Surrey Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information
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Table of Contents
Introduction
The selective schools in Surrey are divided between two areas of the county: Kingston-upon-Thames and Sutton.
In Kingston-upon-Thames, there are two selective grammar schools that are highly sought-after and known for their academic excellence and holistic approach to education.
These schools are:
In Sutton, there are several high-performing grammar schools, each of them renowned for its strong academic programmes and robust extracurricular activities.
These schools are:
Sutton Grammar School for Boys
Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington High School for Girls
Parents in Surrey seeking admissions for their children often consider these schools due to their reputation for nurturing students who achieve strong examination results, which subsequently provides a solid foundation for higher education and future career opportunities.
⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exam and admissions process!
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Surrey Grammar Schools
The 11+ exams at grammar schools in Surrey are designed to measure prospective pupils’ academic aptitude, problem-solving skills and ability to interpret texts logically. The challenging nature of these exams reflects the high academic expectations of Surrey’s grammar schools, each known for its strong commitment to educational excellence.
Ultimately, the aim of these schools’ thorough admissions procedures is to ensure that each admitted student is well suited for the challenging yet rewarding academic environment that grammar schools provide. Please see below further details about their admissions processes:
Registration closing date: August (Sutton), September (Kingston)
Common Application Form (CAF) closing date: October
Exam date: September (Sutton), October and November (Kingston)
Pass mark (Sutton): Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests.
Pass mark (Kingston): Aim for 80% in our practice tests.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: For Sutton: Sutton Council, 0208 7705000 | For Kingston: Kingston upon Thames, 0208 5474610
Surrey Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
All Sutton grammar schools use the Selective Eligibility Test (SET) to determine Year 7 place allocation. For most of the Sutton schools, the SET is the first stage in a two-step assessment process.
The Kingston-upon-Thames grammar schools also use a two-stage entrance exam process to assess prospective pupils.
Year 7 places at both regions are allocated through the respective local authorities, whether that be Sutton Council or Kingston upon Thames.
As Surrey is one of the most competitive grammar school areas in the country, parents are always encouraged to visit their child’s preferred school(s) ahead of applying for a Year 7 place. Attending open events will provide you with insights into what life is like at each school.
How to Register for the Surrey Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
For Sutton grammar schools, you can visit Sutton Council’s website, which provides direct links to the schools in the area, their admissions policies and how to register to take the SET.
For Kingston Schools, you must complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available on each of the school’s websites. You are kindly advised to visit the Kingston upon Thames’s LA website for more details.
Surrey Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Selective Eligibility Test (SET), used by all Sutton schools, consists of two multiple-choice tests that last 40–45 minutes each and focus on mathematics and English. Students who achieve the required standard in this test will be asked, at most schools, to sit further assessments in the following format:
a) Mathematics paper – consists of open-ended questions, which require your child to provide free-form responses, rather than select from predetermined options;
b) English paper – consists of a creative writing task, which requires a response to a prompt.
Both the Kingston-upon-Thames schools have a two-stage process that tests students’ English skills and mathematical knowledge.
a) The first round at both schools is multiple-choice for English and partially multiple-choice for Maths. For many of the maths questions, your child will need to mark their answers by crossing through numbers on a grid. It’s an unusual response format, which we replicate in our Tiffin Practice Tests.
b) The second round is standard format, involving written tasks such as comprehension, writing and mathematical problem-solving.
You will receive the results of your child’s entrance exam online in October, and final Year 7 place allocations will be published in March.
Sutton and Tiffin 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Grammar schools in Surrey assess pupils for 11+ entry using competitive Mathematics and English examinations. There is no formal pass mark for these tests. Instead, entry is relative to the performance of the cohort of applicants. Hence, if there are stronger candidates applying in a particular year, the pass mark will be higher.
Pupils who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ Sutton Stage 1 practice tests should be on track to pass the Sutton Stage 1 (SET) exam. Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ Tiffin Stage 1 practice tests should be on track to pass the Tiffin Stage 1 exam.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Suton and Kingston (Tiffin) 11+ exams.
Passing the test does not guarantee that your child will be offered a place. It simply means they have surpassed the required threshold. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
To learn more about the Stage 2 exam for the Sutton schools, please click here.
To learn more about the Stage 2 exam for the Tiffin schools, please click here.
Practice Papers for the Sutton 11 Plus (11+) Exam
đź“ťNonsuch High School for Girls 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
đź“ťSutton Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
đź“ťWallington County Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
đź“ťWallington High School for Girls 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
📝Wilson’s School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
đź“ťGreenshaw High School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
Practice Papers for the Tiffin 11 Plus (11+) Exam
đź“ťTiffin School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
📝The Tiffin Girls’ School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
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Surrey Grammar Schools (Sutton & Tiffin): Results & Leavers’ Destinations
Surrey Grammar Schools – Progress 8 Scores
Progress 8 serves as an indicator that traces students’ academic advancement from the completion of Key Stage 2 during primary education to the completion of Key Stage 4 in secondary education. It functions as a tool to assess the educational efficacy of a school by observing the academic progress of its students.
Determining the Progress 8 score involves juxtaposing students’ actual outcomes in eight essential subjects, such as English, mathematics, sciences, humanities and languages, with their projected outcomes, which are grounded in their prior academic performance at the primary level. The resulting score represents the average rate of progress students achieve across these specified subjects.
đź“Š Please refer to the chart below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Surrey:
Source: Gov.uk
A positive Progress 8 score indicates that students, on average, have made more progress than expected, while a negative score suggests that they have made less progress than expected. A score of zero means that students have progressed as expected.
Surrey Grammar Schools (Sutton & Tiffin): Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refer to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at grammar schools in Surrey.
Universities within the Russell Group are highly regarded and widely recognised for their significant accomplishments across various performance indicators. They are particularly lauded for their pioneering research efforts and groundbreaking innovations.
Prominent among the Russell Group’s esteemed constituents are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. These two globally respected entities, considered among the world’s oldest and most distinguished universities, maintain a rich heritage of academic distinction. Their intensive and comprehensive academic curricula, supported by a cadre of renowned scholars, only serve to enhance their celebrated stature within the international educational sphere.
đź“Š The chart below shows the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Surrey:
Source: Gov.uk
As the chart above shows, a significant number of students from the Surrey grammar schools are offered places at top universities in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Grammar Schools in Surrey
How many grammar schools are based in Kingston-upon-Thames?
There are two highly selective grammar schools in the Kingston area: Tiffin School and Tiffin Girls’ School.
How many grammar schools are based in Sutton?
Sutton has six grammar schools, all of which are renowned for their academic and non-academic programmes. Those are:
- Nonsuch High School for Girls
- Sutton Grammar School for Boys
- Wallington County Grammar School
- Wallington High School for Girls
- Wilson’s School
- Greenshaw High School
How can I register my child for the 11+ Sutton exam?
For Sutton schools, registrations for the exam are completed online, through the Sutton Council page.
How can I register my child for the 11+ Kingston (Tiffin) exam?
For Kingston schools, you must complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available on each of the school’s websites.
When do grammar schools in Surrey hold their 11+ exam?
The Surrey 11+ exams are held in September and October (Sutton) and October and November (Kingston).
What is the 11+ exam pass mark for Surrey?
Whilst there are no guarantees, consistently scoring 75-80%+ in our practice tests is a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Surrey (SET and Tiffin) 11+ exams.
Who is the 11+ exam provider for Surrey?
The 11+ exam in Surrey is created by the respective schools.
The information provided about the Surrey grammar schools was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.
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