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The Wirral 11+

Wirral’s four non-Catholic grammar schools share one assessment, set by Quest Assessments since September 2026: verbal reasoning in one paper, maths and non-verbal reasoning in the other. The two Catholic grammar schools, St Anselm’s College and Upton Hall School FCJ, set their own tests.

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At a glance

The test
The Wirral 11+ Assessment (Wirral Council's assessment for grammar school education)
Set by
Quest Assessments
Subjects
Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths
Answers
Multiple choice, on a separate answer sheet

The papers

Two papers of about 50 minutes each, sat in one session with a short supervised break: paper 1 verbal reasoning, paper 2 mathematics and non-verbal reasoning. All multiple choice (usually five options) on an OMR answer sheet; no long written answers. The September 2026 test was the first by Quest and kept the previous test's style, format, areas and weightings. One sitting counts for all four non-Catholic grammar schools. The two Catholic grammar schools set their own tests: St Anselm's College three papers (English, mathematics, verbal reasoning); Upton Hall School FCJ verbal reasoning (50 minutes) and English (comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar, 45 minutes).

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Dates, results and scores

When is the 11+ in Wirral?

The 2027 test: September 2027 (exact day not yet published; Quest lists it as to be confirmed and results in mid-October 2027, the council 21 October 2027) The 2026 test: Tuesday 15 September 2026 at a venue set by the council. Upton Hall School FCJ: Saturday 19 September 2026, with Wednesday 23 September 2026 for girls who missed it through illness. St Anselm's College: September 2026 (exact date not found).

How do you register for the 11+ in Wirral?

For the 2027 test (2028 entry): Saturday 1 May 2027 to Monday 31 May 2027 (Wirral Council timetable) For the 2026 test (2027 entry): Friday 1 May 2026 to 12 noon Monday 1 June 2026, online through Wirral Council (the council's timetable page gives Sunday 31 May 2026 as the deadline). St Anselm's College: by Friday 31 July 2026. Upton Hall School FCJ: by Friday 10 July 2026.

When do 11+ results come out in Wirral?

For the 2026 test: Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Wirral Council); Upton Hall by Friday 23 October 2026; offers on Monday 1 March 2027.

What score qualifies in Wirral?

No pass mark is published in advance. The two papers are age-standardised and combined into a total weighted score across the verbal, maths and non-verbal components; children who reach the required score meet the grammar school standard, and the consortium says the standard did not change with the move to Quest. Meeting it does not guarantee a place: each school then applies its own criteria (Wirral Grammar School for Boys gives up to 30 places to looked after, pupil premium or service premium boys scoring at or up to 5 marks below the eligible score, then medical need, siblings, staff children and distance). St Anselm's College: pass marks of 55% in maths, 55% in English and 118 in verbal reasoning, with the pass mark needed in 2 papers, then Catholic criteria and rank order. Upton Hall: age-weighted scores added, with a qualifying standard that includes a minimum in each paper, then Catholic criteria and rank order by score.

Not confirmed yet

  • The required score for the grammar school standard (not published by the council; tutoring sites quote differing figures).
  • Which provider set the Wirral test before Quest (the consortium FAQ does not name it; unofficial sites say GL Assessment).
  • Number of children sitting the Wirral assessment.
  • Whether the non-Catholic grammar schools have a formal review panel: Quest's Wirral page says to request a review through the school applied to, but no review procedure is set out in the council pages or the Wirral Grammar School for Boys 2027-28 policy.
  • St Anselm's College's September 2026 test date and results date.
  • Exact date of the September 2027 test.

Check these on the official page: wirral.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/step-by-step/apply-secondary-school-place/assessment-grammar

Good to know

Late testing and moving to the area

A late test later in the autumn term for registered children who were ill or absent on the main day. After the deadline only children who have moved to Wirral can register (paper form); Wirral Grammar School for Boys says its admissions manager can arrange the test with the council for movers-in. The test can be taken only once.

Who runs admissions

Each grammar school's governing body is its own admission authority; Wirral Council runs the assessment for Calday Grange, West Kirby and the two Wirral Grammar Schools (the Wirral Consortium of non-Catholic grammar schools) and co-ordinates offers (preference form by Saturday 31 October 2026); St Anselm's College and Upton Hall School FCJ register and test their own applicants.

Grammar schools in Wirral

Each school sets its own admissions rules: check its admissions policy for places and priority areas.

SchoolTownTakes
Calday Grange Grammar School websiteWest KirbyBoys, mixed sixth form
St Anselm's College websiteBirkenheadBoys
Upton Hall School FCJ websiteWirralGirls
West Kirby Grammar School websiteWest KirbyGirls, mixed sixth form
Wirral Grammar School for Boys websiteWirralBoys
Wirral Grammar School for Girls websiteWirralGirls

More on the 11+

Sources

Every fact here comes from the official pages below. Dates and scores change from year to year, so check them there before you rely on them.

Checked 2 November 2026.

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