Trafford grammar schools to switch from GL to FSCE for September 2028 entry
14 August 2026 · The ElevenReady Team
Families targeting Trafford grammar schools have a significant admissions update to note: the Trafford Grammar School Consortium is moving from GL to FSCE for September 2028 entry.
This affects schools in the consortium including Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Sale Grammar School. The new provider is Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE).
What changes
For children applying for Year 7 entry in September 2028, the new test format is Maths and English based on the KS2 curriculum, including creative writing. These tests will be sat in autumn 2027.
Who is affected now
The key point for current families is timing. Children sitting the autumn 2026 test for September 2027 entry are still taking the GL paper. In other words, this is an important change, but it does not alter the format for the next Trafford test cycle.
Why this matters for parents
A change of provider and paper style can affect how families plan preparation, especially for younger children who are still a year or two away from sitting the test. Parents of children aiming for 2028 entry and beyond should make sure they are looking at the right format rather than assuming Trafford will remain on GL.
- 2027 entry: prepare for GL.
- 2028 entry: prepare for FSCE Maths and KS2 English, including creative writing.
What to do next
- Check which entry year your child is targeting.
- If your child is sitting in autumn 2026, keep preparation focused on GL.
- If your child is aiming for autumn 2027 testing, start planning around the FSCE format instead.
For Trafford families, this is one of the most important admissions changes to note early: the consortium is changing test provider, but the switch applies from September 2028 entry, not the upcoming 2027 round.