Girls living close to Altrincham Grammar School for Girls could lose priority for places to children attending four designated primary schools under proposed changes to its admissions policy.
A public consultation has opened on plans to give pupils from four primary schools belonging to the same academy trust as AGGS priority over other applicants who have passed the entrance examination – even if they live closer to the school.
The proposals, which would take effect from September 2028, could have significant implications for Altrincham families whose daughters attend local primary schools outside Bright Futures Educational Trust.
Under the existing admissions system, girls who pass the entrance examination and live within the school's eight-mile catchment area are generally prioritised according to how close they live to AGGS, after higher-priority categories have been considered.
But the proposed arrangements would introduce a new category giving preference to qualifying pupils attending four primary schools within Bright Futures Educational Trust.
These are Acre Hall Primary School, Barton Clough Primary School, Elmridge Primary School and Lime Tree Primary Academy.
The new category would sit above the existing distance-based priority for most applicants living within the catchment area.
It means, for example, that a girl living several miles from AGGS who attends one of the designated schools could be offered a place ahead of another girl living just a short walk away, even if both have passed the entrance examination.
The change could affect families whose children attend other local primary schools, including Stamford Park, Navigation Primary and Altrincham CofE.
It could also mean that some girls living in Altrincham who would previously have secured places would miss out, depending on the number of qualifying applicants from the four designated schools.
The school currently admits 204 pupils into Year 7, a figure that would remain unchanged.
AGGS is one of the country's highest-performing state secondary schools. In December, it was named State Secondary School of the Year in the North West in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026, as well as winning the regional award for academic excellence.
The Bowdon school was ranked ninth nationally, underlining its reputation as one of the most sought-after grammar schools in the region.
Explore Trafford's grammar schools, admissions policies and the 11-plus process with Trafford Schools, your dedicated local education guide.
Explore Trafford Schools →Importantly, the proposed arrangements would not remove the requirement to pass the entrance examination, nor would they affect the existing higher-priority categories for looked-after children, qualifying pupil-premium applicants living within the catchment area or qualifying local siblings.
Bright Futures Educational Trust says the proposal is intended to recognise existing educational relationships between schools within the Trust and support the transition from primary to secondary education.
In its consultation document, the Trust states: "The proposal seeks to formalise existing educational relationships and patterns of progression between Trust schools rather than alter the school's selective admission arrangements."
However, the Trust also acknowledges that pupils attending its designated feeder schools may receive higher admissions priority than equally qualified children attending other primary schools.
It is seeking views on the potential implications for fairness, accessibility and equality of opportunity.
Altrincham Today has approached Bright Futures Educational Trust to ask whether it has assessed how many local children could be affected by the proposals, and to clarify the rationale for prioritising pupils attending schools within the same academy trust over those living closer to AGGS.
The Trust has not responded at the time of publication.
The consultation opened yesterday and runs until Monday 14 December 2026.
No final decision has been made. Responses will be considered by the Bright Futures Educational Trust Board before the admissions arrangements for September 2028 are determined.
Parents, schools and other interested parties can respond through the official consultation website or by emailing consultation@bright-futures.co.uk.
