The TGSAT in plain English
Trafford runs a consortium model: the seven state grammars in the borough — Altrincham Boys, Altrincham Girls, Loreto, Sale, Stretford, Urmston, and the wider Trafford grammar community — share a single entrance test called the Trafford Grammar Schools Admissions Test (TGSAT). Children sit it once in September of Year 6 and the result is used by every grammar they put on their secondary-school application.
This consortium model means there's no double-testing the way some Sutton or London-borough applicants face. The trade-off is competitive intensity: the TGSAT result is the only entrance score that matters for state-grammar entry in Trafford, so the tutoring environment is well-developed.
Paper format
The TGSAT uses standard GL Assessment papers across four components, sat over two sittings:
- English — comprehension and language conventions, multiple-choice on a separate answer sheet.
- Maths — KS2 arithmetic, problem-solving, ratio, geometry, time.
- Verbal Reasoning — standard GL VR types: cloze, antonyms, codes, analogies.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning — sequences, rotations, mirror images, odd-one-out.
Children write only their answer letters on the answer sheet (not free responses), so handwriting is a non-issue. Speed and accuracy on multiple-choice are what matter.
The seven Trafford grammars
- Altrincham Grammar School for Boys — boys, mixed-faith, very high demand.
- Altrincham Grammar School for Girls — girls, mixed-faith, very high demand.
- Loreto Grammar School — girls, Catholic, Altrincham.
- Sale Grammar School — mixed, mixed-faith.
- Stretford Grammar School — mixed, mixed-faith.
- Urmston Grammar Academy — mixed, mixed-faith.
- St Ambrose College — boys, Catholic.
The Catholic grammars (Loreto, St Ambrose) operate faith-based oversubscription criteria alongside the TGSAT score. Distance from school, sibling priority, and (where applicable) parish attendance all factor in.
Typical prep arc
Most Trafford families start formal prep in early Year 5 — about 12 months before the test. A common rhythm:
- Months 1-3 — diagnostic, KS2 foundations review (times tables fluency, written methods automation, age-appropriate reading speed).
- Months 4-9 — topic-specific GL practice: VR types one at a time, NVR patterns, English comprehension conventions, Maths problem-solving without time pressure yet.
- Months 10-12 — full timed mock papers under exam-like conditions. Drill speed and the "skip and return" strategy for difficult items.
Choosing a Trafford 11+ tutor
Things to confirm with a candidate tutor:
- How many TGSAT cohorts they've prepped in the last two years.
- Which Trafford grammars their students have gone on to.
- Whether they cover all four GL components or specialise.
- Their approach to managing exam-day timing on multiple-choice papers.
Use Tutorperch messaging to discuss the specifics before you commit — it's free and tutors expect the conversation. The £20 unlock fee only matters once you've decided you want to work together.