Late move to south Manchester, which secondary school?

[Iwishiwereamillionaire]

I’m hoping someone can give me some help!
We are currently in the south and have applied for two secondary school places in our local area, however we are likely to be making a move to Manchester for my husbands job in the summer.
We are not familiar with the area or the schools but we think we might look to rent in didsbury or sale initially and then look to buy once we know the area better.
Our main concern is secondary schools, where on earth to send them. Are we too late for grammar school applications are the local state schools good? Are they oversubscribed? I have a boy and a girl and would prefer them to go to the same school.
Is there anything I should take into consideration?
It all feels very overwhelming so any advice would be gratefully received!

Hi @Iwishiwereamillionaire how old are your schedule?
First things first: Trafford comes under the Manchester umbrella for education. Sale comes under Trafford. Trafford has state(academy) grammar schools, Manchester doesn’t - unless you count one of the private schools like Manchester Grammar ( boys), Manchester High ( girls) or Withington (girls).
I strongly recommend that you check out the application processes for all schools in both areas. Historically, Trafford schools have the stronger reputation.
What are you looking for housing- wise long term? Are you intending to buy or rent? Both the Sale and Didsbury are very popular for families so the housing markets are buoyant. Feel free to pm me & I’ll try my best to get you the info you need or at least where to go to get it. And welcome to the North!

Schedule? I swear I wrote DCs! Too much NYE fizz 🥂

For mixed secondaries in Didsbury look at Parrswood, Didsbury and possibly Cheadle Hulme High. In Sale there’s Sale Grammar, Sale High. Ashton on Mersey, and depending on where you live/ exam results For co-ed secondaries look at Parrswood & Didsbury High in Didsbury, Sale Grammar, Sale High, Ashton-on-Mersey in Sale, Thomas Holford, Altrincham College, outliers Stretford and Urmston Grammars are both Co-Ed.
Altrincham Boys & Girls Grammars are single sex.
The deadline for Trafford’s 11 plus applications (September 2022 intake) was last June (2021). Children moving into the area after 31/10 will be allocated places next March.