Sale Grammar School
101%
Capacity
1,350
Pupils
5.6x
Demand
About Sale Grammar School
Sale Grammar School is a heavily oversubscribed state secondary in Trafford, with 1,087 applications for 193 places in the 2025/26 admissions round — an oversubscription ratio of 5.63 to one. Only 138 first-preference offers were made from 213 first-preference applications, giving a clear signal of how sought-after places are here. The school currently has 1,350 pupils against a capacity of 1,341, so it is running slightly over its official number. Just 3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average and a reflection of the school’s selective intake in a borough where grammar schools dominate. The school is non-denominational and mixed, with a sixth form attached, and is led by headteacher Rebecca Smith. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2022, rated it Outstanding across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — a clean sweep that it also achieved in its previous inspection back in 2006.
Academically, Sale Grammar School performs very strongly. Its Progress 8 score of 0.8 is rated ‘well above average’ nationally and more than double the Trafford local authority average of 0.36. The Attainment 8 score sits at 75.5, and 99.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 7.14, with 81% of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects and 76.7% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. At A-level, the school’s best three A-levels average a B+ grade, with 39.6% of entries achieving grades AAB or higher. The value-added score for sixth form is 0.08, classed as ‘Average’, and the points per entry grade is also B+. In the North West, the school ranks 20th out of 445 schools by Progress 8, and 192nd nationally out of 3,141 — comfortably inside the top 7% of all state secondaries.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, science labs, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include cricket, netball, rugby, football, swimming, and martial arts, while clubs range from Eco Club and Model UN to Coding and Young Enterprise. The school’s SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, and physical disabilities. Given its high oversubscription and strong academic outcomes, this is a school that will suit families who are confident their child can thrive in a selective, high-performing environment. For those living further afield, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Loreto Grammar School, 4.3 km away, but Sale Grammar’s own Outstanding rating and strong local reputation make it a top choice within Trafford’s competitive secondary market.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Marsland Road, Sale, Trafford, M33 3NH |
| Headteacher | Rebecca Smith |
| Local Authority | Trafford |
| Number of Pupils | 1,350 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 3.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,350 / 1,341 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 27 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.80)
192nd of 3,141
Nationally
20th of 445
In North West
7th 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
48.3
'22/23
45.0
'23/24
44.4
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
2022/2383%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 190 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)83%
- Sixth form college15%
- FE college2%
- Apprenticeship1%
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
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 172 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
58%
Russell Group
62%
Top-third HE
3%
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)67%
- Employment16%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Mathematics83
- Chemistry78
- Biology57
- Psychology56
- Economics50
- Business Studies:Single41
- Physics35
- Geography27
- History24
- Religious Studies20
- Sociology19
- English Literature18
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
2025/26Oversubscribed193
1,087
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
213 families put this school as their 1st choice (20% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:10
Source: salegrammar.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British52.7%
- Asian24.9%
- Mixed9.5%
- White (other)5.0%
- Black0.7%
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 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
14
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
12
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 Sale Grammar School
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
Marsland Road, Sale
Trafford, M33 3NH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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