The Ultimate Guide to Rochdale Grammar School Admissions

If you live in Rochdale and want a selective school for your child, here is the short answer. There are no grammar schools in Rochdale borough. The nearest free state grammar school is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) in Waterfoot, just over the border in Lancashire. Many families from Greater Manchester apply every year.

Rochdale families also look at fee-paying independent schools nearby that set their own entrance exams, such as Bury Grammar School, Hulme Grammar School in Oldham and, for boys, Manchester Grammar School. These schools offer means-tested bursaries, which can help families with lower incomes.

This guide explains each option for a Rochdale family in plain English: the tests, the Rochdale Borough Council application, the school buses from Rochdale, the key dates for September 2027 entry, and how to prepare.

🤔 Three words to know first

• Grammar school: a state school with no fees that offers places to children who do well in its entrance test, often called the 11+.
• Independent school: a private school that charges fees and sets its own entrance exam. Some give bursaries, which are help with fees based on family income.
• Home council: the council where you live. Rochdale families apply for state schools, including BRGS in Lancashire, through Rochdale Borough Council. Independent schools are applied to directly.

🏫 Which selective schools can a Rochdale child apply to?

Rochdale families usually weigh up four schools: one free grammar school in Rossendale, and three independent schools in Bury, Oldham and Manchester. Each one is described below, with its history, results, the journey from Rochdale, the entrance test and the help available.

1. Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: free and selective (mixed)

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) is the only free grammar school within easy reach of Rochdale. It sits in Waterfoot, Rossendale, about 10 miles away over the hills through Whitworth. The school opened in 1701, thanks to money left by a local man, John Kershaw, and it has been on its Waterfoot site since 1913. Since 2023 it has been part of Star Academies. The BRGS history page has the full story.

BRGS is mixed, for ages 11 to 18, with 180 places in Year 7 and a sixth form. It is doing very well: Ofsted rated it Exceptional in all seven areas in June 2026, and in its 2026 GCSE results, 99% of pupils achieved grades 9 to 5 in English and maths.

Rochdale is unusually well served by BRGS school buses, run by Moving People. The BR4 starts in Heywood and runs through Rochdale, Healey and Whitworth to the school, and the BR2 and BR3 run from Bamford and Norden. The route list is on the BRGS travel page.

The test is set by GL Assessment and has three parts: verbal reasoning, maths and English. It is sat on a Saturday in late September of Year 6, and registration closes in mid-September, only a couple of weeks before. If your child just misses the standard, you can ask for a review, as explained further down this page.

How priority works for Rochdale children: BRGS gives priority by the primary school your child attends, not your home address. After looked-after children, places go to children at named "Area 1" primaries (mainly around Bacup, Waterfoot and Newchurch), then "Area 2" primaries, then children of staff, then everyone else ranked by score.

No Rochdale borough primaries are on these lists. But Area 2 includes three primaries in Whitworth, on Rochdale's doorstep: Our Lady and St Anselm's RC, St Bartholomew's CE and Tonacliffe, plus St John with St Michael CE in Shawforth. To count, your child must attend one of them for the whole of Year 6. See the BRGS admission arrangements and the BRGS allocation of places for last year's figures.

2. Bury Grammar School: independent and selective (separate boys' and girls' schools)

Bury Grammar School is the nearest independent selective school to Rochdale, about 7 miles away in Bury town centre. It was founded in 1570 by the Revd Henry Bury and re-founded in 1730 thanks to a gift from the Revd Roger Kay. The girls' school opened in 1884 and moved to Bridge Road in 1906. You can read more on the school history page.

Today Bury Grammar is an all-through school for ages 3 to 18. From Year 7, boys and girls are taught in separate senior schools, and there is a sixth form. Its 2026 GCSE results were the best in the school's history, with 54% of grades at 9 to 7 and an average grade of 7.

Pupils from Year 4 upwards can use the school's coach services, which are booked online through Vectare. We could not confirm which stops are closest to Rochdale, so look at the coach map before you apply.

The entrance exam is in January of Year 6. There are three papers, in English, maths and verbal reasoning, followed by an interview. The school puts example papers on its admissions page, and the application deadline is in mid-December. The Year 7 timeline sets out every step.

Bury Grammar offers means-tested bursaries, which can cover the full fees for families who need it most. There is also a good one to know about in Rochdale borough: the Batey Bursary is a special award for a pupil who lives in, or goes to school in, Heywood, does well in the exam and meets the bursary rules. Bursary applications open in September, and the bursary deadline is in January, just before the exam. See the fees page for costs.

3. Hulme Grammar School, Oldham: independent and selective (mixed)

Hulme Grammar School is a mixed independent school on Chamber Road in Oldham, about 8 miles south of Rochdale. Its story starts with Oldham Grammar School in 1611. In the late 1800s the Hulme Trust founded the Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools, and the first pupils moved into the present buildings in 1895. The boys' and girls' schools came together over time, and in 2023 the school took its new name and welcomed its first mixed Year 7. See the Hulme heritage page.

Hulme teaches children from 3 to 18, with a sixth form. In its 2026 GCSE results, over half of all grades were 7 to 9, and nearly a third were 9 or 8.

Its Zeelo school buses run three routes with pick-up points across Oldham and the surrounding area. Check whether any stop is near your part of Rochdale, such as Milnrow or Shaw, before you rely on them.

The Year 7 exam has two papers: English, and non-verbal reasoning with maths. It is held in January of Year 6, on the same day as the Manchester Grammar exam, but Hulme also runs a supplementary exam a week later. Children who do well are invited to an interview in late January.

Hulme offers means-tested bursaries on a sliding scale. An outside company checks family finances, and the school also looks at your child's exam result, school record and an interview with a senior leader. The bursary deadline comes before the main application deadline, so start early. See the Hulme fees page for costs.

4. The Manchester Grammar School: independent and selective (boys)

The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) is an independent day school for boys on Old Hall Lane in south Manchester, about 17 miles from Rochdale. It was founded in 1515 by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, which makes it one of the oldest schools in the region. The High Master's welcome explains its aims.

MGS has a Junior School, a Lower and Middle School from Year 7, and a sixth form with a new building, the Hibbitt Centre. Results are exceptional: in 2026, 84% of GCSE grades were 9 to 7, and 46% were grade 9, according to the school's GCSE results news.

The journey sounds long, but MGS names Rochdale as one of the towns its boys travel from. Many take the train or Metrolink into Manchester and then the MGS Shuttle from Victoria or Piccadilly to school.

Year 7 entry has two stages. First, boys come to an Assessment Day in the autumn, with a maths lesson, a topic lesson, group activities and creative writing. Then they sit the Entrance Exam in January, with two English and two arithmetic papers. The school may also ask for a reference from your son's primary school. To be sure of an assessment, apply by the November deadline.

Bursaries are a big part of MGS. The school says that 194 pupils currently receive full or partial bursaries, and most of these are full bursaries. Bursaries are offered at Year 7 and sixth form to families living in the North West. Read the fees and financial assistance page for how to apply.

🔍 BRGS, Bury Grammar, Hulme and MGS: at a glance

Distances are rough road miles from Rochdale town centre. We checked the details in October 2026. Schools do update their rules, so look at each school's website too.

🚌 Getting there from Rochdale

• To BRGS: school buses are run by Moving People. The BR4 starts in Heywood and runs through Rochdale, with stops including Norden Road, Rochdale Cemetery, Dane Street near ASDA, Whitworth Road, Healey Corner and Whitworth, then on through Shawforth to the school. The BR2 and BR3 run from Bamford and Norden. See the BRGS travel page for the latest routes.
• To Bury Grammar: book the school coaches online through Vectare, and check the coach map for stops near Rochdale.
• To Hulme Grammar: check the Zeelo routes for a stop near you.
• To MGS: train or Metrolink from Rochdale into Manchester, then the MGS Shuttle from Victoria or Piccadilly.

Will the council pay for travel? Councils usually only give free travel to the nearest suitable school, so most families pay for travel to a grammar or independent school themselves. Ask Rochdale Borough Council if you think your family may qualify for help.

📆 Key dates for September 2027 entry (children now in Year 6)

If your child is in Year 6 now, the BRGS test has already happened, but the independent school dates are still ahead.

If your child is in Year 5: BRGS test registration closes in September of Year 6, shortly before the test. Expect a similar timetable next year, but always check the new dates on the BRGS website.

Dates accurate as of October 2026. Always confirm on the school websites and the Rochdale Borough Council secondary admissions page.

✅ How places are given out

At BRGS, there is no fixed pass mark. The school sets a required standard after the test. If more children reach it than there are places, the priority rules above decide.

Rochdale children do get places. In the latest Department for Education school-level admissions data (CSV file, large download), BRGS received 138 applications from families living outside Lancashire for September 2026 entry, and offered 80 of its 181 places to them.

Rochdale Council rules to remember: you can name up to five schools, and the council encourages parents to use all five. If you name only one and it is full, your child may be offered the nearest school with space. Put BRGS where it really belongs in your order, and add good local schools too. You apply online through the Rochdale parent portal. If you do not have a computer at home, Rochdale libraries offer free computer and internet access.

📝 Applying through Rochdale Borough Council, step by step

The BRGS test and the council application are two separate steps. Registering for the test with BRGS does not apply for a place. You must also name BRGS on your Rochdale application. Here is how the council process works.

1. Make a Parent Portal account. Rochdale applications are made online, and you need a valid email address. The council emails a confirmation each time you submit, and it sends your offer by email too.
2. Use the right address. Give the address where your child and the parent or carer normally live. If your child splits the week between two homes and there is no legal arrangement, the council uses the address where Child Benefit is paid. The council may check addresses, and it withdraws offers made using a false address.
3. Agree your choices. If two parents send different preferences, the council cannot process the application until they agree in writing.
4. List up to five schools, in your true order. Naming only one school does not raise your chances. If that school is full, your child may be offered the nearest school with space.
5. Tell the council if you move. If you move after applying, send proof of your new address before the council's change-of-address deadline. Changing your school choices after the closing date counts as a late application.

Missed the deadline? You can still apply online, but late applications are only looked at after National Offer Day, and schools do not keep places for them. The Rochdale application page explains when late applicants hear back. Visiting a school's open evening is useful, but it does not give your child any priority.

If your child does not reach the BRGS standard

You can ask BRGS for a review. The school looks at the standardised score, the invigilator's report from test day, and any special circumstances you explain with evidence. The answer may come after the council deadline, so you are allowed to name BRGS on your Rochdale form while you wait. If a review succeeds, your child is ranked with the other children who reached the standard.

If your child could not sit the September test for a good reason, such as moving into the area, ask the BRGS admissions officer about late testing. This does not take place until after National Offer Day. Children who reach the standard but are not offered a place can also join the BRGS waiting list.

📚 Your 11+ preparation timeline

Year 4: reading and number confidence

Read every day, talk about new words and learn times tables well. Every test on this page checks English and maths.

Year 5: choose your schools

Visit open days. Decide whether to try BRGS, an independent school or both. They are not on the same days, so many children sit more than one. Register for BRGS before the September deadline. If you need a bursary, look at the bursary rules early, because those deadlines come first.

Summer before Year 6: build the right skills

Short, regular practice works best. For BRGS, practise verbal reasoning. For Hulme, practise non-verbal reasoning. For all schools, practise reading comprehension, writing and maths problem-solving.

Year 6: test season

BRGS tests in September. Complete your Rochdale form by the deadline. Independent school exams follow in January. For a full overview, see our complete guide to 11+ exams.

🌟 Give your Rochdale child the best chance, whatever your budget

Aiming for BRGS, Bury Grammar or Hulme? Our Rochdale learning centre on Yorkshire Street runs 11+ mock exams and practice in the skills these tests check: verbal and non-verbal reasoning, reading, written English and maths problem-solving. Find out more about our 11+ tuition support and tuition in Rochdale.

We teach in small groups of no more than six, with one-to-one help where it is needed. Learning Cubs is Ofsted-registered (registration number 2597663), and many families qualify for funded or subsidised places.

Step 1: Check if your family qualifies for a funded place (it takes about two minutes).

Step 2: Book a free assessment, so we can build the right plan for your child.

Families nearby may also find our grammar school guide for Bolton families useful.

Rochdale grammar school admissions FAQs

Are there grammar schools in Rochdale?

No. There are no grammar schools in Rochdale borough. The nearest free state grammar school is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School in Waterfoot, about 10 miles away.

Can Rochdale children apply to BRGS?

Yes. Any child can sit the BRGS test. Rochdale children usually go in the final priority group, ranked by test score, unless they attend one of the named Area 2 primaries, such as the Whitworth schools, for the whole of Year 6.

When is the 11+ exam for Rochdale children?

The BRGS test is in late September of Year 6. The independent schools hold their exams in January of Year 6.

Is there a school bus from Rochdale to BRGS?

Yes. The BR4 school bus runs from Heywood through Rochdale and Whitworth to BRGS, and the BR2 and BR3 run from Bamford and Norden. Check the latest routes with the school.

What is a good 11+ score?

There is no fixed pass mark. BRGS sets a required standard every year after the test, and then ranks children by priority group and score. Independent schools look at the exam result and, at most schools, an interview.

Do I apply to BRGS through Rochdale Council?

You do both. First you register your child for the test with BRGS. Then, if your child reaches the standard, you name BRGS on your Rochdale Borough Council application by the deadline. Independent schools are applied to directly, not through the council.

Can my child sit the BRGS test and independent school exams?

Yes. BRGS tests in September and the independent schools test in January, so there is no clash. Hulme Grammar and MGS hold their main exams on the same day, but Hulme has a supplementary date a week later.

How long does 11+ preparation take?

Most children do well with steady practice through Year 5, built on good reading and maths habits from Year 4. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning take time to learn, so start these early.

Sources and useful links

• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Admissions
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Determined admission arrangements 2027
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Allocation of places 2026
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Travelling to the academy
• Moving People: BRGS school bus portal
• Bury Grammar School: Year 7 entry timeline 2027 (PDF)
• Bury Grammar School: Bursaries
• Bury Grammar School: Coach services
• Hulme Grammar School: Entry to Years 7 to 11
• Hulme Grammar School: Bursaries
• Hulme Grammar School: Travel
• Manchester Grammar School: Year 7 entry
• Manchester Grammar School: Fees and financial assistance
• Manchester Grammar School: Transport
• Rochdale Borough Council: Apply for a secondary school place
• Rochdale Borough Council: Choosing your preferences
• Rochdale Borough Council: Apply online and late applications
• Department for Education: Applications and offers 2026, school-level data (CSV)
• Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers