Grammar schools in Warrington
There are no grammar schools in Warrington.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any — Warrington is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Glenlola Collegiate, about 8.6 miles away in Ards and North Down. Nearest is not the same as likeliest, though: in 2026, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls's places by distance reached about 9% of Warrington postcodes.
Could a child from Warrington get a place?
Passing the test is not enough. These schools give places first to children in their priority groups, such as looked-after children, siblings and children in the school's own catchment area. Any places left go to other children who passed, nearest home first. A child from Warrington without one of those priorities competes for those last places, so what matters is how far they reached.
Trafford works differently: Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar Academy each give about 20 places to their highest scorers wherever they live, and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Sale Grammar School rank children from outside their own areas by score, not distance. A very high score can win a Trafford place from beyond these distances.
| School | Intake | Last place by distance, 2026 | Earlier years | Warrington postcodes within that distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altrincham Grammar School for Girls | Girls | 6.1 miles | 2025: 5.5 mi; 2024: 5.8 mi | about 9% |
| Urmston Grammar Academy | Mixed | 6.0 miles | 2025: 5.3 mi; 2024: 4.6 mi | about 5% |
The furthest straight-line distance from home at which each school offered a place by distance on National Offer Day, from the council's allocation figures. The distance changes every year, and later rounds can stretch it slightly. The postcode share uses ONS postcode centres, so it counts postcodes, not households.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: deadline to apply for a secondary place, through Warrington Council even for schools in another council
Each council's test has its own registration window, months before the test itself. Children who don't attend a school in that council usually have to be registered by their parents.
Nearest grammar schools to Warrington
Straight-line distance from the centre of Warrington — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenlola Collegiate | BANGOR | 8.6 miles | — | — |
| Bangor Grammar School | BANGOR | 8.6 miles | — | — |
| Altrincham Grammar School for Girls | Altrincham | 8.8 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Loreto Grammar School | Altrincham | 8.9 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Altrincham Grammar School for Boys | Altrincham | 9.3 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Urmston Grammar Academy | Manchester | 9.4 miles | Mixed | Good |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children, wherever they live (published source)
- Girls in the catchment area (8-mile radius) receiving the Pupil Premium (published source)
- Girls in the catchment area with a sister at the school (published source)
Loreto Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Baptised Roman Catholic looked after and previously looked after girls (published source)
- Baptised Roman Catholic girls with a sister at the school (published source)
- Baptised Roman Catholic girls at an associated primary school living in a nominated Local Pastoral Area (published source)
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children scoring 324 or more (published source)
- Up to 20 Pupil Premium boys living in the priority area and attending a Trafford state primary, scoring 324–333 (all such boys scoring 334+ are also admitted) — in score order (published source)
- Up to 10 Pupil Premium boys attending a Trafford state primary, scoring 324 or more — in score order (published source)
Urmston Grammar Academy — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children (published source)
- About 15 places for the highest-scoring Pupil Premium children (minimum 324), wherever they live (published source)
- About 20 places for the top scorers, wherever they live (published source)
Schools in Warrington
Warrington has 90 open schools. Browse all Warrington schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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