Loreto Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Loreto Grammar School.
How to get into Loreto Grammar School
Loreto Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Greater Manchester. To get into Loreto Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Loreto Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
About Loreto Grammar School
Loreto Grammar School is a Catholic girls' grammar school located on Dunham Road, Altrincham, Cheshire. The school comprises over 1050 students and 100 staff, and was recently rated 'outstanding' in all areas by Ofsted. Founded in 1909, the school has strong links with sister schools in the Loreto network, which comprises over 120 schools across the world.
Admission Requirements
Loreto Grammar School is a selective school, which means children need to take the 11+ exam to be eligible for a place. As a Catholic school, girls who are Baptised Catholic are prioritised for places under the school's admissions policy. There are currently 150 places allocated to Year 7 applicants, though other sources suggest different numbers.
All applicants must pass the Governors' Entrance Examination to be considered for admission. Where a child has an Education, Health and Care Plan that names Loreto Grammar School, and the child has passed the entrance exam, the school will admit the child first.
Children who pass the entrance exam are prioritised for places in this order: Baptised Roman Catholic girls who are 'looked after' or 'previously looked after', Baptised Roman Catholic girls who have a sister at Loreto Grammar School when they start Year 7, and Baptised Roman Catholic girls who go to an associated primary school and live in a nominated Local Pastoral Area.
Application Process and Key Dates
Registration for the exam will open on Saturday 28th June 2025 and close on Thursday 31st July (see key dates). The exam will take place on Friday 19th September 2025, and families receive results in mid-October (see key dates).
To apply, families need to name the school as one of their preferred schools on the secondary school common application form. This will be available on the home council website from early September and must be submitted by 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
- Complete online registration via the school website [1]
- Parents must register daughters for entrance tests before the exam date via the school website, completing the online form along with the daughter's baptism certificate if applicable
- Families need to provide an original Baptismal Certificate before the registration deadline on Thursday 31st July 2025 for consideration in Catholic categories
- Include a stamped addressed envelope for return of documents
- Late applications will not be considered
The Loreto Grammar School 11+ Examination
The 11+ is known as the 'Governors' Entrance Exam' at Loreto Grammar School. Prospective pupils must sit three tests: Maths, English (GL Assessment), and Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment).
The maths paper is created in-house by Loreto Grammar School staff. This paper will assess the maths topics children have been taught in school, up to and including Year 5. Paper lengths are: Mathematics 45 minutes, Verbal Reasoning 50 minutes, and English 45 minutes.
After the entrance exam, children's papers will be marked and age-standardised. This is a statistical process which takes into account the child's age in years and months at the time of taking the test. Children's scores will be placed in rank order from highest to lowest, and admissions criteria applied to decide which children to offer places.
Catchment Areas and Priority Categories
The catchment area for Loreto Grammar School is known as Nominated Local Pastoral Areas. This covers areas including St. Hugh and St John, St. Vincent de Paul's, All Saints, St. Margaret Ward, St. Joseph's, Holy Angels, Our Lady of Lourdes, Holy Family, West Timperley, Altrincham, Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale, Hale Barns, Partington and Sale Moor.
Additional areas include St. Alphonsus, St. Ann's, English Martyrs', St Hugh of Lincoln, Our Lady and the English Martyrs', St. Monica's, St. John's and St Teresa's, Old Trafford, Stretford, Urmston, Davyhulme, Flixton, and Firswood/Chorlton.
If there are more applications than places available in any category, priority is first given to children who are eligible for Pupil Premium, then to girls who achieved the highest marks in the entrance exam.
Preparation Guidance
The 11+ is designed to select the most academically able children in the country. It's important to build a good knowledge base before the 11+, using a 'little and often' approach when learning as this helps brains encode new information more effectively.
Preparation involves covering extensive curriculum content, starting a year in advance, with a 'little and often' study approach. For comprehensive preparation resources, families should visit practice 11+ papers and consider professional support through 11+ tutoring.
The school encourages independent study using official past papers and materials to prepare for the 11+ Admissions Test. Avoiding over-focusing on specific topics, using 11+ test papers, and rewarding progress are key tips to build confidence and motivation for the exam.
Results and Offers
Places are offered by the 'home' authority on behalf of the Governing Body on 1st March 2025 (see key dates). The 'home' authority is the local authority in which families live. Passing the 11+ doesn't guarantee that children will be allocated a place at their preferred school.
Place allocations will not be made public until March the following year and passing the 11+ exam isn't a guarantee of entry to the school. If daughters did not sit the main Entrance Examination, they are welcome to sit the Late Entrance Examination in April 2025. However, if successful in the Late Entrance Examination, names can only be placed on the Waiting List.
Practical Advice
Loreto Grammar is a popular school and competition for entry is high. Families should prepare thoroughly for the examination and ensure all application deadlines are met. The school encourages prospective families to attend Open Day in June and learn more about the admissions process.
For backup options in Greater Manchester, families should research other grammar schools in the Trafford area and consider excellent comprehensive schools as alternatives. When preparing for exam day, ensure children are well-rested, arrive with the registration card, and bring necessary equipment.
For specific contact information and detailed guidance on any aspect of the admissions process, families should refer to the school information section or contact the admissions team directly.
Loreto Grammar School 11+ Information
In order to get into Loreto Grammar School, children need to pass the Loreto Grammar School 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Loreto Grammar School 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Loreto Grammar School 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Verbal Reasoning
- Maths
The 11 plus exam for admission to Loreto Grammar School consists of three papers: English, verbal reasoning, and maths. The English and verbal reasoning papers are provided by GL Assessment, a well-known 11 plus exam provider, and feature multiple-choice questions. The maths paper, on the other hand, is created by the school's staff.
The English paper assesses a range of skills, including reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and punctuation, all of which align with the Key Stage 2 national curriculum. The verbal reasoning paper tests a child's ability to apply logic and solve problems using written information, such as letters, words, symbols, and numbers. This section is not part of the national curriculum, so it may be unfamiliar to some students.
The maths paper covers topics taught in school up to and including Year 5. Success in the 11 plus exam at Loreto Grammar School requires a solid foundation in these three subjects, as well as the ability to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Loreto Grammar School 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Loreto Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.
Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
Loreto Grammar School 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Loreto Grammar School 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).
Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Loreto Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
11+ Tutor for Loreto Grammar School
As the Loreto Grammar School 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Loreto Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Loreto Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Loreto Grammar School
Unfortunately, Loreto Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Loreto Grammar School 11+ Ensure you double-check with Loreto Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Loreto Grammar School 11+ to get into Loreto Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Loreto Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Loreto Grammar School 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Loreto Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Loreto Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Loreto Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Loreto Grammar School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Loreto Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Loreto Grammar School, Dunham Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4AH |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.loretogs.com/ |
| Telephone | 01619283703 |
| Email Address | admissions@loretogrammar.co.uk |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 150 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1034 (1034 Girls / 0 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mrs Jane Beever |
Loreto Grammar School is a girls only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 1,034 pupils attend Loreto Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Jane Beever.
Loreto Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Loreto Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 28/09/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 09/11/2022, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 28/09/2022 | 1 | 09/11/2022 | Outstanding | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
Loreto Grammar School was inspected by Ofsted on 28 September 2022 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional performance in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.
The inspection report highlights the school's outstanding achievements across all aspects of education. Loreto Grammar School provides an excellent learning environment that fosters academic excellence, positive behaviour, and personal growth among its students.
The Outstanding rating is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the school's staff, students, and leadership team. Loreto Grammar School sets a high standard for educational institutions and serves as a model for delivering top-quality education and support to its students.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Loreto Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Loreto Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design | 28 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Biology | 77 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 31 |
| Business Studies:Single | 68 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 6 | 19 | 12 | 21 | 7 |
| Chemistry | 77 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 28 |
| Classical Civilisation | 15 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 17 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Design & Technology | 36 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| English Language | 158 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 9 | 23 | 65 | 37 | 20 |
| English Literature | 157 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 11 | 32 | 45 | 44 | 20 |
| D&T Food Technology | 26 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| French | 64 | - | - | - | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 9 | 10 |
| Geography | 43 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 18 |
| German | 19 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| History | 87 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 26 | 18 | 12 |
| Latin | 11 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Mathematics | 158 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 26 | 25 | 41 | 46 | 17 |
| Music | 24 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 9 |
| Physics | 77 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 22 | 29 |
| Religious Studies | 157 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 11 | 26 | 52 | 67 |
| Spanish | 69 | - | - | - | 5 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 6 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 18 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Science: Double Award | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design | 10 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Biology | 53 | - | 5 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 5 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 12 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Chemistry | 53 | - | 1 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 12 | 4 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 6 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | |||
| Economics | 11 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |||
| English Literature | 21 | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 5 | 9 | |||
| Geography | 27 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | |||
| Government and Politics | 10 | - | - | 1 | - | 3 | 2 | 4 | |||
| History | 31 | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 2 | |||
| Mathematics | 54 | - | - | 5 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 3 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 9 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | |||
| Music | 11 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Physics | 11 | - | - | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Psychology | 49 | - | - | 5 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 5 | |||
| Religious Studies | 17 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Sociology | 18 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | |||
FAQ
Is Loreto Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Loreto Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Loreto Grammar School a private school?
No, Loreto Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Loreto Grammar School free?
Yes, Loreto Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Loreto Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Loreto Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Loreto Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
Is Loreto Grammar School a girls-only school?
Yes, Loreto Grammar School is a girls-only school.
