Ilford County High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

Introduction

Ilford County High School (ICHS) is a selective grammar school located in Barkingside and remains the only boys’ selective school in the London Borough of Redbridge. Founded in 1901, the school currently teaches a broad curriculum to around 1,000 boys. In 2012, the school joined the Leading Edge Partnership, which encourages schools across the UK to learn from each other.

In addition to its challenging academic program, ICHS places a strong emphasis on character development and leadership skills, offering a range of opportunities for pupils to get involved in activities such as student government and community service. The school’s extracurricular activities program includes a variety of sports teams, musical ensembles, and clubs that cater to a wide range of interests and abilities.

Ilford County High School is known for its exceptional results, with many of its pupils going on to study at prestigious universities in the UK and beyond. The school is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse learning environment, welcoming students from all backgrounds and cultures.

Ilford County High School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

Year 7 admissions to Ilford County High School are managed by the local authority, the London Borough of Redbridge (LBR). With 180 places available, parents are advised to visit ICHS ahead of registration to ensure it is the right learning environment for their son.

ICHS is often oversubscribed for places in Year 7 and in this case, the school uses the following criteria, in order of priority:

• Children who are looked after, or have previously been looked after.
• Children with exceptional medical or psychological needs.
• Children with a sibling already at the school.
• Children who live closest to the school.

If you have any questions about ICHS’s admissions process, you must contact the LBR’s Secondary Admissions Department directly on 0208 478 3020. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:

How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Ilford County High School

Year 7 admission to Ilford County High School is based on the results of an 11 Plus exam entrance test. Parents must register their child before the closing date via the LBR’s website. LBR does not accept any late applications, even under exceptional circumstances.

Ilford County High School Catchment Area

Does Ilford County High School have a catchment area?

Yes, there is a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school.

How to Prepare for the Ilford County High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam?

In order to gain one of the 180 Year 7 places at Ilford County High School, your son may need to invest a significant amount of time in his 11+ exam preparation. If you’re looking to assist your son in achieving a competitive advantage over their peers whilst helping him reduce pre-exam stress and nerves, our practice tests are the solution.

With the help of our practice tests, you will be able to identify your child’s weaknesses, since they cover all the types of questions that pupils will potentially be asked in the 11+ exam. You will also be able to recognise your son’s strengths, as he gets used to answering questions quickly and under pressure.

Identifying the strong and weak points in your son’s knowledge base will allow you to adjust his study schedule accordingly. With a carefully thought-out revision plan that focuses on studying ‘little and often’, the preparation process should become a little less demanding.

Ilford County High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

The exam at Ilford County High School has a specified pass mark of 104. Students scoring lower than 104 will not be added to the waiting list.

Data from previous years suggests that pupils that are able to score 90%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass this 11+ GL Assessment created test.

Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Ilford County High School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.

Ilford County High School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers

Since ICHS is part of the Redbridge School Consortium, they use the shared Redbridge test for their 11+ Exam. This exam is created for Redbridge by the exam board GL Assessment. The resources below are specifically designed to match the GL Assessment format used by Redbridge Grammar Schools. They will therefore prove ideal for children currently preparing for the Ilford County High School eleven plus exam:

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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Ilford County High School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Ilford County High School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ilford County High School.