London 11+ Schools Guide: Grammar and Independent Entry
London families may consider selective state schools, partially selective schools and a large independent-school market, often across several boroughs and testing systems.
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How this admissions route works
This flagship guide replaces fragmented North, South, East, West and Central London overview posts while preserving space for genuinely useful school-specific guides.
Admissions information changes between entry years. Use this page to understand the system and prepare questions, then verify dates, test content, residence requirements, supplementary forms and oversubscription criteria on official websites.
Four essentials to understand
London is not one admissions area
Boroughs, consortia and individual schools use different arrangements.
Travel is a major admissions factor
A feasible journey at 10am may be very different during the school commute.
Tests can clash
Independent-school assessments and interviews may occur within a compressed winter timetable.
Selective routes differ
Some schools select academically; others use partial academic, music, language or aptitude criteria.
Step-by-step application process
| Stage | What parents should do |
|---|---|
| Define the radius | Test realistic morning and afternoon journeys before creating a long school list. |
| Separate school types | Track grammar, partially selective and independent processes in different columns. |
| Record every deadline | Include test registration, local authority application, supplementary forms, interviews and deposits. |
| Identify test overlap | Use common English, maths and reasoning foundations, then add school-specific preparation. |
| Protect the child’s schedule | Avoid an excessive number of assessments and unfamiliar journeys. |
Tests and assessment components
Grammar-school tests
May include English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Independent-school papers
Often English and maths, with writing, reasoning, online tests and interviews varying by school.
Aptitude routes
Music, sport, language or other aptitude places may have separate tests.
Interview preparation
Discussion, problem solving, reading interests and school fit.
Use official familiarisation resources first. Third-party materials should match the current test’s subjects, timing, response method and difficulty. Scores from unrelated publishers are not interchangeable and should not be treated as reliable predictions of admission.
School and admissions routes covered
- North London selective schools
- South and South-East London grammar routes
- West and South-West London independent schools
- Borough and consortium-based partially selective schools
Keep a separate school-specific SET page only when it provides substantial unique value: a detailed current admissions-policy explanation, travel and catchment analysis, distinctive test requirements, or an established ranking query. Thin school summaries should link into this flagship instead.
Preparation strategy
English
Develop fluent reading, vocabulary in context, inference, grammar and clear written expression. Ask children to justify answers using textual evidence.
Mathematics
Secure primary mathematics, mental fluency and multi-step problem solving before applying time pressure.
Reasoning
Where required, teach verbal and visual relationships systematically rather than relying on repeated exposure alone.
Test technique
Introduce timing after accuracy. Practise instructions, answer recording, skipping, returning and maintaining concentration.
Common application mistakes
- Treating all London 11+ examinations as interchangeable.
- Choosing schools before testing the commute.
- Missing supplementary forms or aptitude registrations.
- Booking too many exams in a short period.
- Using league tables without evaluating pastoral and educational fit.
A historical lowest-offer score, allocation distance or pass threshold describes a past admissions round. It is useful context, not a promise about a future cohort.
Official information and further SET guidance
Official sources
Find school performance and detailsLondon councilsSchool Entrance Tests guides
11+ practice tests11+ exam timelines11+ syllabus guide11+ papers and school linksAll 11+ guidanceFrequently asked questions
Is there a single London 11+ test?
No. Arrangements vary by borough, consortium and school.
Can London children apply to schools outside their borough?
Often yes, subject to the school’s rules and the home authority application process.
When do independent-school tests happen?
Many occur in the autumn or winter of Year 6, but schools set their own schedules.
Are London grammar schools more competitive?
Many have high demand, but competition and allocation depend on each school’s criteria and applicant pool.
How important is travel?
Very important. Families should model daily travel, disruptions, cost and after-school commitments.
Should every London school have its own preparation plan?
Use a shared core plan where tests overlap, then add only the genuinely school-specific elements.
Plan from the admissions policy, not from assumptions
Confirm the current test and application rules, build the underlying skills, use practice diagnostically and keep school fit central to the decision.
Last editorial framework update: August 2026. Always verify the admissions cycle directly with the relevant authority, consortium and school.
11+ Selective School Guides by Region
Selective entry is broader than grammar-school admission. These regional guides cover grammar schools, partially selective schools, academic and aptitude places, independent-school entrance tests, interviews, scholarships and bursary routes.
Birmingham & West Midlands
Grammar schools, partially selective routes, aptitude admissions and independent-school entry.
Explore Birmingham & West Midlands →Warwickshire
Grammar-school selection, partial selection, independent-school entry and scholarship routes.
Explore Warwickshire selective schools →Liverpool & Wirral
Wirral grammar selection alongside Liverpool-area selective and independent-school entry.
Explore Liverpool & Wirral →Manchester & Trafford
Trafford grammar schools, selective routes, aptitude admissions and independent schools.
Explore Manchester & Trafford →Gloucestershire
Grammar schools, specialist selection, independent schools and scholarship assessment.
Explore Gloucestershire selective schools →Lincolnshire
Grammar-school routes alongside other selective and independent-school admissions.
Explore Lincolnshire selective schools →Devon
Plymouth, Torbay and Colyton selection plus Devon independent and boarding-school entry.
Explore Devon selective schools →Bournemouth & Poole
Grammar-school and independent selective entry across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset.
Explore Bournemouth & Poole →Yorkshire & North Yorkshire
Grammar schools, individual selective schools, aptitude routes and independent-school entry.
Explore Yorkshire selective schools →Medway
Medway grammar selection alongside other selective and independent-school entry routes.
Explore Medway selective schools →Bexley
Bexley grammar selection plus other selective, aptitude and independent-school routes.
Explore Bexley selective schools →Sutton
Grammar-school testing, ability places and independent selective entry around Sutton.
Explore Sutton selective schools →11+ Preparation by School Year
Preparation should change as children move through primary school. Use these guides to match the amount and type of practice to the child’s stage.
11+ Year 3 Preparation
Develop reading, vocabulary, mathematics and reasoning foundations without intensive test pressure.
11+ Year 4 Preparation
Introduce structured preparation and the main 11+ question types before the core preparation year.
11+ Year 5 Preparation
Use a structured revision timetable covering syllabus completion, timing and mock tests.
11+ Year 6 Preparation
Consolidate performance with final revision, exam-month preparation and test-day planning.
11+ Grammar School Guides by Region
Grammar-school admissions vary considerably across England. Select your region below for guidance on local 11+ tests, grammar schools, admissions policies, preparation, qualifying scores and school applications.
Birmingham & West Midlands
Birmingham and West Midlands grammar schools, entrance testing and regional selective admissions.
View Birmingham & West Midlands 11+ guide →Warwickshire
Warwickshire grammar schools, priority areas and West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test guidance.
View Warwickshire 11+ guide →Liverpool & Wirral
Wirral grammar schools, local assessment arrangements and selective routes around Liverpool.
View Liverpool & Wirral 11+ guide →Manchester & Trafford
Trafford grammar schools and the different selective admissions routes around Greater Manchester.
View Manchester & Trafford 11+ guide →Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire grammar schools, entrance testing, qualifying ranks and applications.
View Gloucestershire 11+ guide →Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire grammar schools, local 11+ testing and school-specific admissions arrangements.
View Lincolnshire 11+ guide →Devon
Compare selective routes around Plymouth, Torbay and Colyton.
View Devon 11+ grammar schools guide →Bournemouth & Poole
Grammar-school admissions serving Bournemouth, Poole and the wider Dorset area.
View Bournemouth & Poole 11+ guide →Yorkshire & North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire grammar schools and other school-specific selective routes across Yorkshire.
View Yorkshire 11+ grammar schools guide →Medway
Medway Test preparation and grammar-school admissions, separate from the Kent Test system.
View Medway 11+ guide →Bexley
Bexley Selection Test guidance and admissions to Bexley’s four grammar schools.
View Bexley 11+ guide →Sutton
Sutton Selective Eligibility Test, grammar-school second stages and admissions.
View Sutton 11+ guide →Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire grammar schools and the Secondary Transfer Test admissions system.
View Buckinghamshire 11+ guide →Kent
Kent Test guidance, grammar assessment and individual grammar-school admissions criteria.
View Kent 11+ guide →Essex
CSSE entrance testing and grammar-school admissions across Essex and Southend.
View Essex 11+ guide →Berkshire
Compare Slough Consortium, Reading School and Kendrick School selective admissions.
View Berkshire 11+ guide →Hertfordshire
South West Herts and other selective-school admissions arrangements across Hertfordshire.
View Hertfordshire 11+ guide →11+ Preparation by School Year
Use the appropriate year-by-year guide to build skills at the right stage and avoid introducing intensive test practice before it is useful.
11+ Year 3 Preparation
Build reading, vocabulary, numeracy and reasoning foundations without premature exam pressure.
11+ Year 4 Preparation
Introduce structured preparation, key question types and a sustainable Year 4 timeline.
11+ Year 5 Preparation
Follow the main preparation-year programme including revision, timed work and mock-test planning.
11+ Year 6 Preparation
Plan final revision, exam-month preparation, timing, confidence and test-day readiness.
More 11+ and Private School Practice
Private School Practice Tests
Explore additional practice resources for selective independent and private school entrance assessments.
View private school practice tests →11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Tests
Practise verbal reasoning skills including vocabulary, relationships, classifications, sequences and codes.
View 11+ verbal reasoning practice →Selective School Practice Resources
Private School Practice Tests
Practice resources for independent and private school entrance assessments.
11+ Free Past Papers11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Tests
Practise vocabulary, verbal relationships, classification, sequences, codes and related 11+ verbal reasoning skills.
Explore 11+ verbal reasoning practice →All you need to know about London grammar schools
Our London grammar schools Guide is designed to help with some of the main school entrance dilemmas that many parents face.
London‘s grammar schools
Your child can then practice with a very close replica of the actual exam. That’s perfect practice! This is because these Exam Papers Plus practice tests:
- Mirror the actual 11 plus entrance exam for each independent school you search for.
- Include explanations for each and every 11+ question.
- Provide the most accurate entry exam preparation for this reason.
- Cover the full range of 11 plus question formats which we know reduces exam anxiety.
Best areas in London for grammar schools
Which area in London has the best grammar schools?
- Barnet.
- Bexley.
- Bromley.
- Enfield.
- Kingston.
- Redbridge.
- Sutton.
- In total, London has nineteen of England’s 164 grammar schools.
Grammar school or private school? You Tube video
Are grammar schools hard to get into? You Tube video
Which are the best grammar schools near me?
How to analyse school league tables.
Latest London grammar school updates
We have listed full details for all London Boroughs, including these top London grammar school Boroughs. You will find these in the relevant sections below, starting with Barnet grammar schools, Bexley grammar schools and so on.
London grammar schools use different 11 plus tests
- Beths Grammar School in Bexley (boys) uses the CEM so please refer to those past papers.
- Bexley Grammar School in Welling (girls and boys) entrance exam consists of Verbal Reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning selection tests.
- Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School in Sidcup use the CEM 11 plus. These two CEM 11 plus papers cover a mixture of verbal reasoning & comprehension, non-verbal reasoning and mathematical reasoning.
- Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb (girls) changed to the GL 11 Plus for their first-round assessment. The Henrietts Barnett 11 plus exam assesses numerical reasoning, verbal (vocabulary, comprehension and verbal) reasoning and English. The second round is set by the school itself and involves assessment in English (comprehension and creative writing skills) and Maths (problem-solving).
Which 11 plus exam does my London grammar school use?
- Latymer in Edmonton (girls and boys) adopted the GL assessment. Latymer’s 11 plus tests Mathematics 11 plus, Verbal Reasoning 11 plus and English 11 plus. The Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning set in a combined paper.
- Mill Hill County High School in Barnet (mixed) uses GL assessments. The Mill Hill 11 plus exam assesses 11 plus Verbal Reasoning and 11 plus Non-verbal Reasoning skills.
- Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Boys in Barnet uses the 11 plus GL assessment. There are 11 plus English and 11 plus Maths papers.
- Townley Grammar School in Bexleyheath uses the CEM 11 plus .
Barnet Grammar schools
- Henrietta Barnett School (girls)
- Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Boys
- St. Michael’s Catholic School (girls)
Bexley grammar schools
- Beths Grammar School (boys) Boys aged 11 to 16 are admitted to Beths Grammar School. A mixed Sixth Form is also available at this elite school.
- Bexley Grammar School (mixed) Sir Edward Heath founded and launched Bexley Grammar School in 1955. It is a co-educational, Academy-accredited school in Welling.
- Chislehurst and Sidcup School (mixed) In 1931, Chislehurst and Sidcup School first opened. This co-ed school in Sidcup, known as ‘Chis and Sid,’ has academy status.
- Townley Grammar School (girls) Townley Grammar School in Bexleyheath is a girls’ academy. The grammar school, formerly known as Bexley Technical High School for Girls, serves students in Years 7 through 11, with a mixed male sixth form.
Bromley grammar schools
- Newstead Wood School (girls)
- St Olave’s & St Saviour’s Grammar School (boys)
Bromley Grammar School entrance tests
- Newstead Wood School in Orpington (girls) uses verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests in their selection.
- St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington (boys) requires prospective students to first sit the school’s Selective Eligibility Test (SET), comprising of Logic, Mathematics and English. Learners that pass these will be invited to sit second stage tests in English and Mathematics.
Enfield grammar schools
- The Latymer School (mixed) Edmonton’s selective, mixed school was founded in 1624. School spaces are provided based on 11 Plus test results.
Kingston upon Thames grammar schools
- Tiffin Girls’ School
- Boys Tiffin School – founded 1880 – annual intake of 180 students.
Kingston Grammar Schools’ 11 plus exams
- Firstly, Tiffin Girls’ School in Kingston upon Thames (girls) operates a two-stage Test Procedure. The Stage One test consists of an English and Mathematics paper, both multiple choice. Marks on the Stage One test will determine invitation to the Stage Two test, although it won’t contribute to the final determination of offer of places at the school. The Stage Two test will test the core subjects of English and Mathematics.
- Tiffin School in Kingston upon Thames (boys) makes use of a two-stage Test Procedure. Stage One is the sifting test and consists of English and Mathematics questions. Stage Two also consists of English and Mathematics papers.
- Kingston Grammar School selection encompasses English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning 11 Plus tests.
Redbridge grammar schools
- Ilford County High School (boys)
- Woodford County High School (girls) Woodford County High School (WCHS) is a secondary all-girls selective school in Woodford Green.
Sutton grammar schools
- Nonsuch High School (girls) has won numerous accolades for its specialised science college and language school.
- Sutton Grammar School (boys) Opened in 1899, Sutton Grammar School is a school with a rich history, going from 11-18 years old.
- Wallington County Grammar School (boys) With 71 students, the inaugural Wallington County Grammar School (WCGS) opened in 1927. Since 1935, the current location has been on Croydon Road in Sutton.
- Wallington High School for Girls Wallington High School for Girls was founded in 1888 by a group of nuns and is an elite school in Sutton. The institution features a Sixth Form College and can accommodate around 2310 students.
- Wilson’s School (for boys) Wilson’s School, a boys’ institution in Wallington, has roughly 1,100 students.
Sutton Grammar Schools’ 11 plus mock exams
- Firstly, Sutton Grammar School for Boys uses a Selective Eligibility Test (SET) set on an English test and a Maths test. Then there’s a second testing stage, again of English test and a Maths test.
- Secondly, Wallington County Grammar School in Wallington is for boys only. They use the Selective Eligibility Test (11+) set on English and Mathematics. There is no stage two testing.
- Thirdly, Wallington High School for Girls in Wallington uses a Selective Eligibility Test (SET) set on English and Mathematics. Then there’s a second testing stage, again of English test and a Maths test.
- Fourthly, Wilson’s School in Wallington, for boys only, uses a Selective Eligibility Test (SET) set on English and Maths. The second stages are as per the above London grammar school tests.
- Next, Greenshaw High School uses a Selective Eligibility Test (SET) set on English and Mathematics. Then there’s a second testing stage, again of English test and a Maths test.
- Then, Ilford County High School in Barkingside, a boys-only grammar school, who use a Selective Eligibility Test (SET) set on English and Mathematics. The second stages are as per the above London grammar school tests.
More Sutton grammar schools
- Woodford County High School in Woodford Green is a girls-only London grammar school. They use a Selective Eligibility Test (SET) set on English and Mathematics. Then there’s a second testing stage, again of English test and a Maths test.
- Nonsuch High School for Girls in Cheam use a Selective Eligibility Test (SET) set on English and Mathematics. The second stages are the same as the above London grammar school tests.
- Michael’s Catholic Grammar School in North Finchley (girls) uses the GL assessment assessing Verbal Reasoning, Non-verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and English.
Which are the UK’s Best grammar schools?
Step-by-step guide to using THE LATEST grammar school league tables.
Shown first is the top performing grammar school’s Regional ranking, which is followed by this best grammar school’s name and then that leading grammar school’s national 2024 rating.
1. Wilson’s School, Wallington (3)
2. Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (2)
3. The Henrietta Barnett School, Hampstead Garden Suburb (1)
4. Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham (6)
5. St Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington (7)
6. Colchester Grammar School (10=)
7. The Tiffin Girls’ School, Kingston (4)
8. Reading School (12)
9. King Edward VI School, Stratford (10=)
10. Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (5)
11. King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford (8)
12. Chelmsford County High School for Girls (17)
13=. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys (18)
13=. Colyton Grammar School, Devon (9)
15. Kendrick School, Reading (14)
16. Tonbridge Grammar School (20)
17=. Tiffin School, Kingston (21) Lumen Christi College, Londonderry (49)
19. Dartford Grammar School (15)
20. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham (27)