Altrincham Grammar School for Boys 11+ Guide

About Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is a selective secondary school in Greater Manchester. For children to get into Altrincham Grammar School for Boys they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys (AGSB) is a beacon of academic excellence, nurturing bright young minds aged 11-18. With an unwavering commitment to their motto, "Labor Omnia Vincit" (Work conquers all), the school cultivates an environment where diligence and perseverance are highly valued. The comprehensive curriculum spans a wide array of subjects, empowering students to develop a well-rounded understanding of languages, humanities, and social sciences.

AGSB takes immense pride in its outstanding academic achievements, with a significant proportion of pupils consistently attaining top grades in their examinations. This culture of success is further enhanced by the school's extensive range of co-curricular activities, catering to diverse interests such as law, gardening, debating, and coding. These enriching experiences lay the groundwork for all-round accomplishment, equipping the boys with the skills and confidence to excel in their future endeavors.

The school's dedication to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment is evident in the respectful and kind demeanor of its pupils. With a strong emphasis on moral values and an unwavering ambition to succeed, AGSB sets a high standard for personal growth and development. The school's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is deeply ingrained in its ethos, with every member of the community playing an active role in addressing anti-racism and promoting a fair and equitable learning environment.

Beyond the classroom, AGSB boasts a celebrated track record of success in various domains, including sports, the arts, engineering, sciences, and debating. The school's ambitious plans for a new £1m sports facility underscore its dedication to providing state-of-the-art amenities that support the holistic development of its students. With a friendly, family-like atmosphere despite its size, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is committed to nurturing self-confident, healthy, and inquisitive young men who are poised to make a positive impact on the world around them.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Altrincham Grammar School for Boys together with their admissions contact details.

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,349 pupils attend Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Graeme Wright.

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys for the 2022-23 academic year.

Trafford 11+ Information

In order to get into Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, children need to pass the Trafford 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Trafford 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Trafford 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• Maths
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-verbal Reasoning

The 11 plus exam for Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is a crucial assessment that determines a child's eligibility for admission. The exam comprises two one-hour papers, both of which are entirely multiple-choice in format. These papers cover a range of subjects designed to evaluate a student's academic potential and reasoning abilities.

The Maths section of the exam is based on the Key Stage 2 national curriculum, assessing a child's proficiency in mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills. The Verbal Reasoning section focuses on a student's ability to analyze and interpret written information, including reading comprehension. Lastly, the Non-verbal Reasoning section evaluates a child's capacity to solve problems using visual information, such as shapes, diagrams, and pictures.

The Altrincham Grammar School for Boys 11 plus exam is a comprehensive assessment that provides valuable insights into a student's academic strengths and potential. Success in this exam is a significant milestone for children seeking to secure a place in this prestigious educational institution.

Other Schools using Trafford 11+

As well as Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, several other schools also use Trafford 11+. These are:

• Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
• Sale Grammar School
• Stretford Grammar School
• Urmston Grammar Academy

Trafford 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Trafford 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Trafford 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Trafford 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Trafford 11+ tests (to get into Altrincham Grammar School for Boys) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Altrincham Grammar School for Boys as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys was last inspected by Ofsted on 27/09/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 10/11/2022, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys was inspected by Ofsted on 27 September 2022 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional performance in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.

The inspection report highlights the school's outstanding quality of education, which is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the teaching staff. The school's strong focus on personal development and the cultivation of positive behaviour and attitudes among students were also highly commended.

Furthermore, the report praises the outstanding leadership and management at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, which has undoubtedly contributed to the school's success. The sixth form provision was also deemed outstanding, indicating that the school provides excellent support and guidance to its older students as they prepare for higher education and future careers.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Altrincham Grammar School for Boys per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Trafford 11+ Ensure you double-check with Altrincham Grammar School for Boys which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.