Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Admissions

The school is a fully selective non-fee paying grammar school with admission via an entrance exam. Its previous status as a foundation school allowed for a degree of independence from the local education authority, until in 2011, under the government's education reforms, it attained Academy status.

History

The school was founded as Altrincham County High School for Boys (ACHS) in 1912 as a result of the Balfour Education Act, to provide secondary education (partly fee-paying) for an area which stretched from Sale to Knutsford.

It opened with 57 pupils and 3 staff (Headmaster, Deputy and one secretary), housed in the red brick building which still forms the central block of the school today. The south wing and the assembly hall were added in 1938 and the science block, gymnasium and workshops in 1964.

In 1974, the school passed from the control of Cheshire County Council to the newly formed Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. It remained under Trafford's control until 1996 when it became a grant-maintained school. In 1999, it became a foundation school.

In 2003, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) awarded the school specialist school status as a Language College.

In 2013, a new physics centre was opened by the physicist Brian Cox, housing six laboratories, a staff room and a large preparation room.

In 2019, a House System was introduced with four houses; Tatton, Bradbury, Stamford and Massey. In 2021, the school completed a new building with an additional nine classrooms (primarily used for English and Sciences), a new library, extra toilets and a small staff room.

2021, also saw the first occurrence of what would be an annual charity event called 'UTSAV.' This event brought together hundreds of local students through performances, food, and a DJ. They raised over £2000 pounds in 2021, and since have raised over £30,000 across UTSAV 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, with the latter three being organised by a group called 'Trafford Hindu Society' with students from both Sale Grammar School and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.

In 2023, five new cricket nets and two new cricket strips were installed.

Notable former pupils

Paul Allott – former Lancashire and England cricketer and currently Director of Cricket at Lancashire

Roger Ashton-Griffiths – film actor

Alan Barnes – jazz musician

Verner Bickley – colonial administrator

Sir Graham Brady – former Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West and Chairman of the 1922 Committee

Ian Brown – solo artist and lead singer of the indie rock band The Stone Roses (testified against former teacher Fred Talbot)

Ewan Clarkson – author

Nick Cohen – journalist and author

Brendan Creed – Great Britain and England field hockey player

Ashley Taylor Dawson – Hollyoaks actor

Mark Foster – record-producer and DJ

Ronald Gow – dramatist, who returned to the school to teach in the 1920s

Prof Ian Hargreaves – Editor of The Independent from 1994 to 1996, and the New Statesman from 1996–8

John Hopkins – conductor of the BBC Northern Orchestra from 1952 to 1957, founder of the New Zealand Youth Orchestra and Director of Music at the Australian Broadcasting Commission 1963–73

Steve Jackson – Co-founder of Games Workshop and Lionhead

Former teachers

Fred Talbot – weather forecaster (taught biology; convicted of indecent assault against two boys at the school)

The Old Altrinchamians' Association

The Old Altrinchamians' Association is a former pupils' society with golf, football and cricket sections. The Association also holds an Annual Reunion Dinner and publishes an annual newsletter.

Feeder schools

Most of the schools in the local area enter their qualifying students into the 11+ exams. The school does have a catchment area where pupils living nearby are prioritised over those living further away. The priority catchment area is defined as the Postal addresses of WA13/WA14/WA15/M33 and M23 which lie within the Trafford Local Authority. However some students travel all the way from Warrington and Stockport and thus commute to and from school. Students use the local Hale railway station, Altrincham Interchange, and school bus routes to do this.