What do we know about Trafford’s 2023 entrance exams?

It was a big surprise when the CEM, exam providers for the Trafford Consortium of grammar schools, announced that they would no longer provide a paper exam. Many schools across the country were caught on the hop, as not much notice was given. We all know it is essential to begin preparing children several months in advance of the exam, so this posed a big problem for parents and pupils. How can we prepare children for an exam when we have no idea of the format? Here’s what we know so far. All information is correct at the time of writing.

Stretford Grammar

At the time of writing, Stretford Grammar have said that full arrangements for entry to the school in September 2024 will be announced on their website by mid-May 2023. Their draft admissions policy states that the skill areas to be tested are Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Source: Stretford Grammar Draft Admissions Policy.

Urmston Grammar

Urmston Grammar’s website currently states that the school is ‘still in the planning stages’ for their September 2023 entrance exam. However, the site also states that ‘We do not intend to make any changes to the skills tested in the exam.’ This would suggest that the skills areas to be tested will be Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Urmston Grammar says that full arrangements will be available from their website by mid-May 2023.

Source: Urmston Grammar website.

Sale Grammar

Sale Grammar’s website currently states that the school is ‘still in the planning stages’ for their September 2023 entrance exam. However, the site also states that ‘We do not intend to make any changes to the skills tested in the exam.’ This would suggest that the skills areas to be tested will be Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Sale Grammar says that full arrangements will be available from their website in due course.

Source: Sale Grammar website.

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys’ website currently states that the school is ‘still in the planning stages’ for their September 2023 entrance exam. However, the site also states that ‘We do not intend to make any changes to the skills tested in the exam.’ This would suggest that the skills areas to be tested will be Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys says that full arrangements will be available from their website in due course.

Source: Altrincham Grammar School for Boys website.

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

At the time of writing, there is no information about entry to the school for September 2024. There is, however, a suggestion that you may like to email their admissions officer at: admissions@aggs.bright-futures.co.uk

for more information.

Source: Altrincham Grammar School for Girls website.

Loreto Grammar and St Ambrose College

The two Catholic grammar schools are unaffected by the changes made to the Trafford Consortium exams.

Will the Consortium Continue?

For the past few years, five of Trafford’s grammar schools have formed a consortium. This meant that students could sit one exam for Urmston, Stretford and Sale Grammar(s) as well as Altrincham Grammar School(s) for Girls/ Boys. The schools have not yet announced whether this will continue to be the case. If the consortium is disbanded, your child will need to register for each exam separately.

Who Will the New Exam Provider Be?

None of the schools have announced their new exam provider. There are a few options:

1) The schools could opt to write their own examinations.

2) The schools could opt to return to GL Assessment. Trafford’s grammar schools previously used GL Assessment and GL Assessment is now the biggest provider of grammar school entrance exams in the country.

3) The schools could opt for the CEM online test, which is a one-hour test completed via computer. This seems the least likely option as each school would need over 1000 internet-connected computers.

How Can Better Tuition Help?

Better Tuition is by far the most experienced provider of entrance exam support in the area. Established in 2008, we were here back in the days when all the grammar schools used GL Assessment as an exam provider. We are expert in all forms of verbal and non-verbal reasoning, so whatever the exams cover, we know how to help your child develop the skills and techniques needed to pass Trafford’s grammar school entrance exams.

We offer:

• Face-to-face tuition at our Urmston tuition centre;

• Online group tuition for entrance exam preparation;

• Practice entrance exams;

• Masterclasses;

• Summer school (contact us for more information).