state secondary schools in the country.
AGGS offers a broad curriculum from Year 7 through to sixth form, with strong results at both GCSE and A-level. The school has a reputation for academic rigour combined with an active co-curricular programme, making it a highly sought-after destination for families across the Trafford area and beyond. Its published admissions number for Year 7 is 204 places, and the school is consistently oversubscribed by a significant margin.
As part of the Trafford Grammar School Consortium, AGGS uses the same entrance examination as Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School. This means families who wish to be considered for multiple Trafford consortium schools only need to register for and sit the test once, though each school has its own admissions criteria and oversubscription rules applied after the qualifying standard is met. For a broader overview of selective entry in the area, see our Altrincham grammar schools guide.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School name | Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (AGGS) |
| Type | State selective grammar — girls only, Year 7–13 |
| Location | Cavendish Road, Bowdon, Altrincham |
| Year 7 places | 204 |
| Entrance test | Trafford Consortium GL Assessment |
| Exam date (2026 entry) | 14 September 2026 |
| Test subjects | Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics |
| Ofsted rating | Outstanding |
The Trafford consortium 11+ entrance examination is produced and administered by GL Assessment. It consists of two papers, each approximately one hour in length, taken on the same day at the school. The two papers together assess three core skill areas: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. Questions are multiple-choice and the papers are strictly timed, requiring both accuracy and good exam technique.
The standardised qualifying score set by the consortium is 334 or above. Achieving this score means a child is considered academically selective, but it does not guarantee a place at AGGS in particular. Because the school is oversubscribed, places are allocated in ranked order based on the oversubscription criteria published in the admissions policy, which give priority to looked-after children, pupils with relevant EHCPs, and then qualifying applicants by postcode area. Not every selective area publishes its bar in advance in this way: the Medway grammars set theirs only after results are in, and the Chatham Grammar School for Girls qualifying score on the Medway Test has drifted from 492 for 2024 entry to 481 for 2026 entry.
The entrance examination will take place on Monday 14 September 2026. Registration for the test opens at midday on Thursday 23 April 2026 and closes at midday on Friday 19 June 2026 via the Trafford GL consortium portal at traffordgl.applicaa.com. Families must also list AGGS on their Common Application Form (CAF) submitted to their home local authority by 31 October 2026. Results are communicated by email in mid-October, ahead of the CAF deadline.
Understanding exactly what the test assesses is the foundation of effective preparation. The GL Assessment format used by the Trafford consortium covers three broad areas:
Verbal Reasoning includes a wide range of question types: finding synonyms and antonyms, completing analogies, identifying the odd word out, solving word connections, missing-letter puzzles, number codes expressed through letters, and reading-comprehension-style inference questions. Strong vocabulary, logical thinking and fast processing speed are all essential. Many children find verbal reasoning the most demanding area to improve quickly, which is why early, consistent practice is important.
Non-Verbal Reasoning presents problems in visual and spatial form: identifying patterns in sequences, finding the odd figure out, completing grids, rotating shapes, identifying reflections and mirror images, and recognising figure analogies. This section tests spatial thinking and pattern recognition rather than curriculum knowledge, meaning targeted practice can deliver significant score improvements even for children who do not initially feel confident in this area.
Mathematics in the GL Assessment goes beyond straightforward arithmetic. Questions involve multi-step problems covering fractions, percentages, ratio, algebra (functional rather than algebraic notation), data interpretation, geometry, and word problems requiring careful reading. Children who have only covered early Year 6 curriculum content may find some topics unfamiliar, making it important to extend beyond the standard school syllabus during preparation.
Preparing for AGGS 11+ Entry?
Our specialist tutors provide personalised one-to-one preparation for the Trafford consortium GL Assessment, covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics from Year 4 through to the September 2026 test date. Programmes are tailored to each child's diagnostic results and structured to target the specific question types that appear in the AGGS entrance papers.
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Book a Free ConsultationThe paper described above is a GL Assessment paper, and 2027 entry is the last year it will be used. The five consortium schools, AGGS among them, ran a tender under the Procurement Act 2023 and appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) to set the admissions test for entry to Year 7 from September 2028. FSCE is a not-for-profit subsidiary of Reading School whose papers already run in twelve grammar schools and consortia nationally.
With 204 places drawing well over a thousand applicants, AGGS families tend to plan several years ahead, which makes it worth being precise about which paper a particular girl will meet. A girl in Year 6 during 2026-27 sits the GL paper on 14 September 2026 for entry in September 2027. A girl in Year 5 sits the first FSCE paper in September 2027 for entry in 2028. A girl in Year 4 sits an FSCE paper in the summer term of Year 5, during 2028, for entry in 2029 — the consortium is bringing the test date forward from that entry year onwards.
The subjects change too. From the September 2027 paper the test draws on the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics national curriculum up to the end of Year 5, rather than verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. For the Year 4 cohort the two changes compound: a different subject list and a deadline roughly a term earlier than the one this page's preparation advice was written around. Families planning from Year 3 or Year 4 should build classroom English and mathematics depth first, and treat reasoning practice as secondary rather than central.
Source: Trafford Grammar School Consortium statement, published by Sale Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School, retrieved 25 August 2026.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls attracts applicants from across Greater Manchester and beyond. Several factors drive the high level of competition. First, the school's Outstanding Ofsted judgement and exceptional GCSE and A-level outcomes are well-documented and widely reported. Second, because AGGS is a state-funded school with no fees, it offers an elite education at no direct cost, making it highly desirable for families across all income levels. Third, as the largest single-sex grammar in England, it has a national profile that attracts families who would not otherwise consider travelling to Altrincham.
In practical terms, this means that even children who achieve the 334 qualifying score may not receive an offer if they are not in a priority postcode area and if demand from higher-scoring or in-area pupils exhausts the 204 available places. Families from outside the priority postcodes who are serious about AGGS should aim for scores significantly above the qualifying threshold to give their child a strong competitive position. A tutor who understands the specific scoring distribution and postcode dynamics of AGGS admissions can help set realistic targets and a preparation plan calibrated to meet them. How heavily address counts varies sharply between selective areas: Dartford Grammar School for Girls reserves 100 of its 180 Year 7 places for named priority parishes, leaving out-of-area girls competing for the remaining 80 however well they score.
At Leading Tuition, we work with families across Altrincham, Bowdon, Hale, Sale, Timperley, Urmston and the wider Trafford and Greater Manchester area to prepare children for the Trafford consortium test. Our preparation programmes are built around the specific GL Assessment format and are fully personalised to each child.
We begin every engagement with a diagnostic assessment that mirrors the actual test structure. This allows our tutors to identify your child's current performance level across verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics, and to pinpoint the specific question types and topic areas where additional work will have the greatest impact. Rather than generic preparation, we build a programme that addresses real gaps and builds on genuine strengths.
Sessions focus on both knowledge and technique. Verbal reasoning preparation covers vocabulary expansion, logical rule-following and speed-building. Non-verbal reasoning work develops systematic pattern recognition and spatial reasoning. Mathematics sessions extend beyond the school curriculum to ensure children are confident with all GL Assessment question types including ratio, percentage, algebra and multi-step word problems.
As the test date approaches, we shift emphasis to timed full-paper practice under realistic exam conditions. This builds the stamina and confidence needed to sustain high performance across two one-hour papers. Tutors provide written feedback after every session, and parents receive regular progress summaries. We are also available to discuss results, next steps and strategy with parents throughout the preparation period.
Planning your child's preparation around the official admissions calendar is important. Here are the key dates for AGGS Year 7 entry in September 2026:
We recommend starting tuition no later than January 2026 for September 2026 entry. Families who can start in Year 4 or early Year 5 will have the greatest flexibility in the pace and depth of preparation. Contact us to discuss the right start point for your child's current level.
Reviewed August 2026: the test provider, subject content and test date for each entry year were checked against the Trafford Grammar School Consortium statement published by Sale Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School on 25 August 2026, and consortium membership was confirmed against Trafford Council. Confirm dates with the school before you rely on them.
Year 4 or early Year 5, though what to practise now depends on the year group. AGGS is one of the most competitive grammars in England, with 204 places attracting well over a thousand applicants each year. A girl in Year 6 during 2026-27 sits the GL paper in September 2026 and needs verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. A girl in Year 5 sits an FSCE paper in September 2027, and a girl in Year 4 sits one in the summer term of Year 5, so for both the emphasis moves to Key Stage 2 English and mathematics, which is built over years of classroom work rather than added in a final term of practice papers.
The Trafford consortium standardised qualifying score is 334 or above. AGGS is consistently oversubscribed, so achieving the qualifying score alone does not guarantee a place. Offers are made first to looked-after children and those with an EHCP naming the school, then by oversubscription criteria including priority postcode areas. The higher your child scores above 334, the stronger their position in the ranked list.
For entry in September 2027, AGGS uses the Trafford consortium GL Assessment examination: two papers of about an hour each assessing verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics, sat on Monday 14 September 2026, with registration from midday 23 April to midday 19 June 2026 via traffordgl.applicaa.com. From entry in September 2028 the paper is set by Future Stories Community Enterprise and draws on Key Stage 2 English and mathematics up to the end of Year 5 instead.
Yes. After admitting looked-after children and EHCP pupils, AGGS gives priority to qualifying applicants in designated postcode areas (typically including WA14, WA15, WA13, M33 and M23). Families outside these postcodes can still gain a place if their child scores highly enough, but competition is particularly intense. Check the most recent AGGS admissions policy on the Trafford consortium website for the current full postcode list.
Leading Tuition offers personalised one-to-one tuition tailored to the Trafford GL Assessment format. Our tutors conduct an initial diagnostic to identify gaps in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths, then build a structured programme covering each skill area systematically. We use timed practice papers throughout preparation, gradually increasing to full exam conditions so your child is confident on test day. Tutors provide detailed written feedback after every session so parents can track progress clearly.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls is a girls-only school in Years 7 to 11. With approximately 1,250 pupils on roll, it is the largest single-sex grammar school in England. The school holds an Outstanding Ofsted judgement (most recently October 2022) and consistently ranks among the top performing state secondaries nationally.
Registration for the consortium test opens midday 23 April 2026 and closes midday 19 June 2026. The entrance examination is Monday 14 September 2026. Results are issued by mid-October 2026. The Common Application Form (CAF) must be submitted to your home local authority by 31 October 2026. National Offer Day is 1 March 2027.