Wallington County Grammar School in the London Borough of Sutton consistently ranks as one of the top performing state schools in the UK. In 2025 the school ranked 26th countrywide. Wallington has a history stretching back to 1927 when it was founded as an all-boys school. This tradition maintains today although girls are also admitted to a co-educational Sixth Form.
Places are naturally fiercely contested in an urban area with great transport links, and for a school where there is no specific catchment area in place. Pupils are regarded as very bright and the student body is multicultural, made up of students who respond to excellent teaching and learning. The leadership team have a clear vision for the school, rooted in the school motto - Per Ardua Ad Summa, or 'Through Difficulties to the Heights' - and local reviews suggest that pupils buy into this vision.
In 2022 Ofsted rated Wallington as Outstanding for the second consecutive visit, stating that the “school … has a strong sense of community and very high expectations.” Leadership was seen to have put an ambitious and unique curriculum in place, including the study of politics and civilisations in Year 8/9, which helps students make connections across aspects of geography, history and RE. Ofsted also observed that pastoral leaders have implemented an imaginative PSHE programme, supported by external agencies to lead lessons on positive friendship. Behaviour was judged to be excellent, with low-level disruption rare. Pupils have the opportunity to listen and learn and concentrate independently on their studies.
The school’s GCSE results bear this out, with the school ranked 26th in the UK for its GCSE performance. A-Level Results were similarly impressive with a record 67% of grades at A* or A, surpassing a previous high of 64%.
Beyond the classroom, sport and the arts are core to school identity. Beyond elite-level rugby and cricket provision, the PE / games curriculum offers tennis, football, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, athletics – and more. Time for students to pursue diverse interests is actually embedded in the school timetable, with current offerings including Duke of Edinburgh, debating, journalism, cinema, LGBT+ football forum, anime – and more.
Entry Points
The school has standard entry points at Year 7 and Year 12, and waiting lists for those in Years 7 to 11. All admissions are co-ordinated by the London Borough of Sutton.
Admission Requirements for 11+ Entry
Wallington admits 150 into Year 7 in the September of each year and places are allocated on the basis of academic ability, although some accommodation is made for ‘Looked After Children’ i.e. those pupils subject to adoption, child arrangement, or special guardianship orders.
Students looking to join Wallington School need to reach a combined qualifying standard based on the sitting of two entrance tests. Only those achieving the desired pass mark at Stage One will proceed to the Second Stage.
An on-line application form to take the first round SET must be submitted, via the school website, by the 1st August of a prospective student’s Year 6 study. All applicants will be invited to sit the Stage 1 Test. This takes place in mid-September of Year 6 and consists of a multiple-choice Maths and a multiple-choice English paper. Those who achieve the pass mark will then be invited to sit a Second Stage Test, which takes place in early October. Again, the second Test consists of Maths and English.
Those looking to gain entry must achieve a successful score made up of two fifths of their Stage 1 score and three fifths Second Stage combined score.
What sort of questions should I expect in the Wallington County Grammar School admissions tests?
The Stage 1 test consists of two parts, Maths and a separate English paper, both of which are multiple-choice. Tests don’t include verbal or non-verbal reasoning segments. The exams last around 45 minutes each and there is a chance to have a break between the two papers.
The school does provide sample answer sheets, to get a sense of where students are aiming, here. And while Wallington does not provide past papers they suggest that test content is based broadly on the KS2 curriculum. They provide examples of question type via the following links: SET English Sample Questions; SET Maths Sample Questions.
The Second-Stage Test also consists of two papers, again Maths and English, and again with no verbal/ non-verbal reasoning elements. These tests are not multiple choice. These exams are slightly longer with both coming in at between 45 minutes - 1 hour in length. No specimen tests are provided with the school saying only that test content will be based on Key Stage 2 courses of study.
The association that manages school admission in Sutton Borough do however provide what is known as ‘familiarisation tests’. These are basically an opportunity to practise – and receive detailed feedback on – 11+-style tests, to be sat in exam conditions in local schools. These cost £47.50 each but the Borough offers free test places to Year 5 students who qualify for Pupil Premium Funding.
16+ (Sixth Form) Admission Requirements
Wallington has 175 selective places available for its Sixth Form in Year 12, including both girls and boys. This extends to a minimum of 25 places for external candidates – though in practise this has meant anything between 35 and 50 places in recent years, if existing students do not meet Sixth Form entry requirements. Students already at the school and who meet minimum requirements (below) will always be admitted to the Sixth Form.
The minimum grades required at post-16 are 3 GCSES at a minimum of Grade 7, 3 at Grade 6, and a minimum of two at Grade 5.
External candidates who wish to apply for a Sixth Form place, and who meet the standards above, must complete an application form through the school website on GCSE results day.
They will then be ranked by the average score of their top 8 GCSE with the best student only admitted.
Preparation Tips for Wallington County Grammar School Admissions Test
Competition for a spot at any of the UK’s top Grammar Schools is fierce. This means that, in order to stand a chance, students should stay on top of all mathematical and English study at KS2. Candidates should also get to grips with the multiple choice format of tests, which may not be taught in schools, as well as being adept at working in timed conditions.
Keystone Tutors employ specialist grammar school entrance tutors and have over ten year’s experience in this area, and can walk families through the entire 11+ process and the admissions tests for Wallington County Grammar School. Please call the Keystone office to talk with one of our experienced client managers.
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