Loreto Grammar School 11+ Tuition

About Loreto Grammar School

Loreto Grammar School is a Catholic girls' selective grammar school located at Dunham Road, Altrincham, WA14 4AH. Founded in 1909 by the Loreto Sisters — formally known as the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) — the school has over a century of history in Altrincham and remains deeply rooted in the Catholic educational tradition that shaped its founding. The school admits 150 girls into Year 7 each year and has approximately 150 girls per year group across Years 7 to 11.

In September 2022, Loreto Grammar School received an Outstanding judgement from Ofsted across all five inspection categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision. This rare achievement across every category places Loreto among a very small number of schools nationally to have been rated Outstanding in all areas simultaneously. Its academic outcomes at GCSE and A-level are consistently strong, and it is one of very few maintained schools in Greater Manchester to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) alongside A-levels in the sixth form.

A key point for families planning their grammar school applications is that Loreto Grammar School is not part of the Trafford Grammar School Consortium. It operates entirely independently, with its own entrance examination held on a separate date. This distinction is crucial for preparation and registration planning.

Detail	Information
School name	Loreto Grammar School
Type	Catholic selective grammar — girls only, Year 7–13
Location	Dunham Road, Altrincham, Trafford
Entrance test	Loreto own entrance examination (not Trafford Consortium)
Test papers	Three papers: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning
Exam date (2026 entry)	19 September 2025 (for 2026); 2027 date TBC
Faith admissions	Catholic priority applies — priest reference required
Ofsted rating	Outstanding

Loreto's Separate Entrance Examination

Unlike the five Trafford consortium grammar schools (AGSB, AGSG, Sale Grammar, Stretford Grammar and Urmston Grammar), Loreto Grammar School sets its own independent entrance examination. The examination for September 2026 entry takes place on Friday 18 September 2026, four days after the Trafford consortium test on Monday 14 September 2026. This means families who wish to apply to both Loreto and one or more consortium schools must register separately for each: the consortium portal at traffordgl.applicaa.com for the consortium schools, and directly through Loreto Grammar for the Loreto exam.

Registration for the Loreto entrance examination opens at 10:00am on Saturday 27 June 2026, which is the same day as the school's Open Day. Results are communicated to families by email in mid-October 2026, ahead of the Common Application Form (CAF) deadline of 31 October 2026. The CAF is submitted to your home local authority and lists your ranked choices of secondary school.

The Loreto entrance examination tests the core skill areas assessed in selective grammar entrance examinations: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. Children preparing for the Trafford consortium test will find that much of their preparation is directly transferable to the Loreto examination, though the specific format, question types and timing may differ. Families should check the school's current admissions information and prospectus for the most up-to-date detail on the exam's structure and content.

How Does Loreto Grammar’s Catholic Faith Admissions Priority Work?

Loreto Grammar School is a Catholic voluntary-aided grammar school, and its admissions policy incorporates faith criteria that determine the priority given to applicants in the event of oversubscription. This makes Loreto admissions more complex than those of the non-denominational Trafford consortium schools, and understanding the faith priority categories is important for families planning their application.

The oversubscription criteria give first priority (after looked-after children and EHCP pupils) to baptised Catholic girls. Within this group, further priority is given based on factors such as attendance at an associated Catholic primary school and residence in a nominated local pastoral area. Non-Catholic girls may also apply and be considered, but they receive lower priority in the admissions ranking than qualifying Catholic applicants. In practice, this means that the academic entrance examination performance is one factor, but faith practice and primary school attendance also materially affect a girl's prospects of receiving an offer.

Families should read the full admissions policy published on the Loreto Grammar School website carefully before applying. If you are unsure whether your daughter qualifies under a specific faith category, or how your circumstances affect your position in the admissions ranking, contacting the school's admissions team directly is strongly recommended. The school can be reached at admissions@loretogrammar.co.uk or by telephone on 0161 928 3703.

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Why Loreto Is So Sought-After

Loreto Grammar School occupies a distinctive position among the selective schools in the Altrincham area. Its Outstanding Ofsted judgement across all five categories, achieved in September 2022, reflects genuine excellence in teaching, leadership and outcomes. The school's offer of both the International Baccalaureate and A-levels in the sixth form gives pupils a choice of post-16 qualification that is unusual in the maintained sector and attractive to academically ambitious families.

The school's Catholic ethos brings a community dimension that many families find appealing, and the Loreto Sisters' founding tradition of education for girls specifically has shaped a culture of high expectation and pastoral care. For Catholic families in Altrincham, Bowdon, Sale and the surrounding area, Loreto Grammar is frequently among the top one or two school choices, and competition for places is intense.

Because the school's admissions combine academic selection with faith priority, the competition landscape is different from the consortium schools. A girl who performs well in the entrance examination but is not Catholic, or who is Catholic but not from the priority primary or pastoral area, may find the competition for the remaining places very high. Understanding precisely where your daughter sits in the admissions priority ranking before applying is important planning intelligence.

How Leading Tuition Prepares Girls for Loreto Grammar

Leading Tuition works with families in Altrincham, Bowdon, Hale, Sale, Timperley, Stretford and the wider Trafford area to prepare girls for both the Loreto Grammar School entrance examination and, where relevant, the Trafford consortium test. Many families applying to Loreto also want to be considered for one or more consortium schools, making joint preparation a highly efficient approach.

We begin with a diagnostic assessment that spans verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. This identifies where your daughter currently stands relative to the level required for Loreto's selective intake and establishes a clear plan for the preparation period. Because the Loreto exam and the Trafford consortium test are both in September and cover overlapping skill areas, a well-structured programme can address both simultaneously.

Verbal reasoning preparation builds vocabulary, develops pattern-recognition for each question type and incorporates timed practice from the start. Non-verbal reasoning work trains spatial thinking and figure-pattern recognition systematically. Mathematics preparation extends beyond the primary curriculum into the multi-step and applied problem-solving that selective entrance exams require. As both test dates approach in September 2026, we incorporate full timed mock papers to build stamina and confidence.

We also advise families on the admissions process itself, including the registration timelines, the faith criteria, and how to approach the CAF in the context of multiple school choices. Navigating the interaction between the consortium registration process and the separate Loreto process can be confusing, and we help families ensure that every administrative deadline is met.

Key Dates for Loreto Grammar 2026 Entry

• Open Day: Saturday 27 June 2026 (registration opens at 10:00am on this day)
• Registration for Loreto exam: Opens 10:00am Saturday 27 June 2026 (contact school for closing date)
• Loreto entrance examination: Friday 18 September 2026
• Results issued: Mid-October 2026 (by email)
• CAF deadline: 31 October 2026 (submitted to home local authority)
• National Offer Day: 1 March 2027

Note: Families also applying to Trafford consortium schools must register separately via traffordgl.applicaa.com (registration 23 April – 19 June 2026) for the consortium test on 14 September 2026.

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