The London Borough of Sutton is blessed with some elite schools at both primary and secondary levels. And this illustrious list of schools includes grammar ones too. Every Sutton Grammar School is noted for its fierce competition, where only 25-30% of pupils crack the stage 1 exam and become eligible for a place. After that, they will have to undergo a second stage test in some of these schools to secure their place. And there are not many seats available either. So, the competition is cut-throat in such schools. Approximately, 5000 applicants sit for the (11 plus exam) Selective Eligibility Test each year.
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How many Grammar Schools are there in Sutton?
Sutton is noted for its long list of top-quality primary and secondary level schools. Every Sutton Grammar School is noted all over the UK for its fierce competition. Not only the 11 plus entrance exam but the admission criteria, procedures, and rules are complex for these institutions. There are five fully selective grammar schools in Sutton. They are as follows –
- Sutton Grammar School
- Wallington County Grammar School
- Wallington High School for Girls
- Nonsuch High School for Girls
- Wilson’s Grammar School
There is one partially selective school called Greenshaw High School. All six schools conduct the (11 plus) ‘Selective Eligibility Test’.
The 11 plus exams for every Sutton Grammar School are age-adjusted so that younger children appearing for the exam are not disadvantaged.
The mechanism of age standardisation has it fair share of critics. Age adjustment is used because of age differences among children appearing for the 11 plus test. At times, this age difference can be up to a year. Therefore, it is construed that older children have an advantage over those younger than them in the 11 plus entrance exam. Thus, their scores are adjusted slightly to strike an equilibrium.
Many people think that this system is prudent as one whole year makes a big difference in children’s cognitive abilities. Of course, it doesn’t always hold true that an older child will fare better than a younger one. There are so many conditions that influence and affect the outcome of an exam. But generally speaking, it is a prudent assumption.
What do the numbers say?
The cut-throat nature of a grammar school is well-known. Every grammar school in Sutton is also not different. Every Sutton grammar school is extremely selective, and the number of seats available is limited. When you consider a large number of applicants for each Sutton grammar school every year, then the outlook appears to be bleak as only a handful of children get admission in the end. You have to bring your A-game in order to qualify for a place at a Sutton grammar school.
Just to put things into perspective, here are some statistics for a few of these schools.
Sutton Grammar School
In 2016, the Sutton Grammar School had 2594 applicants. 891 cleared stage 1 and qualified for stage 2 or second stage test. Out of 891, 746 were declared eligible for the 135 places available that year.
Wallington County Grammar School
Here is some data from the past years –
For September 2013, 1,535 candidates applied, 452 became eligible for a place.
For September 2012, 1,511 candidates applied, 454 became eligible for a place
For September 2011, 1,676 candidates applied, 451 became eligible for a place
For September 2010, 1,663 candidates applied, 498 became eligible for a place.
Places available for Year 7 in 2020 was 150.
Nonsuch High School for Girls
Some information on past years’ statistics reveals that the competition here is also tough.
In 2009, 1,288 girls were invited to sit the exam. In 2010, the number was 1,230 girls. It has been slowly increasing since then with 1300 girls appearing for the exam in 2011 and 1350 in 2012.
Places available for Year 7 in 2020 was 210.
What is the (11 plus) Selective Eligibility Test (SET)?
Every Sutton Grammar School conducts an 11 plus entrance Selective Eligibility Test to determine the quality of pupils appearing for a place in the schools. For most of the schools, this is the first round of testing or stage 1 exam. You can download the registration or Supplementary Form from the websites of any Sutton Grammar School to sit for the stage 1 exam. The best thing about it is that it is sufficient to fill the form only once even if your kid is applying for more than one Sutton Grammar Schools. Usually, parents apply for several schools for their kid.
A common question that parents have is that if their child gets admission in the school if they pass the 11 plus exam. The answer is no. For most schools, there is a stage 2 exam after the stage 1 exam. For Nonsuch High School for Girls, Wallington High School for Girls, Wilson’s School, and Sutton Grammar School, there is a stage 2 exam or second stage entrance exam after stage 1 exam. If you pass the SET, the details will be sent to your email address. Please refer to the websites of these institutions for more information on the 11 plus SET.
Greenshaw and Wallington County are exceptions. They measure the quality of the pupilssolely on the 11 plus SET. They do not have a Stage 2 exam. Wallington uses SET results to determine boys who are eligible for a place at the school.
Greenshaw uses the 11 plus SET results to determine which students are eligible for one of their 60 ability places. It is pertinent to note that even if your kid does not pass the SET, he/she can be eligible for a place based on other criteria. Thus, the stage 1 exam is the final one for these two schools.
Allocation for girls and boys will be different. Boys will be invited to sit the SET at Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County, Wilson’s Grammar School or Greenshaw High. Girls will be allocated Nonsuch, Wallington High, or Greenshaw High School.
What is the nature of the tests?
As mentioned above, for most of the schools, you have a stage 2 exam. Let us look at the two stages of exams that your kid needs to ace to increase his chances of securing a place in any Sutton Grammar School. (except Greenshaw and Wallington County as they do not have the second stage). English and Mathematics are the two subjects that these schools focus on for secondary level. So, your kid needs to be well-versed in English and Mathematics.
Stage 1
Stage 1 consists of two subjects: Maths and English. Both Maths and English papers in the 1st stage test are multiple-choice papers. Each of these papers is 45 minutes long. Thus, English multiple-choice questions (45 minutes time) and Maths multiple-choice questions (45 minutes time) will test the abilities of the students in stage 1. The pupils will use a separate multiple-choice answer sheet to write their answers.
Stage 2
Stage 2 is tougher as there is no multiple choice here. The subjects are the same – Maths and English. For Maths, you get standard format questions based on the KS2 curriculum. For English, you get writing tasks based on different prompts and comprehension. The time allotted for each of these tests is similar to stage 1. Stage 2 exam is approximately 45 minutes long.
How to prepare for SET 11+ exam?
To prepare for these tests, you can practice past papers and take online mock exams. An online mock test (be it English or Mathematics) is quite helpful, and several online learning platforms provide such mock tests. Practice papers are good instruments for any student to prepare for 11 plus exams. You can get an idea about the exam format and exam conditions when you practice past papers and appear for mock exams. Click here to book online mock exams for your child.
There are several good learning platforms and apps that offer English creative writing courses that will help you prepare for English comprehension and improve your English writing skills. You can practice good quality Mathematics past papers as the standard is quite high, especially in the second stage. You can access some free practice papers as samples as well. It’s advisable to purchase the entire bundle of Maths and English past papers for your kid to practice for the exams. Click here to access over 350 solved past papers with detailed explanations.
Below is the detailed information for every Sutton Grammar School that parents need to know before applying for their child.
Sutton Grammar School (SGS)
- Address: Manor Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM1-4AS
- Official website: www.suttongrammar.sutton.sch.uk
- Telephone: 020 8642 3821
- Email: office@suttongrammar.sutton.sch.uk
- School type: Academy Converter
- Gender: Boys
- Age range: 11 to 18
- Admissions policy: Selective (based on 11+ exam)
- Total number of students: 930 (approximately)
- Number of places available for Year 7: 135 ( divided into five forms of 27 boys)
- Important term date:
- Spring Term 2021 – Monday 4 Jan – Thursday 1 April 2021
- Half Term – Mon 15 February – Fri 19 February 2021
- Summer Term 2021 – Monday 19 April – Wednesday 21 July 2021
- Half Term – Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2021
- Virtual tour: Please Click Here for the Sutton Grammar School Virtual Open Evening 2020.
- Ofsted report: Ofsted Report
- Headmaster: Mr Ben Cloves
Wallington County Grammar School
- Address: Croydon Road, Wallington, Surrey, London, SM6 7PH
- Official website: www.wcgs-sutton.co.uk
- Telephone: 020 8647 2235
- Email: enquiries@wcgs.org.uk
- Gender: Boys
- Age range: 11 to 18
- School Type: Academy Converter
- Admissions policy: Selective
- Total number of students: 900 (approximately)
- Number of places available for Year 7: 150
- Boarding provision: No
- Important Year 7 dates: https://www.wcgs-sutton.co.uk/admissions/year-7-entry/key-dates-for-year-7-entry
- Important term date:
- Spring Term 2021 – Monday 4 Jan – Thursday 1 April 2021
- Half Term – Mon 15 February – Fri 19 February 2021
- Summer Term 2021 – Monday 19 April – Tuesday 20 July 2021
- Half Term – Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2021
- Virtual tour: https://www.wcgs-sutton.co.uk/about/virtual-tour
- Ofsted report: Ofsted Report
- Headmaster: Mr Jamie Bean
Wallington High School for Girls
- Address: Woodcote Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 0PH
- Official website: www.wallingtongirls.sutton.sch.uk
- Telephone: 020 8647 2380
- Email: info@wallingtongirls.org.uk
- Gender: Girls
- Age range: 11 to 18
- School Type: Academy Converter
- Admissions policy: Selective
- Total number of students: 1,400 (approx.)
- Number of places available for Year 7: 210
- Important term date:
- Spring Term 2021 – Monday 4 Jan – Thursday 1 April 2021
- Half Term – Mon 15 February – Fri 19 February 2021
- Summer Term 2021 – Monday 19 April – Friday 16 July 2021
- Half Term – Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2021
- Ofsted Report: Ofsted Report
- Headmaster: Mr Richard Booth
Nonsuch High School for Girls
- Address: Nonsuch High School for Girls, Ewell Road, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8AB
- Official website: www.nonsuchschool.org
- Telephone: 020 8394 3400
- Email: office@nonsuchschool.org
- School Type: Girls
- Age range: 11 to 18
- School Type: Academy Converter
- Admissions policy: Selective
- Local authority: Sutton
- Total number of students: 1300 (approx.)
- Number of places available for Year 7: 210
- Important term date:
- Spring Term 2021 – Monday 4 Jan – Thursday 1 April 2021
- Half Term – Mon 15 February – Fri 19 February 2021
- Summer Term 2021 – Monday 19 April – Friday 16 July 2021
- Half Term – Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2021
- Ofsted Report: Ofsted Report
- Headteacher: Ms Amy Cavilla
Wilson’s Grammar School
- Address: Mollison Drive, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9JW, United Kingdom
- Official website: https://www.wilsons.school
- Telephone: 020 8773 2931
- Email: office@wilsonsschool.sutton.sch.uk
- School Type: Boys
- Age range: 11 to 18
- School Type: Academy Converter
- Admissions policy: Selective
- Religious character: Church of England
- Boarding provision: No
- Total number of students: 930 (approximately)
- Number of places available for Year 7:180
- Important term date:
- Spring Term 2021 – Monday 4 Jan – Wednesday 31 March 2021
- Half Term – Mon 15 February – Fri 19 February 2021
- Summer Term 2021 – Monday 19 April – Friday 16 July 2021
- Half Term – Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2021
- Ofsted report: Ofsted Report
- Headmaster: Mr N J Cole
Greenshaw High School
- Address: Grennell Road, Sutton, SM1 3DY
- Greenshaw Website: www.greenshaw.co.uk
- Telephone: 020 8715 1001
- Enquiries: info@greenshaw.co.uk
- School type: Co-education
- Age range: 11 to 18
- School Type: Academy Converter
- Admissions policy: Non-selective
- Boarding provision: No
- Total Number of Students in School: 1,600 (approximately)
- Number of Places Available for Year 7 Entry: 314 (out of which 60 are selective)
- Important term date:
- Spring Term 2021 – Monday 4 Jan – Thursday 1 April 2021
- Half Term – Mon 15 February – Fri 19 February 2021
- Summer Term 2021 – Monday 19 April – Tuesday 20 July 2021
- Half Term – Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2021
- Virtual tour: https://www.greenshaw.co.uk/information/year-6-7-transition/virtual-tour
- Ofsted Report: Ofsted Report
- Headmaster: Mr Nick House
Please check the websites of all these institutions for more information.
