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Introduction
In the UK, grammar school consortia are cooperative alliances of grammar schools that collaborate to facilitate entrance exams. These consortia are usually established by a cluster of grammar schools within a specific area or region, joining forces to develop a unified entrance examination process.
For many years, the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium has played a crucial role in the selective education system in Trafford, introducing a standardised process for admitting students based on their academic abilities.
All the member schools within the Trafford Grammar School Consortium administer a unified entrance test, ensuring fairness and consistency throughout the admissions process. As a result, students only need to take the test once, even if they are applying to multiple schools within the consortium.
The primary objective of the Trafford Consortium is to streamline the admissions process for its grammar schools and maintain a consistent selection procedure. The consortium facilitates collaboration amongst the grammar schools, fostering resource sharing, exchange of expertise and efficient administrative efforts. This collective approach aims to provide equal opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to access high-quality education.
Complete List of Grammar Schools in Trafford
There are currently five grammar schools in the Trafford Grammar School Consortium:
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exam and admissions process!
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Trafford Grammar Schools
The Trafford Consortium entrance exam results serve as a unified criterion for admission decisions across the participating grammar schools. Students who exhibit outstanding performance in the 11+ exam will be potentially eligible for admission to multiple schools within the consortium. This increases their chances of securing a grammar school place. Here are some essential details regarding the Trafford 11+ exam:
Registration closing date: June
Common Application Form (CAF) closing date: October
Exam date: 16th September 2024
Exam board type: GL Assessment
Pass mark: Aim for 75-80%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: school.admissions@trafford.gov.uk, 0161 912 5007
Trafford Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Year 7 admission to any of the five grammar schools in Trafford is determined by pupil performance in the 11 Plus exam. Each of the schools hosts an open event annually, typically in the summer term.
Attending an Open Day/Evening will provide you and your child with the unique opportunity to tour the relevant school’s campus, as well as speak to members of staff and ask questions about the admissions process.
While all five schools are part of the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium, they are each responsible for their own admissions into Year 7. Each of the schools within the Consortium use the same 11+ test.
How to Register for the Trafford Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
To apply for a place at one of Trafford’s grammar schools on behalf of your child, you must register them for the 11 Plus entrance examination. Online forms are available on each school’s admissions page when registration is open and should be submitted by the deadline in June of the year preceding entry.
In addition to completing the registration form, you also need to complete the Local Authority’s Common Application Form (CAF) by the deadline in October and list the preferred schools in ranked order.
Trafford Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Trafford 11+ exam is produced by GL Assessment. There will be two papers, each lasting approximately an hour and testing all three of the following skills in short, timed subsections:
- Mathematics
- Verbal Reasoning (including Comprehension)
- Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning)
The topics evaluated in the test are as follows:
➢ Mathematics: These sections assess students’ mathematical skills, problem-solving abilities and logical reasoning. The exam will include questions that test number operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, statistics and data handling.
➢ Verbal Reasoning: These sections test your child’s reasoning skills using language-based tasks, such as identifying patterns, completing analogies, solving codes and making logical deductions. They also measure your child’s ability to think critically and analyse information. These sections will include Comprehension questions, too.
➢ Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR): These sections test students’ ability to solve problems using visual and abstract reasoning. They do not rely on language skills but instead challenge students to identify patterns, relationships and sequences within shapes, figures and diagrams.
➢ Spatial Reasoning: These sections are designed to assess students’ ability to understand and manipulate visual representations of objects and space. Spatial Reasoning tests spatial awareness, mental rotation, visualisation and problem-solving skills.
Once the test has been taken, parents will receive the results of their child’s eleven plus exam in October, with final Year 7 place allocations published in March.
Trafford 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Grammars that belong to the Trafford Consortium have a GL-style 11+ exam and a standardised pass mark for 11 plus applicants. The standardised qualifying score for these schools is 334 or above.
Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College don’t belong to the consortium and their exams differ. Loreto will offer places to the top 150 applicants, while St Ambrose will admit the best 140 applicants, based on their total scores.
Pupils who are able to score 75-80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the 11+ test.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this is a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Trafford 11+ exam.
Passing the test does not guarantee that your child will be offered a place. It simply means they have surpassed the required threshold. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
Practice Papers for the Trafford Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
The resources below are in the GL Assessment format used by Trafford Grammar Schools. They will therefore prove very useful for children currently preparing for the Trafford eleven plus exam:
Full Practice Tests
The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the 11+ Trafford Test. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:
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Subject Specific Practice
Mathematics
The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Trafford Test, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Masterclasses
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Maths section of the 11+ Trafford Test at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Trafford Mathematics Bundle
Verbal Reasoning & Comprehension
To help your child master Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Comprehension skills in the lead-up to the Trafford Test, we recommend the following 11+ resources:
VR Full Practice Tests
VR Skill Specific Practice
VR Masterclasses
11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
English Comprehension
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section (including Comprehension questions) of the Trafford 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
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Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning
The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal (NVR) and Spatial Reasoning (SR) abilities ahead of the 11+ Trafford Test:
NVR Full Practice Tests
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4
NVR Masterclasses
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
SR Full Practice Tests
11+ Spatial Reasoning – Pack 1
SR Skill Specific Practice
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning section of the 11+ Trafford Test at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Trafford - NVR & SR Bundle
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Trafford Grammar Schools: Results & Leavers’ Destinations
Trafford Grammar Schools – Progress 8 Scores
Progress 8 is an evaluative measure used to gauge the progress students achieve during their transition from primary school (end of Key Stage 2) to secondary school (end of Key Stage 4). It offers valuable insights into the quality of education provided by schools by assessing the academic advancement of students.
To determine Progress 8 scores, students’ actual achievements across eight core subjects, including English, mathematics, sciences, humanities and languages, are compared to their anticipated accomplishments. These expectations are established based on their prior attainment at the end of primary school. The score is determined by evaluating the average progress made by students across these subjects.
📊 Please refer to the chart below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Trafford:
Source: Gov.uk
A positive Progress 8 score indicates that students, on average, have made more progress than expected, while a negative score suggests that they have made less progress than expected. A score of zero means that students have progressed as expected.
Trafford Grammar Schools – Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refer to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at Trafford grammar schools.
Russell Group universities are esteemed institutions globally, recognised for their remarkable achievements across multiple important measures. These universities demonstrate exceptional research contributions, housing distinguished scholars and groundbreaking discoveries. Their academic reputation is exemplary, attracting talented individuals from all corners of the globe.
Within the distinguished selection of Russell Group members, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge stand out prominently. These institutions boast rich histories of academic excellence and rigorous educational programmes. With renowned faculty and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Oxbridge have maintained their prestigious status for centuries.
📊 The chart below shows the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Trafford:
Source: Gov.uk
As the chart above shows, a significant number of students from Trafford Grammar Schools are offered places at top universities in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About The 11 Plus (11+) Trafford Grammar School Consortium
Does Trafford have grammar schools?
Yes, Trafford has five selective grammar schools. Click here to access the articles we have for each of these schools, addressing their values and ethos, as well as all the details about their 11+ entry procedure.
When should students apply for the Trafford 11+ exam?
The deadline to register via the Local Authority is in June of the year preceding entry. A Common Application Form must also be submitted (prior to the October deadline), listing your preferred schools in a ranked order.
What’s the date of the Trafford 11+ exam?
Grammar schools in the Trafford Consortium hold their 11+ exam in September.
What comes up in the Trafford 11+ exam?
The Trafford test consists of two papers, each lasting approximately an hour and testing Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning).
What is the pass mark at Trafford grammar schools?
Grammars that belong to the Trafford Consortium have a GL-style 11+ exam and a standardised pass mark for 11 plus applicants. Pupils who are able to score 75-80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the 11+ test.
Which publisher provides the Trafford 11+ exam?
Trafford’s grammar schools use GL Assessment as their 11+ exam provider.
The information provided about the Trafford Grammar School Consortium was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.
Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Trafford Grammar School Consortium.
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning
