Calday Grange Grammar School 11+

Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Calday Grange Grammar School.

How to get into Calday Grange Grammar School

Calday Grange Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Wirral. To get into Calday Grange Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Calday Grange Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.

Admission Requirements

Calday Grange Grammar School welcomes applications from students across the Wirral, Chester, North Wales, Liverpool, Warrington, and beyond. Prospective Year 7 students must pass the 11+ exam, administered in Year 6 by Wirral Local Authority [1].

Children who were born between 1st September 2014 and 31st August 2015 will take the Wirral Admissions Test in September 2025 for Year 7 entry in September 2026. If more eligible children apply to Calday Grange Grammar School than the 210 places available, the school uses oversubscription criteria [1].

To be considered for a place at Calday, students must complete and pass the 11+, which assesses their academic ability in key subjects [1]. No, Calday Grange Grammar School doesn't have a catchment area.

All images © Calday Grange Grammar School.
All images © Calday Grange Grammar School.

Application Process

Registration for the Wirral Admissions Test opens on the Wirral Council website on Thursday 1st May 2025 and closes on Saturday 31st May 2025. To participate, an Assessment Request Form must be completed by 31 May of Year 5. This form becomes available on 1 May [1].

The Wirral Admissions Test takes place in September in Year 6. Your child will take the test in September 2025 and you'll receive their results by Tuesday 21st October. The 11+ date for September 2025 is Monday 16 September 2025.

After the 11+ results, if you reside within the Wirral Borough Council area, you should complete a Wirral Parental Preference Form by 31 October of Year 6. This form is accessible online via the Council's website [1].

All images © Calday Grange Grammar School.
All images © Calday Grange Grammar School.
  • In your Local Authority admissions form, please list Calday Grange Grammar School as your top choice. Ensure Calday Grange Grammar School is your first preference on the admissions form
  • Applicants from Liverpool, Cheshire and North Wales should acquire a preference form from their primary school or local authority
  • If your child needs special access arrangements to complete the test, you should indicate this on the form
  • You will be notified of the choice of secondary school on 1st March

Examination Details

Calday Grange Grammar School belongs to the Wirral 11+ Consortium, a group of schools that use the same entrance exam format and share a very similar admissions process. All of the Wirral Grammar Schools use GL Assessment for the 11+ exam (unless otherwise specified) [1].

All of the questions in the Wirral Admissions Test are multiple-choice. Your child will have separate answer sheets which they will use to mark their answers. These are marked electronically. Calday Grange Grammar School has an age-standardised pass mark of 236.

The 11 Plus exam at Calday Grange Grammar School consists of two tests that will each cover all of the following subjects: verbal reasoning sections test your child's reasoning skills using language-based tasks, such as identifying patterns, completing analogies, solving codes and making logical deductions. Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning) sections test students' ability to solve problems using visual and abstract reasoning.

All images © Calday Grange Grammar School.
All images © Calday Grange Grammar School.

Oversubscription Criteria

Places are prioritised for eligible children in this order: Looked after children and previously looked after children, Children who have a valid medical or social reason to attend the school, Up to 15 places for children who receive free school meals, in rank order of the shortest walking distance to the school, Children who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission, Remaining places are allocated to children based on the shortest walking distance to the school [1].

However, as part of its oversubscription policy, children with the shortest walking distance from the school, as measured by the Local Authority computer mapping system, will be prioritised.

Preparation Guidance

Using a 'little and often' approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller 'chunks' of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.

Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the 11+ test. GL Assessment have readily available familiarisation materials which can be accessed below [1].

For comprehensive preparation resources, families can access practice 11+ papers and consider professional support through an 11+ tutor. 11 plus exams test your child's ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

School Visits and Events

School tours take place on a Thursday evening once a month at 4pm and will last approximately 45 minutes. Report to Reception where a member of our senior leadership team will meet you [1].

Year 5 & 6 Open Evening Join us on Tuesday 17th September, between 5:45pm - 8:15pm Headteacher's Talk at 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm and 7:30pm [1]. Yes you need to book tickets and if you wish to listen to the Headteacher's Talk you will need additional tickets for this. Spaces are limited and you will need to book tickets to attend one of the above talks.

We recommend that all prospective students and their families attend one of our open days or other events, where they can meet our staff and students, tour our facilities, and learn more about our school [1].

About the School

Calday Grange Grammar School (CGGS) is a selective grammar school for boys, situated on Caldy Hill in Grange. Founded in 1636, it's Wirral's oldest surviving grammar school, educating a number of prominent alumni, including authors, athletes, scientists and a Victoria Cross recipient [1].

It was founded in 1636 and is the largest grammar school on the Wirral. Pupils join Year 7 from more than 60 primary schools every year. Calday Grange is rated 'good' by Ofsted. The school is also well-known for its excellence in music and sport and was recently ranked the 7th best state school in the country for sport.

Striving for excellence, pupils at Calday Grange benefit from a balanced curriculum, featuring a number of relevant disciplines, such as humanities, science, technology and languages. The school delivers a comprehensive education, equipping pupils with the skills they need to think critically and thrive in various cultural and social settings. The enrichment programme is just as relevant, preparing children for the challenges of modern life. The extensive offering ranges from orchestra, drama and cookery to robotics, swimming and sailing.

Contact Information

For specific questions about admissions, detailed policies, or to arrange school visits, families should contact the school information section. If you have any questions or require further information about our admissions process, please do not hesitate to contact our admissions team [1].

[1]Calday Grange Grammar School official website

Wirral 11+ Information

In order to get into Calday Grange Grammar School, children need to pass the Wirral 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Wirral 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Wirral 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
  • Maths

The Wirral Admissions Test is used by Calday Grange Grammar School to evaluate the aptitude of prospective students. This assessment comprises two papers that cover a range of subjects designed to gauge the child's abilities.

The exam features questions on verbal reasoning, which assesses the child's capacity to analyze and interpret written information. Non-verbal reasoning is also tested, focusing on the child's ability to recognize patterns, solve problems, and think logically using visual cues. Additionally, the test includes a maths section to evaluate the child's numerical skills and understanding of mathematical concepts.

All questions in the Wirral Admissions Test are presented in a multiple-choice format. Children will be provided with separate answer sheets on which they will indicate their responses. These answer sheets are then electronically marked to ensure accurate and efficient scoring.

Other Schools using Wirral 11+

As well as Calday Grange Grammar School, several other schools also use Wirral 11+. These are:

Wirral 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Calday Grange Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Most 11+ tests are multiple-choice and marked electronically but still some remain that are marked by teachers or examiners.
Most 11+ tests are multiple-choice and marked electronically but still some remain that are marked by teachers or examiners.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Wirral 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Wirral 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Stop worrying! Once the 11+ marking has started the admissions process is out of your control.
Stop worrying! Once the 11+ marking has started the admissions process is out of your control.

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Calday Grange Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Key Dates for the Calday Grange Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests

Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Calday Grange Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.

DateEventCalendar Link
01/05/2025Registration Opens For The Wirral Admissions Test
31/05/2025Registration Closes For The Wirral Admissions Test
Early SeptemberWirral Admissions Test
Late OctoberParents Receive Outcome Of Wirral Admissions Test
Late OctoberSecondary School Applications Close At 5pm
02/03/2026Secondary School National Offers Day

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Calday Grange Grammar School as they may well change.

11+ Tutor for Calday Grange Grammar School

As the Wirral 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.

Why use a private 11+ tutor?

Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.

11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.

11+ tutors help ensure preparation work gets done!
11+ tutors help ensure preparation work gets done!

11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.

Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!

Private 11+ Tutors for the Calday Grange Grammar School 11+ Tests

We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Calday Grange Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.

11+ Past Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School

Here are all available past 11+ papers for Calday Grange Grammar School. Please note that this may include 11+ past papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that Calday Grange Grammar School currently uses.

The exam board (or test supplier) that Calday Grange Grammar School chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.

As well as these past 11+ papers, you may find our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers helpful for your child's preparation.

Exam BoardSubject11+ Past Paper
CEM*
Now use GL Assessment
Mixed

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Wirral 11+ Ensure you double-check with Calday Grange Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.

This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by Bond

These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Wirral 11+ to get into Calday Grange Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMixed

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by GL Assessment

These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Calday Grange Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMixed

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by Exam Ninja

These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Wirral 11+.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentEnglish

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by Owl Tutors

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Calday Grange Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentWriting
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by CGP

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Calday Grange Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentNon-Verbal Reasoning

These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Calday Grange Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
CEMMaths
CEMVerbal Reasoning
CEMNon-Verbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by 11+ For You

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by Independent Junction

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by IPS

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMaths

11+ Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School by Schofield & Sims

These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMaths

School Information

Below you will find further information about Calday Grange Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

Calday Grange Grammar School is a boys-only grammar school.
Calday Grange Grammar School is a boys-only grammar school.
Address
Calday Grange Grammar School,
Grammar School Lane, West Kirby,
Wirral,
Merseyside
CH48 8GG
School Website
Telephone01516252727
Email Addressschooladmissions@wirral.gov.uk
GenderBoys only
Total Year 7 Places210
Total Pupils (Girls/Boys)1530 (67 Girls / 1463 Boys)
Headteacher Mr Stephen Gray

Calday Grange Grammar School is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,530 pupils attend Calday Grange Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Stephen Gray.

Calday Grange Grammar School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

Ofsted Information

Calday Grange Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 19/01/2016 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 08/02/2016, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Calday Grange Grammar School obtained <strong>Good</strong> in their last Ofsted inspection in 2016.
Calday Grange Grammar School obtained Good in their last Ofsted inspection in 2016.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Date InspectedInspection Duration (Days)Reporting DateRatingFull Report
19/01/2016108/02/2016GoodFull Report

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Calday Grange Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

GCSE Subjects Offered
  • English Language (243 pupils)
  • Mathematics (243 pupils)
  • English Literature (230 pupils)
  • Biology (198 pupils)
  • Chemistry (198 pupils)
  • Physics (198 pupils)
  • Geography (157 pupils)
  • History (148 pupils)
  • Design & Technology (91 pupils)
  • Computer Studies/Computing (74 pupils)
  • Russian (60 pupils)
  • Art & Design (Fine Art) (59 pupils)
  • Spanish (54 pupils)
  • Physical Education/Sports Studies (54 pupils)
  • Drama & Theatre Studies (53 pupils)
  • Religious Studies (51 pupils)
  • German (47 pupils)
  • Science: Double Award (45 pupils)
  • French (43 pupils)
  • Music (22 pupils)
  • Chinese (14 pupils)
A-Level Subjects Offered
  • Mathematics (82 pupils)
  • Biology (67 pupils)
  • Psychology (54 pupils)
  • Chemistry (52 pupils)
  • Business Studies:Single (45 pupils)
  • History (39 pupils)
  • Law (36 pupils)
  • Physics (36 pupils)
  • Geography (34 pupils)
  • English Literature (28 pupils)
  • Physical Education / Sports Studies (28 pupils)
  • Economics (22 pupils)
  • Computer Studies / Computing (17 pupils)
  • Government and Politics (15 pupils)
  • English Language (12 pupils)
  • Religious Studies (12 pupils)
  • Design and Technology (Product Design) (9 pupils)
  • Mathematics (Further) (9 pupils)
  • Art and Design (Fine Art) (8 pupils)
  • Drama and Theatre Studies (8 pupils)
  • Electronics (7 pupils)
  • Music (7 pupils)
  • German (6 pupils)

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Calday Grange Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

SubjectTotal Pupils Grades Achieved
U123456789
Art & Design (Fine Art)59----145121224
Biology198----82252433439
Chemistry1981--193048373042
Chinese14-------284
Computer Studies/Computing7411521317910105
Design & Technology91--171220231097
English Language243---4186979392311
English Literature230--22124767553015
French43---41595532
Geography157---3113436352414
German47--13716866-
History148--43122326302723
Mathematics243---134055625032
Music22--1-313743
Physics1982--2103439423534
Religious Studies51---1241310813
Russian60----28624137
Spanish54311117108832
Drama & Theatre Studies53---21291794-
Physical Education/Sports Studies54----471118104
Science: Double Award451---------

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

SubjectTotal Pupils Grades Achieved
UEDCBAA*
Art and Design (Fine Art)8---3311
Biology67-61310131012
Business Studies:Single45-3522105-
Chemistry52-45119176
Computer Studies / Computing17--3536-
Design and Technology (Product Design)9--26-1-
Drama and Theatre Studies8---34-1
Economics22-1151041
Electronics7---2221
English Language12---2433
English Literature28-1451161
Geography34-179953
German6---1212
Government and Politics15-1-4431
History39-14111381
Law36-349992
Mathematics82-571420269
Mathematics (Further)9---3321
Music7---124-
Physical Education / Sports Studies28-310771-
Physics36-179864
Psychology54-4161975-
Religious Studies12-223311

FAQ

Is Calday Grange Grammar School hard to get into?

Yes, Calday Grange Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.

Is Calday Grange Grammar School a private school?

No, Calday Grange Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.

Is Calday Grange Grammar School free?

Yes, Calday Grange Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Calday Grange Grammar School won't cost you any money.

How do I get my child into Calday Grange Grammar School?

You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Calday Grange Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.

Is Calday Grange Grammar School a boys-only school?

Yes, Calday Grange Grammar School is a boys-only school.

Success!

We have sent %%email%% a confirmation email.

Check your Emails

You will receive the email within 2 minutes.
Open it and click on the confirmation link to enable access.

Not received the email?

Check your Spam/Junk folder
...it could have fallen in there by accident!