Grammar schools in Sandbach
There are no grammar schools in Sandbach.
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, and Cheshire East is not one of them, so every state secondary in Sandbach admits without a selective test.
The nearest is St Joseph's College, about 13.0 miles away in Stoke-on-Trent. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.
Nearest grammar schools to Sandbach
Straight-line distance from the centre of Sandbach — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph's College | Stoke-on-Trent | 13.0 miles | Mixed | Not judged |
| Saint Ambrose College | Altrincham | 15.6 miles | Boys | — |
| Altrincham Grammar School for Boys | Altrincham | 15.9 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Altrincham Grammar School for Girls | Altrincham | 16.2 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Loreto Grammar School | Altrincham | 16.7 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Regent House School | NEWTOWNARDS | 18.5 miles | — | — |
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.
St Joseph's College — 2026 entry
- Category 1: Baptised Catholic children who are Looked After/Previously Looked After (published source)
- Category 2: Baptised Catholic children with a sibling at the school (published source)
- Category 3: Baptised Catholic children of school staff (published source)
Saint Ambrose College — 2026 entry
- Baptised Catholic boys who are looked after or previously looked after (published source)
- Baptised Catholic boys with a brother at the school (published source)
- Baptised Catholic boys living in a nominated Local Pastoral Area (all WA14, WA15, M31 and M33 postcodes, and the listed parishes) (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)
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)
Schools in Sandbach
Sandbach has 12 open schools. Browse all Sandbach schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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