Several schools across Trafford have been ranked in the top 10 in the north west in a parent guide by The Sunday Times.
The UK's highest-achieving secondary schools across the region have been rated in the 31st edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide.
The guide, which ranks the schools based on the first true set of post-pandemic examination results, is widely acknowledged as one of the most authoritative studies of the country's top schools.
As well as an assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same town, local authority or nationally.
The guide reveals several schools across Altrincham, Sale and Hale Barns have been deemed top state secondary, grammar and comprehensive schools in the north west.
This includes Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, which came first in the regional rank and 10th nationally, followed by Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, which came second regionally and 21st nationally.
The boys school was also crowned the top secondary school of the year for academic performance 2024.
Meanwhile, Sale Grammar School came fourth regionally and 50th nationally, Loreto Grammar School in Altrincham also came sixth and 70th nationally.
Urmston Grammar in Trafford came eighth in the north west category and 110th overall.
Finally, St Ambrose College in Hale Barns came in 10th place in the region and 137th across the country.
When it came to the top five comprehensive schools in the north west, Wellington School in Altrincham received recognition, coming in third place for the region and 294th nationally.
Helen Davies, editor of Parent Power, said: “The educational landscape continues to be challenging across both the state and independent sectors, and this is the first true assessment of post-pandemic exam results.
"We believe these rankings – and all the additional information on offer in Parent Power – provide parents with a more reliable guide to academic achievement in schools today."
The guide contains a national database of more than 1,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode, and is available online from Friday (December 1) and as a print supplement with The Sunday Times on Sunday (December 3).
Other talking points in the guide includes tips for parents on how to help a teenager stay happy and healthy from an expert panel of super-teachers, including Anthony Seldon, a 'survial guide' to secondary school politics and "the tyranny of the WhatsApp group" and advice on how to get a bursary to a top private school.
It also investigates "what has gone wrong with teaching English literature" and why more pupils are choosing to study physics than read Dickens, as well as a segment on "why maths has become cool".
The guide looks at how conversations around mental health are now ingrained in the top schools with many offering mentoring systems, talks from motivational speakers and workshops offering study tips and techniques to help with stress and anxiety.
It also uncovered good schools embed careers advice into the curriculum and inspire pupils by inviting visiting speakers, from industry leaders to alumni.
Another story covers how one parent tutored his children at home to pass their 11+ for free.
Ms Davies continued: “The guide showcases academic excellence but also celebrates schools who may not be right at the top but are rising, innovating and helping pupils flourish.
"Being a teenager is hard enough, and the past few years since Covid have made life even harder.
"It is heartening to highlight the achievements of so many students and schools across the UK.
“This year Parent Power includes details on extracurricular clubs, wellbeing initiatives and school lunch menus – chicken katsu seems to be the dish of the day.”
Got a story? Email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @Livbridge
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