Sutton 11+ Grammar Schools and Selective Eligibility Test Guide
Sutton contains several highly selective grammar schools. For current admissions, a shared Selective Eligibility Test is used as the first stage for multiple schools, followed by school-specific second-stage entrance examinations for the grammar schools.
How this regional 11+ system works
Sutton contains several highly selective grammar schools. For current admissions, a shared Selective Eligibility Test is used as the first stage for multiple schools, followed by school-specific second-stage entrance examinations for the grammar schools.
Use this flagship page to understand the regional structure, then verify the current entry-year policy with the relevant local authority, consortium and individual grammar school. Registration windows, test providers, score-sharing arrangements, priority areas and oversubscription rules can change.
Four things parents need to understand
Shared first-stage test
Six Sutton schools currently participate in the shared Selective Eligibility Test.
One registration
Families register once through a participating school.
Second stages follow
For the grammar schools, success in the first stage makes the child eligible for school-specific second-stage examinations.
First-stage success is not an offer
Sutton explicitly states that success in testing does not guarantee a school place.
Step-by-step grammar-school admissions process
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose participating schools | Decide which Sutton grammar schools and selective routes are genuine preferences. |
| Register once for the SET | Use a participating school’s registration system by the current deadline. |
| Prepare for first stage | Build the current English and mathematics or other published SET components. |
| Prepare for second stages | Follow the exact school-specific second-stage format for qualified pupils. |
| Submit the CAF | Apply for preferred schools through the home local authority. |
What the 11+ may assess
First-stage eligibility test
Use the participating schools’ current SET specification.
English
Commonly important in selective stages.
Mathematics
Core to Sutton selective testing.
Second-stage papers
Formats differ between schools and should be checked individually.
Official familiarisation material should be the starting point. Third-party practice is most useful when its question types, timing, response format and difficulty resemble the current test. Scores from unrelated publishers should not be treated as interchangeable predictions.
Grammar schools and selective routes covered
- Sutton Grammar School
- Wilson’s School
- Wallington County Grammar School
- Wallington High School for Girls
- Nonsuch High School for Girls
- Greenshaw High School ability-place route
Retain a separate school-specific SET page when it has substantial unique value: current admissions-policy detail, distinct test stages, catchment analysis, travel guidance, school-specific search demand or a strong existing ranking. Thin school summaries should be merged into this regional flagship.
How to prepare effectively
1. Diagnose
Identify strengths and gaps in the exact subjects required by the target test. Record the reason for errors, not just the score.
2. Teach
Repair curriculum, vocabulary and reasoning gaps explicitly before relying on repeated papers.
3. Practise
Use short targeted sets, then mix skills so the child must recognise the appropriate method independently.
4. Time and rehearse
Introduce timing after accuracy is secure. Progress towards realistic papers, answer-sheet practice and full-session stamina.
Scores, qualifying standards and offers
A qualifying score, standardised score, rank and effective allocation score can mean different things. A child may be academically eligible but still not receive an offer because the school is oversubscribed.
Historical scores can help parents understand competitiveness, but they should not be presented as guaranteed future thresholds. Applicant numbers, age standardisation, priority categories, address rules and school capacity can all change the final allocation picture.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the SET itself is the final grammar-school exam.
- Registering separately multiple times when one shared registration is required.
- Preparing identical second-stage papers for all grammar schools.
- Treating eligibility as a guaranteed offer.
- Forgetting the common application form after passing testing stages.
Official information and related SET guides
Official admissions sources
Sutton secondary tests and assessmentsSutton secondary application dates
Related School Entrance Tests guides
11+ Year 4 Preparation11+ Year 5 Preparation11+ Year 6 Final Preparation11+ Practice Tests11+ Exam Timelines11+ Syllabus Guide
Sutton 11+ Grammar Schools and Selective Eligibility Test Guide FAQs
What is the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test?
It is the shared first-stage selective test used by six Sutton schools for current admissions.
Do I register once or for every school?
Sutton states that families need register only once through a participating school.
Does passing the SET guarantee a place?
No. For the grammar schools it generally leads to eligibility for a second-stage entrance exam.
Which schools share the SET?
Current Sutton guidance lists Greenshaw, Nonsuch, Sutton Grammar, Wallington County Grammar, Wallington High School for Girls and Wilson’s.
Are the second stages identical?
No. Families should check each grammar school’s current second-stage format.
When should we prepare?
Build English and maths foundations early, then match practice to the current SET and second-stage formats.
Build the plan around the actual admissions policy
Confirm the current test, school criteria and application stages first. Then build the relevant knowledge and reasoning skills, use practice diagnostically and add realistic timed rehearsal only when accuracy is secure.
Editorial framework updated August 2026. Verify all dates and admission arrangements for the relevant entry year directly with the authority, consortium and school.
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.
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.
Bexley
Bexley Selection Test guidance and admissions
to Bexley’s four grammar schools.
Sutton
Sutton Selective Eligibility Test, grammar-school
second stages and admissions.
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire grammar schools and the
Secondary Transfer Test admissions system.
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.
Berkshire
Compare Slough Consortium, Reading School and
Kendrick School selective admissions.
Hertfordshire
South West Herts and other selective-school
admissions arrangements across Hertfordshire.
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Start with the current admissions policy of the schools
you are considering. There is no single national 11+
examination, and neighbouring regions can use different
tests and admissions rules.