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Trafford's move to FSCE: what changes for 2028 entry

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial Team

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

In short

The Trafford grammar school consortium is changing its 11+ test. Children now in Year 6 sat the last GL test. Children now in Year 5 will sit a new FSCE test of English and maths in September 2027, at the start of Year 6Trafford 2028 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2028, the test provider will be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in September of Year 6.View the official source. Children now in Year 4 will sit it earlier still, in the latter part of the summer term of Year 5Trafford 2029 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2029 onwards, the test provider will continue to be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in the latter part of the Summer Term of Year 5.View the official source. Papers, registration dates and practice material for the new test are not published yet.

Which schools does the change cover?

The change applies to the Trafford Grammar School ConsortiumTrafford: NameChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: The Trafford Grammar School Consortium comprises Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School.View the official source, which has 5Trafford: School countChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: and will provide specialist guidance and support to admissions teams across all five schools.View the official source member schools: Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar SchoolTrafford: SchoolsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: The Trafford Grammar School Consortium comprises Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School.View the official source. How the test is organised does not change: The Trafford Grammar School Consortium: one shared test for the five schools, registered for once through any member schoolTrafford: Test run byChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: The Consortium operates a shared testing process, enabling children to sit one test for entry to any of these schools.View the official source.

Two other selective schools in Trafford, Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College, set their own tests, and the consortium's announcement does not cover them. For 2027 entry, Loreto used GL Assessment for the English and verbal reasoning papers; the maths paper's provider is not namedLoreto Grammar School: Test family by entry year (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School.The source says: 2) English - GL: 45 minutes ... 3) Verbal Reasoning - GL: 50 minutes ... Here are some familiarisation materials provided by GL Assessment:View the official source, and St Ambrose used GL Assessment for the Verbal Reasoning paper; Maths and English papers prepared in-houseSaint Ambrose College: Test family by entry year (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Ambrose College.The source says: Verbal Reasoning Paper (50 minutes) – multiple choice. • Our assessment provider for this paper is GL Assessment ... The Maths paper is prepared in-house ... The English paper is prepared in-houseView the official source. Neither school has said yet what it will use for 2028 entry. If you are applying to one of them as well as a consortium school, your child may sit two quite different tests.

Which test will my child sit?

It depends on your child's school year now.

Your child is now inEntry yearTest providerWhen the test is sat
Year 62027GL AssessmentTrafford grammar schools consortium 11+ test: Provider by entry year (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.The source says: AGGS is part of the Trafford Grammar Schools GL Consortium and will use exam papers in the entrance exam provided by GL.View the official sourceSeptember of Year 6Trafford 2027 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2027, the test provider will be GL and the admissions test will be held in September 2026, as previously communicated.View the official source (sat on 14 September 2026Trafford 2027 entry: Test dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.The source says: Date of the Entrance Exam – Monday 14th September 2026View the official source)
Year 52028FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise)Trafford grammar schools consortium 11+ test: Provider by entry year (2028)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: We are delighted to announce that the Trafford Grammar School Consortium has appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) as their new admissions test provider for entry to Year 7 from 2028 onwards.View the official sourceSeptember 2027, at the start of Year 6Trafford 2028 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2028, the test provider will be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in September of Year 6.View the official source
Year 42029FSCETrafford grammar schools consortium 11+ test: Provider by entry year (2029)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2029 onwards, the test provider will continue to be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in the latter part of the Summer Term of Year 5.View the official sourcelatter part of the summer term of Year 5Trafford 2029 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2029 onwards, the test provider will continue to be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in the latter part of the Summer Term of Year 5.View the official source

So there are two changes, a year apart. Today's Year 5 children are the first to sit the new FSCE test, but at the familiar time of year. Today's Year 4 children sit the same kind of test, but a few months earlier, before Year 6 begins.

What has been confirmed so far?

The consortium announced the change on 14 July 2026Trafford: New provider announcement dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.The source says: 14 Jul 2026 Trafford Grammar School Consortium Appoints New Provider for Admissions TestView the official source. For 2028 entry, the schools say: GL Assessment is replaced by FSCE. The test changes from verbal, non-verbal and mathematical reasoning to Key Stage 2 English and maths (the national curriculum up to the end of Year 5); FSCE will set, mark and age-standardise itTrafford 2028 entry: Provider changeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: Beginning with the entrance test to be sat in September 2027, the content of the admissions test will change from verbal, non-verbal and mathematical reasoning. The new admissions test will draw on the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics national curriculum programmes of study up to the end of Year 5.View the official source.

In plain terms, three things are confirmed for children now in Year 5:

  1. Different subjects. The GL test covered Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths.Trafford grammar schools consortium 11+ test: SubjectsChecked 12 Oct 2026 against Stretford Grammar School.The source says: The entrance exam will consist of two exams, each approximately one hour in length, containing questions that assess verbal, non-verbal and mathematics skills.View the official source The new test covers Key Stage 2 English and maths, drawing on the national curriculum up to the end of Year 5Trafford: Test content2028Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: The new admissions test will draw on the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics national curriculum programmes of study up to the end of Year 5.View the official source. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are no longer named.
  2. A new marker. FSCE sets and marks the test. On scoring, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys says: FSCE will score, analyse and age-standardise; weights not published.Altrincham Grammar School for Boys: Score composition (2028)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.The source says: Under the new arrangements, FSCE will design, develop, and deliver the test papers - including scoring, analysis, age‑standardisation, and secure reporting of resultsView the official source.
  3. The same season. The test stays in September 2027, at the start of Year 6Trafford 2028 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: For entry to Year 7 in 2028, the test provider will be FSCE and the admissions test will be held in September of Year 6.View the official source.

On access arrangements for children with additional needs, the position is: FSCE provides Braille, large print and modified papers and expert support for reasonable adjustments; request process for 2028 not yet published.Trafford 2028 entry: Access arrangementsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: FSCE also provides specialist formats – including Braille, large print and modified papers – and expert support for schools making reasonable adjustments for candidates with additional needs.View the official source

For children now in Year 4, one further step is confirmed: Test moves from September of Year 6 to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5 from 2029 entry; FSCE remains provider.Trafford 2029 entry: Provider changeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Trafford).The source says: As part of the new arrangements, for entry to Year 7 from 2029 onwards, the Trafford Grammar School Consortium have also taken the decision to move the test date from September of Year 6 to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5.View the official source

What has not been published yet?

Quite a lot is still to come for 2028 entry. When we last checked, none of the following had been published by the consortium:

  • the exact test date (only the month is known)
  • registration opening and closing dates
  • the list of papers, their length and the question format (multiple choice, written answers or both)
  • how English and maths are weighted
  • familiarisation material for the new test
  • qualifying scores and the pupil premium rules for 2028 entry
  • the results date and how results will be shared

Please don't assume the 2027 arrangements will simply carry over. For the last GL test, registration ran from 23 April 2026, noonTrafford 2027 entry: Registration opensChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.The source says: Applications for Year 7 Entry 2027 will open at 12 noon on Thursday 23rd April 2026View the official source to 19 June 2026, noonTrafford 2027 entry: Registration closesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.The source says: Applications open at 12 noon on Thursday 23 April 2026, and close at 12 noon on Friday 19 June 2026.View the official source, but a new provider may bring a new timetable. Our Trafford 11+ dates page is updated as soon as the schools publish.

Will Trafford's FSCE test look like Gloucestershire's?

Not necessarily. FSCE describes its tests as individually tailored to the needs of each schoolFSCE: TailoredChecked 9 Oct 2026 against FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise).The source says: Tests that are individually tailored toView the official source, and FSCE is a not-for-profit subsidiary of Reading School used by twelve schools and consortiaFSCE: ReachChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: FSCE, a not‑for‑profit subsidiary of Reading School, develops bespoke admissions assessments designed specifically for selective state grammar schools.View the official source. Each school or consortium chooses its own papers.

Gloucestershire is also changing (FSCE from 2028 entry, tested in July of Year 5Gloucestershire: change to FSCE testsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test for entry into Year 7 in September 2028 will take place on Saturday 3 July 2027.View the official source), and has published its papers: Adventure (English and Maths; multiple choice); Beacon (English and Maths; short written answers); Compass (Art & Design, Computing, Design & Technology, English, Geography, History, Languages, Maths, Music, Physical Education and Science; multiple choice)Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): PapersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: Adventure Paper: English and Maths, with Multiple Choice Answer options; Beacon Paper: English and Maths, where you respond with Short Written Answers; Compass Paper: any of the following subjects you learn at school: Art & Design, Computing, Design & Technology, English, Geography, History, Languages, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Science, with Multiple Choice Answer options.View the official source. Trafford has so far confirmed only English and maths, so Gloucestershire's wider-curriculum paper may not apply here. Treat other areas' FSCE material as background, not as a description of the Trafford test. Our GL vs FSCE guide compares the two kinds of test in general terms.

What happens to practice material?

Under GL, the consortium offered this: The Trafford Consortium of Grammar Schools Entrance Test Familiarisation Guide (GL; sample VR, NVR and maths questions with answer sheet), linked from each school's site; booklets also point to GL practice papers. Horizons: 12-week programme from the summer term of Year 5 for Pupil Premium pupils, run by all five schools.Trafford 2027 entry: FamiliarisationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.The source says: THE TRAFFORD CONSORTIUM OF GRAMMAR SCHOOLS Entrance Test Familiarisation GuideView the official source

That GL guide covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning, so it no longer describes the test for children now in Year 5. FSCE works differently. It says there are no past papers; the content changes every yearFSCE: past papersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise).The source says: FSCE does not issue past papers and our test content changes every year;View the official source. FSCE's view is that children do not need a tutor, and its website and familiarisation guides give all the information neededFSCE: what it says about tutoringChecked 9 Oct 2026 against FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise).The source says: All the information you and your child will need can be found on this website and in our Familiarisation Guides.View the official source. The Trafford familiarisation guide for the FSCE test has not been published yet; when it is, it will be the most reliable guide to the question styles.

Some practice books and courses may already carry an "FSCE" label. Remember that FSCE does not release past papers, so no outside product can show the Trafford papers.

Is there free help for pupil premium children?

Yes. The consortium schools run Horizons. Sale Grammar School describes it as: Horizons: 12-week entrance-exam familiarisation programme for Year 5 pupil premium pupils run by the five Trafford consortium schools, starting in the summer term of Year 5; primary schools nominate pupils in JanuarySale Grammar School: Horizons programmeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sale Grammar School.The source says: Horizons is an Entrance Exam Familiarisation Programme offered to Year 5 pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium. [...] Horizons is a 12-week programme which begins during the Summer term of Year 5.View the official source.

If your child is in Year 4 now and is eligible for the pupil premium, the timing matters. Under the new timetable for 2029 entry, the test itself falls in the summer term of Year 5, the same term Horizons has started in. The schools have not yet said how Horizons will fit the earlier test, so ask your primary school about nomination in good time. On admissions priority: There is no single rule for the area: each school sets its own pupil premium priorityTrafford 2027 entry: Pp priorityChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.The source says: The Consortium Grammar Schools each have their own oversubscription criteria relating to Pupil Premium and these are available to read on their websites.View the official source. Our guide to pupil premium and the 11+ explains the general rules.

What do past qualifying scores mean now?

Use them with extra care. For 2027 entry, the rule was: No consortium-wide pass mark: each school standardises against its own cohort and sets its own qualifying score (AGGS and AGSB: 334, or 324 for looked-after / Pupil Premium applicants). A child can qualify for one school and not another.Trafford 2027 entry: Qualifying ruleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.The source says: Is it possible for my child to pass the entrance exam for one school, but not the other? Yes. Although the entrance exam will be the same for each school, the standardised results may be different. This is because the exam results are being compared to those of a different cohort of children.View the official source

Those scores came from the GL test, with different subjects. A new test, set and standardised by a new provider, may produce different scores, and each school sets its qualifying score again for each entry year. Our Trafford results page explains how results work under the current arrangements.

What can families do now?

If your child is in Year 5.

  • Make sure Year 5 English and maths feel secure. The schools have said the new test draws on the national curriculum up to the end of Year 5, which is the work your child does in class.
  • Set aside non-verbal reasoning practice. It is no longer named in the test content.
  • Watch the consortium schools' admissions pages for registration dates, since a child must be registered to sit the test.
  • If your child needs access arrangements, keep evidence from school ready, because the request process for 2028 entry is not published yet.

If your child is in Year 4. Your child's test falls in the summer of Year 5, so the planning window is shorter than for older siblings. Our guide to the 11+ in Year 4 looks at sensible pacing.

If an older child sat the GL test. Much of what helped them still helps: wide reading, a growing vocabulary, confident arithmetic and careful checking. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning books will be less useful this time.

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 13 October 2026: Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Sale Grammar School, Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar School (the Trafford Grammar School Consortium), Loreto Grammar School, St Ambrose College, FSCE, Reading School and the Gloucestershire grammar schools.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with the Trafford grammar schools, GL Assessment or FSCE. How we make our content.