Trafford entrance exams: check your intake year
Begin with the year your child would start Year 7. That is the intake year. Test dates, registration and preparation happen earlier, and the consortium has announced changes that affect different cohorts in different ways.
Ask about entrance preparation
The published consortium transition
Urmston Grammar's official update sets out the following arrangements. Check the school sources for later announcements and exact registration requirements before making plans.
- 2027 Year 7 entry: GL, with the test in September 2026.
- 2028 Year 7 entry: FSCE, with the test in September of Year 6.
- 2029 Year 7 entry onwards: FSCE, with testing in the latter part of the summer term of Year 5.
Check the route for each school
The consortium comprises Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School. Loreto Grammar and St Ambrose College have separate admissions arrangements.
Write down the schools being considered and check each current policy. Registration for an assessment, meeting the qualifying standard and allocation of a place are separate steps. Do not assume that one tuition booking, test result or registration settles every part of an application.
Independent schools and non-selective state schools have their own routes too. A family's choice should consider the child and the school, as well as an assessment. Beyond Education's references to schools provide context and do not imply endorsement or a partnership.
Plan preparation around the right information
Older siblings' practice materials can be useful for some underlying skills, but they should not be assumed to describe a changed assessment. Use official familiarisation guidance for the relevant cohort and speak to a tutor about the learning your child actually needs.
Keep a simple record of the intended intake year, schools, official information links and the dates you need to check. If an access arrangement may be needed, ask the relevant school about its process in good time. A mock provider cannot automatically authorise an adjustment for the official test.
Our entrance preparation begins with a free primary assessment and advice conversation. The team can discuss English and maths foundations, suitable groups and mock opportunities. School admissions decisions and official test registration remain separate from those tuition arrangements.
Your questions, answered.
What is the difference between test year and entry year?
The test is taken before a child starts Year 7. The entry year describes the September they would join secondary school. Always use the intended entry year when checking which announced arrangements apply to your child.
Is registering for tuition the same as registering for the entrance test?
No. Parents or carers must follow the relevant official school or provider process. A Beyond Education tuition or mock booking does not complete test registration or a school application.
Does reaching the qualifying standard guarantee a place?
No. Schools allocate places using their published admissions arrangements. Read the applicable policy and contact the school or local authority for questions about your circumstances. A tutor cannot guarantee an allocation.
Should we buy new materials immediately?
Check the official information for the correct intake year and discuss suitable learning priorities first. Buying many resources is not a substitute for knowing what your child needs to practise or which assessment arrangement applies.
How do we keep up with changes?
Use the linked official admissions update and each school's current admissions pages. This guide shows the date the information was checked. School publications remain the source for new deadlines, policies and subsequent changes.
Discuss a plan for your child's year
Tell us the intended intake and schools being considered, and ask about a free assessment.