---
type: "Article"
title: "The 11 Best Schools in Greater Manchester Compared"
description: "The 11 best schools in Greater Manchester for 2026, the Trafford grammar schools and top independents ranked on results and inspection, with each school's 11+ entrance exam and the Trafford Consortium test explained for parents."
resource: https://pip11plus.com/best-schools-in-greater-manchester
tags: ["pip"]
timestamp: 2026-10-13T19:50:09Z
image: https://pip11plus.com/info-hub-cards/regional-tests-pip.jpg
---

🏫 School Choice

# The 11 Best Schools in Greater Manchester (2026)

![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png)

**By the Pip team** Updated June 2026

Greater Manchester has a rich mix of top schools, and an unusual one. It has a small cluster of free state grammar schools, mostly in Trafford, alongside some of the strongest independent schools in the North of England. The catch for parents is that the two run on completely different entrance systems and timelines. Below are our eleven best schools in Greater Manchester, blending the free grammars and the fee-paying independents, ranked on results, reputation and inspection. For each one you will find who it is for, the entrance exam it sets, how places are decided, and why it earns its place. We never run a school down, and the "best" school is always the one that fits your child.

**TL;DR**

-   The free **state grammars** are mostly in **Trafford**; **Altrincham Boys** and **Altrincham Girls** lead them.
-   The top **independents**, **Manchester Grammar School** and **Withington**, are among the best schools in the North, but they are **fee-paying**.
-   Five Trafford grammars share **one test**, the **Trafford Consortium 11+**: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths, with **no English paper**.
-   Watch the name trap: **Manchester Grammar, Stockport Grammar and Bury Grammar are independent**, not free, despite "Grammar" in the name.

## How we ranked them

There is no single official ranking that mixes grammar and independent schools, so we used a transparent blend of three things: the most recent **published exam results** (2024 and 2025 GCSE and A-level grades where schools have shared them), **reputation and selectivity**, and the latest **inspection** outcome. The state grammars are inspected by Ofsted and the independents by the ISI, so we weighed those separately rather than against each other.

For an independent option nearby, see our [Bolton School entrance exam guide](https://pip11plus.com/bolton-school-entrance-exam).

Two honest caveats. First, every school here is excellent, so the order separates outstanding from outstanding, and any would be a superb choice. Second, results, fees and admissions change every year, and since 2024 Ofsted no longer gives state schools a single overall grade, so where we say "Outstanding" we mean the rating from each school's last graded inspection. Treat the detail as a 2025/2026 snapshot and always confirm the latest on each school's own website. Pip is not affiliated with any school or exam board.

_Trafford's grammars test reasoning and maths; the independents and Catholic grammars set their own English and maths papers. [Our Trafford 11+ guide](https://pip11plus.com/trafford-11-plus-explained) covers the consortium route in full._

## How 11+ entry in Greater Manchester works

This is the part that catches families out, because Greater Manchester runs **three separate selective routes**, not one.

First, the **Trafford Consortium**: five state grammars, **Altrincham Boys, Altrincham Girls, Sale, Stretford and Urmston**, share a single GL Assessment test covering **verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths**, with **no English paper**. It is sat in **September of Year 6**, and one registration covers all five. Places are then decided largely by **catchment and distance** after the qualifying score, so where you live matters as much as the mark. Our [full Trafford 11+ guide](https://pip11plus.com/trafford-11-plus-explained) walks through the format and timeline, and the [Trafford catchment pages](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/trafford) show each school's area.

Second, the **Catholic grammars**, **Loreto** and **St Ambrose College**, are also free state grammars but run their **own tests**, separate from the consortium, using GL verbal reasoning alongside their own English and maths papers, with **faith criteria** shaping admission. Third, the **independents**, from Manchester Grammar School to Bolton School, each set **their own entrance exam**, usually in **January**, a term before the Trafford test. There is no shared independent consortium, so a family can realistically sit the January independent exams _and_ the September Trafford test in the same year.

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## 1 The Manchester Grammar School

![The Manchester Grammar School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/manchester-grammar-school.jpg)

_The Manchester Grammar School - the academic powerhouse of the North West, and independent despite the name._

-   **Who it's for** Boys' independent, day (co-ed sixth form) · Fallowfield, Manchester (M13)
-   **Entrance exam** Own autumn assessment day plus a January exam in English and maths
-   **Fees** Fee-paying (around £16,000 a year), with a large bursary programme
-   **Results & inspection** Around 88% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and ~73% of A-levels at A\*/A (2025), with 32 Oxbridge offers; ISI standards met

Founded in 1515, MGS is the academic powerhouse of the North West and the largest independent boys' day school in the country. The "Grammar" in its name is historic: it is fee-paying, though its long-standing bursary heritage supports many free and assisted places. Entry is its own autumn assessment day plus a January exam in English and maths, a full term ahead of the Trafford grammars, so many families prepare for both.

## 2 Withington Girls' School

![Withington Girls' School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/withington-girls-school.jpg)

_Withington Girls' School - consistently the top-performing independent in the North of England._

-   **Who it's for** Girls' independent, day · Fallowfield, Manchester (M14)
-   **Entrance exam** Own January exam in English, maths and verbal reasoning, then interview
-   **Fees** Fee-paying, with bursaries and scholarships
-   **Results & inspection** Consistently the top independent school in the North; strong Russell Group and Oxbridge record; ISI standards met (2025)

Founded in 1890 by Manchester families who wanted their daughters to have the same chances as their sons, Withington is small, intensely academic and consistently the highest-achieving independent school in the North of England. Entry is its own January paper in English, maths and verbal reasoning, followed by an interview for shortlisted girls.

## 3 Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

![Altrincham Grammar School for Boys homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/altrincham-grammar-boys.jpg)

_Altrincham Grammar School for Boys - one of the most oversubscribed state grammars in the country._

-   **Who it's for** Boys' grammar, free · Altrincham (WA14)
-   **Entrance exam** Trafford Consortium 11+: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths
-   **Admissions** Catchment and distance after the qualifying score
-   **Results & Ofsted** Around 82% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and strong A-levels (2025); rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection

AGSB is the leading boys' state grammar in Greater Manchester and one of the most oversubscribed grammars in the country, with strong STEM and sport. It admits through the Trafford Consortium test, one sitting that covers all five consortium grammars, with places then decided by catchment and distance, so a high score and a local address both count.

## 4 Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

![Altrincham Grammar School for Girls homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/altrincham-grammar-girls.jpg)

_Altrincham Grammar School for Girls - among the strongest state girls' schools in the North West._

-   **Who it's for** Girls' grammar, free · Bowdon, Altrincham (WA14)
-   **Entrance exam** Trafford Consortium 11+: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths
-   **Admissions** Catchment, with priority for a straight-line radius around the school
-   **Results & Ofsted** Among the top state girls' schools in the North West; rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection

AGGS is one of the strongest state girls' schools in the North West and the lead school of a large academy trust, with a high-achieving sixth form. It sits the same Trafford Consortium test as AGSB, but as a catchment-priority school, distance matters as much as the mark, so families plan around its admission area.

## 5 Manchester High School for Girls

![Manchester High School for Girls homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/manchester-high-school-girls.jpg)

_Manchester High School for Girls - one of England's oldest girls' schools, with a strong wellbeing ethos._

-   **Who it's for** Girls' independent, day · Whalley Range, Manchester (M14)
-   **Entrance exam** The school's own Year 7 entrance assessment
-   **Fees** Fee-paying (around £15,000 a year), with bursaries
-   **Results & inspection** Around 77% of GCSEs at grade 7+ and ~57% of A-levels at A\*/A (2025); ISI standards met

Founded in 1874, Manchester High is one of England's oldest girls' schools and pairs strong results with a well-known "learning, innovation, compassion and wellbeing" ethos. It sets its own January-cycle entrance assessment, an independent alternative or fallback to AGGS and Loreto for academically able girls in south Manchester.

## 6 Loreto Grammar School

![Loreto Grammar School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/loreto-grammar-school.jpg)

_Loreto Grammar School - one of the top Catholic state grammars in the country._

-   **Who it's for** Girls' Catholic grammar, free · Altrincham (WA14)
-   **Entrance exam** Its own test (GL verbal reasoning plus the school's own English and maths), not the consortium
-   **Admissions** Faith and distance criteria; heavily oversubscribed (~700 applicants for 150 places)
-   **Results & Ofsted** A leading Catholic grammar with a strong, values-led record; rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection

Loreto is one of the top Catholic state grammars in the country, with a Loreto heritage and a strong reputation for pastoral care. Crucially it runs its own test, separate from the Trafford Consortium, so a girl can sit both Loreto and the consortium, though Catholic faith criteria shape who is offered a place.

## 7 Sale Grammar School

![Sale Grammar School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/sale-grammar-school.jpg)

_Sale Grammar School - the strongest co-educational state grammar in Trafford._

-   **Who it's for** Co-educational grammar, free · Sale (M33)
-   **Entrance exam** Trafford Consortium 11+: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths
-   **Admissions** Catchment and distance after the qualifying score
-   **Results & Ofsted** Around 74% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and strong A-levels (2025); rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection

Sale is the strongest co-educational state grammar in Trafford, the go-to for families who want mixed-sex selective education rather than single-sex Altrincham. It uses the same Trafford Consortium test, with places decided by catchment and distance after the score.

## 8 Stockport Grammar School

![Stockport Grammar School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/stockport-grammar-school.jpg)

_Stockport Grammar School - founded in 1487, and fee-paying despite the name._

-   **Who it's for** Co-educational independent, day · Stockport (SK2)
-   **Entrance exam** The school's own entrance exam
-   **Fees** Fee-paying (around £15,500 a year), with scholarships and bursaries
-   **Results & inspection** Well above national averages at GCSE and A-level; ISI standards met (2023)

Founded in 1487, Stockport Grammar is one of the oldest schools in England and, despite the "Grammar" name, fee-paying. It is a leading co-educational independent for south Manchester, Stockport and Cheshire families, set on a 30-acre site, and admits through its own entrance exam with no catchment.

## 9 Cheadle Hulme School

![Cheadle Hulme School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/cheadle-hulme-school.jpg)

_Cheadle Hulme School - a large, well-regarded co-ed independent with strong all-round results._

-   **Who it's for** Co-educational independent, day · Cheadle Hulme, Stockport (SK8)
-   **Entrance exam** The school's own entrance exam
-   **Fees** Fee-paying (around £17,700 a year), with bursaries
-   **Results & inspection** Around 67% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 (2024), well above average; ISI met all standards (2024)

Founded in 1855, Cheadle Hulme is a large and well-regarded co-educational independent with a strong all-round (academic and co-curricular) reputation and modern facilities. Entry is its own January-cycle exam, a popular alternative to Stockport Grammar and a common fallback for Trafford grammar applicants.

## 10 Bolton School

![Bolton School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/bolton-school.jpg)

_Bolton School - a diamond-model foundation with one of the North West's largest bursary schemes._

-   **Who it's for** Independent, day, with separate Boys' and Girls' Divisions on one campus · Bolton (BL1)
-   **Entrance exam** The school's own entrance exam
-   **Fees** Fee-paying (around £14,300 a year), with one of the region's largest bursary schemes
-   **Results & inspection** Strong, above-average GCSE and A-level results; ISI standards met (Girls' Division rated excellent, 2023)

Bolton School runs separate Boys' and Girls' Divisions on a shared 32-acre campus, the "diamond" model, endowed by Lord Leverhulme with one of the largest bursary schemes in the North West. It serves the north of the conurbation, where there are no state grammars, and admits through its own entrance exam.

_The Trafford test puts real weight on non-verbal and verbal reasoning, where real reasoning means patterns like this. [Try 11+ non-verbal reasoning in Pip](https://pip11plus.com/non-verbal-reasoning-questions), unlimited and free._

## 11 Bury Grammar School

![Bury Grammar School homepage](https://pip11plus.com/school-shots/bury-grammar-school.jpg)

_Bury Grammar School - the leading academic independent for the Bury area, and fee-paying despite the name._

-   **Who it's for** Co-educational independent, day · Bury (BL9)
-   **Entrance exam** The school's own entrance exam
-   **Fees** Fee-paying (around £14,000 a year), with bursaries and scholarships
-   **Results & inspection** Around 54% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and 40% of A-levels at A\*/A (2025), well above average; ISI-inspected

Like Manchester Grammar and Stockport, Bury Grammar's name is historic: it is fee-paying, founded in 1570, and the leading academic independent for the Bury area on a large estate. Entry is its own exam, with no catchment, making it the selective route on the north side of the conurbation.

**Also worth knowing: the rest of the Trafford grammars**

Beyond the schools above, the Trafford Consortium also includes **Stretford Grammar** and **Urmston Grammar** (both free, co-ed, same September test), and **St Ambrose College** is the Catholic boys' grammar that, like Loreto, runs its own exam and faith criteria. See them all on the [Trafford catchment pages](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-schools/trafford).

### One free app for every school on this list

Trafford's grammars test reasoning and maths, and the independents and Catholic grammars add English. Pip turns it all into five calm minutes a day - adaptive, exam-style, and genuinely free.

Verbal Reasoning Non-Verbal Reasoning Maths English

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## Frequently asked questions

**What is the best school in Greater Manchester?**

For independents, The Manchester Grammar School (boys) and Withington Girls' School are the academic standouts, consistently among the top schools in the North. For state grammars, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and for Girls lead, with Loreto and Sale close behind. The "best" school, though, is the one that fits your child, so weigh single-sex or co-ed, fees, faith and location too.

**How do you get into a Trafford grammar school?**

Five Trafford grammars, Altrincham Boys, Altrincham Girls, Sale, Stretford and Urmston, share one test through the Trafford Consortium. It covers verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths (there is no English paper), sat in September of Year 6, and one registration covers all five. Places are then decided largely by catchment and distance, so a strong score and a local address both matter. Our [Trafford 11+ guide](https://pip11plus.com/trafford-11-plus-explained) has the full timeline.

**Are Manchester Grammar School and Stockport Grammar free?**

No. Despite the word Grammar in their names, The Manchester Grammar School, Stockport Grammar School and Bury Grammar School are independent, fee-paying schools, each with its own entrance exam, usually in January. The state grammars in Greater Manchester, which are free, are the Trafford schools (Altrincham, Sale, Stretford, Urmston) plus the Catholic grammars Loreto and St Ambrose.

**Do the Catholic grammars use the Trafford Consortium test?**

No. Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College are state grammars but run their own entrance tests, separate from the Trafford Consortium, using GL verbal reasoning plus their own English and maths papers, with Catholic faith criteria applying to admission. A child can sit both the Catholic grammar test and the September Trafford Consortium test in the same year.

**What does the Trafford 11+ test cover?**

The Trafford Consortium test is two age-standardised GL Assessment papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths. There is no separate English paper, though strong reading and vocabulary still help with verbal reasoning. The Catholic grammars and the independents test English and maths too, so building all four skills prepares a child for any Greater Manchester school.

![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png)

Written by **The Pip team**

The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers.

## Keep reading

[The Trafford 11+ explained](https://pip11plus.com/trafford-11-plus-explained): Exam Types Trafford The consortium test: reasoning, maths and catchment. 7 min read · Exam Types

[Best Grammar Schools in the UK](https://pip11plus.com/best-grammar-schools-uk): School Choice The country's leading grammars, ranked. 12 min read · School Choice

[The 11 Best Schools in Essex](https://pip11plus.com/best-schools-in-essex): School Choice Another county guide, grammars and independents. 13 min read · School Choice

## Aiming for a Trafford grammar?

Pip turns 11+ practice into five calm minutes a day across reasoning, maths and English, the skills Greater Manchester's schools reward.

[Download Pip on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pip-11-practice/id6775690698) [Get Pip on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pip11plus.app) [Available at Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HKGJ4HTP) [Check your catchment](https://pip11plus.com/grammar-school-catchment-checker)

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