Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
115%
Capacity
1,421
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its standing in Trafford. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 490 applications for 217 places, with 320 of those coming from first-preference families. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.26, meaning more than two families compete for every place. The school currently holds 1,421 pupils against a capacity of 1,231, so it is running above its official limit. Just 5.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average and a reflection of the selective intake. The school is a boys’ grammar with a mixed sixth form, and its religious character is listed as None. It sits in the Trafford local authority, which has four outstanding-rated secondary schools in total, and this school is the highest-ranked of the 19 schools in the LA by Progress 8.
Academically, the school’s performance is exceptional. Its Progress 8 score of 1.32 is rated as well above average and places it first in Trafford, second in the North West region out of 445 schools, and 16th nationally out of 3,141. This is far ahead of the local authority average Progress 8 of 0.36. At GCSE, 100% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score sits at 79.9. The EBacc average point score is 7.37, and 58.2% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. In the sixth form, the average A-level grade was A-, with a points per entry of 47. Some 62.4% of A-level entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form value added score of 0.15 is above average, and the progress banding is rated as above average. Ofsted’s most recent inspection in 2022 gave the school Outstanding across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include badminton, tennis, martial arts, and dance, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to chess, debate, and Young Enterprise. The school’s SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, and social and emotional mental health needs. This is a selective grammar school that suits academically driven boys and their families who are prepared for a competitive admissions process. Its location in Trafford places it within 0.8 km of Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, another outstanding-rated school, making this area a strong choice for families with children of different genders seeking high-performing state grammar education.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Marlborough Road, Altrincham, Trafford, WA14 2RS |
| Headteacher | Graeme Wright |
| Local Authority | Trafford |
| Number of Pupils | 1,421 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 5.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,421 / 1,231 (115% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.32)
16th of 3,141
Nationally
2nd of 445
In North West
1st of 19
In Trafford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
50.6
'22/23
46.8
'23/24
47.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2398%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 203 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)98%
- Sixth form college1%
100% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 201 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
74%
Russell Group
78%
Top-third HE
10%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)74%
- Employment12%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics143
- Chemistry96
- Physics72
- Biology52
- Economics51
- Computer Studies / Computing41
- History40
- Mathematics (Further)35
- Business Studies:Single24
- Government and Politics19
- Geography17
- Geology12
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed217
490
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
320 families put this school as their 1st choice (65% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian53.4%
- White British24.4%
- Mixed9.3%
- White (other)3.7%
- Black0.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Marlborough Road, Altrincham
Trafford, WA14 2RS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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