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Use our free interactive tool to check whether any Trafford property falls within primary or secondary school catchment zones. Trafford is the only fully selective borough in Greater Manchester, and its combination of grammar schools and strong comprehensives makes it one of the most competitive admissions areas in the North West.
Free interactive map — enter any Altrincham, Sale, Urmston or Stretford postcode and see exactly which catchment areas it falls within.
Trafford retains a full set of grammar schools, including Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar, Urmston Grammar and Stretford Grammar. Entry to these is by entrance test, not catchment distance. Trafford's comprehensive schools remain distance-allocated and are themselves heavily oversubscribed, so most families need to plan for both routes.
Trafford Council is the admissions authority for community primary and secondary schools. For non-selective schools, places are allocated on published oversubscription criteria that normally end in straight-line distance from home to school.
Trafford's grammar schools admit on the basis of an entrance test taken in Year 6. Distance is generally used only as a tiebreaker among candidates who reach the qualifying standard, so a nearby address does not by itself secure a selective place.
Trafford Council publishes annual admissions information including the furthest distance offered at each oversubscribed school. Search 'Trafford school admissions' on the Trafford Council website. Grammar schools publish their own arrangements separately.
Click "Open Free Tool" above. No registration needed. Works in any browser on desktop or mobile.
Click "Add School" and search by school name or postcode. The tool locates it on the interactive map automatically.
Add the radius from the school's admissions data. You can enter distances in metres for precision.
Use "Check Address" to test any Trafford address. It will show you exactly how far inside or outside the catchment that property sits.
Our tool works for schools across Trafford and surrounding areas:
For Trafford's comprehensive schools, distance decides. Our tool measures to the metre.
See how Trafford catchments have shifted as grammar school demand reshapes the surrounding comprehensives.
Plot up to 5 Trafford schools at once to compare selective and non-selective options side by side.
Generate a shareable link for your estate agent or solicitor before exchange.
Trafford's selective schools include Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Sale Grammar School, Urmston Grammar and Stretford Grammar School. Each admits on entrance test performance rather than catchment distance.
No. Children from outside the borough may register for Trafford's entrance tests, and many do. Some schools give priority to Trafford residents within their published criteria, so check each school's arrangements.
Comprehensive schools serving Altrincham, Hale, Bowdon and Timperley are the most oversubscribed, and property premiums in those catchments are substantial.
Search 'Trafford school admissions' on the Trafford Council website for the furthest distance offered at each oversubscribed school.
Our free tool works for all UK schools. We also have dedicated guides for other major cities:
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