Trafford Alternative Education Provision, Altrincham
Trafford Alternative Education Provision is a pru school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Altrincham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Trafford Alternative Education Provision in detail
Trafford Alternative Education Provision in its own words
In its own words: "On behalf of the: students, staff, and governors, I would like to welcome you to Trafford Alternative Education Provision. Every student is acknowledged as an individual and we aim for all to reach their true potential."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Trafford Alternative Education Provision (as of September 2025): 75% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (81%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 29 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 35% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college and 7% into work.
Who goes there
62.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (68%) and Mixed (23%).
In 2026, 38 pupils (71.7%) received SEN support and 12 (22.6%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Navigation Road (Manchester Metrolink), about 260 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Deansgate Lane (opposite), 350 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Trafford Alternative Education Provision stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoThis judgement is from September 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school specialises in supporting some of the most vulnerable young people, including those who have never attended school before. Staff are genuinely caring and skilled at building trust with pupils, helping them feel comfortable and safe. The school takes a creative, personalised approach to getting pupils engaged - from daily phone calls home to enrichment activities designed to motivate those who find school difficult.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met with strong systems and open culture where safety is everyone's responsibility
- Leaders take a personalised approach to attendance, using strategies like daily home contact, safe and well visits, and enrichment programmes to engage pupils who struggle to attend
- Staff build positive relationships with pupils and effectively use de-escalation strategies to manage behaviour
- Leaders work proactively with a wide range of agencies to secure specialist support and opportunities tailored to each pupil's needs
- Governors maintain meaningful oversight and provide appropriate challenge and support
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, staff receive appropriate training, and children are made safer and feel safe.
Trafford Alternative Education Provision is an alternative school serving pupils with complex social, emotional and mental health needs, many of whom have education, health and care plans. Following concerns about pupil safety, conduct and attendance, the school has taken prompt action and safeguarding standards are now met.
At a Glance
62.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Keep up with Trafford Alternative Education Provision
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Trafford Alternative Education Provision from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Trafford Alternative Education Provision is in Trafford; for families living there:
Apply to Trafford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Altrincham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Altrincham
Across Trafford council
Places available
3,679
Applications
3,221
Got 1st preference
81.0%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Trafford council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
38
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
94.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
53
Total Pupils
31
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
3.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,792
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Trafford Alternative Education Provision
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Trafford Alternative Education Provision
What is Trafford Alternative Education Provision's Ofsted rating?
Trafford Alternative Education Provision's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Trafford Alternative Education Provision?
No fixed boundary. When Trafford Alternative Education Provision is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Trafford Alternative Education Provision?
Trafford Alternative Education Provision has around 53 pupils on roll. 62% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Trafford Alternative Education Provision?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming Trafford Alternative Education Provision on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Trafford Alternative Education Provision?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Trafford Alternative Education Provision?
Trafford Alternative Education Provision is at Brentwood Avenue, Altrincham, WA14 1SR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)