Sale Grammar School moves its 11+ test to the summer term of Year 5 for 2029 entry
5 October 2026 · The ElevenReady Team
Sale Grammar School has confirmed a significant change to the timing of its 11+ admissions test for children applying for Year 7 entry in 2029 and beyond. According to the school’s 28 September 2026 admissions update, the test provider will remain FSCE, but the admissions test will move from September of Year 6 to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5.
That makes this a practical change parents will want to note early. While the provider is not changing, the point in the school year when children sit the test is shifting much earlier.
What is changing
For 2029 entry onwards, Sale Grammar School says:
- the test provider will continue to be FSCE
- the admissions test will be moved to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5
- the test format is English and Maths
This affects families planning well ahead for children who will apply for Year 7 places for September 2029 and later.
Who is affected
The change applies to pupils seeking 2029 entry and beyond. For those families, preparation and registration planning may need to happen earlier than they would have done under the previous timetable, because the assessment point will no longer fall in the opening weeks of Year 6.
For parents of younger children in Trafford, this is the key takeaway: the school is not changing away from FSCE, but it is bringing the test forward into Year 5.
What parents should do now
- Check your child’s likely entry year to see whether 2029 entry is the relevant cohort.
- Review your timeline for preparation, as a summer-term Year 5 test leaves less time at the start of Year 6.
- Watch the school’s admissions information for the detailed timetable and registration arrangements for the first affected cohort.
We’ll continue to track confirmed 11+ admissions changes as schools publish them, especially where they alter test timing or format in ways that affect family planning.