In 1951 Walter Hamblin became the original Headmaster at North Cestrian Grammar School having previously been Headmaster at Altrincham Grammar School for boys. He was a man dedicated to education and furthermore, education within a caring and encouraging environment. We are proud that the Hamblin Education Trust (HET) bears Walter’s name and maintains his values as our bedrock. 

The HET aims to use the expertise, the skills and the knowledge of its member schools to inspire pupils to achieve their full potential through education and personal development. Currently, the Trust oversees two schools, Altrincham Grammar School for boys and North Cestrian School, which became a free academy school in 2016.

Over time, we seek to develop the Trust to best serve the educational needs of young people across the South Manchester and North Cheshire areas, bringing together local schools willing to invest and share in similar aspirations and culture.

We encourage different schools within our Trust to thrive in their own ways and within their own contexts. We offer support, encouragement and constructive ideas and share best practice in each of our partner schools to maximise both staff and pupil abilities and prospects. We aim to sustain a record of high educational achievement and standards at all our schools and encourage and promote the creation of caring pastoral settings.

Michael Thompson – Chair of the Trust Board

Tim Gartside - Executive Head of the Trust