The first sight of the School is a handsome Victorian mansion set back from tree-lined Dunham Road in the heart of Victorian Altrincham. This building, Fernlea, was our only facility when we opened in 1951 and then we only borrowed small bits of it! Now Fernlea houses the main administrative rooms along with the magnificent Library and Music Technology Centre.

Over the years there has been much building to create an exceptionally well-resourced and spacious school for a community of 300 pupils. Behind Fernlea lies the main teaching block, an L-shaped building on two floors incorporating general classrooms, the Art Centre, Sixth Form Common Room and laboratories. A bridge then leads into the Arts Building housing History, English, Mathematics and Business Studies. The Science Block is also attached to this main building, whilst Technology and Computing are housed in an adjacent, recently extended, building. At the front of the site is a large Sports Hall, sports teaching room and fitness room; alongside is the cafeteria, whilst, at the rear, is the recently completed school hall.

The main school car park is set amongst mature rhododendrons at the front of the school and there are signs indicating Reception. Behind Fernlea the central courtyard leads on to the playground and four tennis courts.

North Cestrian's 22 acre playing fields are located just 5 minutes walk away on Oldfield Road. Here there are four soccer pitches, a cricket square and a grass athletics track. The playing fields have their own changing rooms and pupils are dismissed from this site rather than the main school after their afternoon of games.