Ilford County High School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Ilford County High School.
How to get into Ilford County High School
Ilford County High School is a selective secondary school in Redbridge, London. To get into Ilford County High School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Ilford County High School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Ilford County High School is a selective boys' grammar school that admits 180 boys into Year 7 each year [1]. All admissions are based on the Redbridge 11+ examination [1].
Children must be in Year 6 during the application year and eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2026. The London Borough of Redbridge serves as the Admissions Authority [1], managing all Year 7 admissions processes.
Families must live within the common catchment area to be eligible for places. No child who lives outside of this area – regardless of their score – has ever been offered a place at Ilford County High School. The common catchment area covers an area from Woodford to the north, Goodmayes to the east, Ilford to the south and Wanstead to the west.
Application Process
The application process involves multiple steps with specific deadlines. Registration for the Redbridge 11 Plus selection test opens on Tuesday 1st May 2025 and closes at 5pm on Sunday 15th June 2025 (see key dates).
Families must register their child for the Redbridge 11+ examination through the London Borough of Redbridge website. After receiving results in mid-October (see key dates), families must complete the Common Application Form through their local authority.
- Register for the Redbridge 11+ by 15th June 2025 (see key dates)
- Take the examination on Friday 19th September 2025 (see key dates)
- Receive results in mid-October 2025 (see key dates)
- Submit Common Application Form by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- School allocations announced on Monday 2nd March 2026 (see key dates)
Children must achieve the pass mark to be eligible, then families need to name the school as one of their preferred schools on the secondary school common application form. For specific guidance on documentation or special considerations, contact details are available in the school information section.
The Examination System
The school uses the GL Assessment 11+ exam, which consists of two papers, each lasting 60 minutes. One paper tests English and verbal reasoning, while the other incorporates mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.
All questions are multiple-choice and results are fully standardised and age-weighted to ensure fairness. The pass mark for the Redbridge 11 Plus is 104, and students scoring lower than 104 will not be added to the waiting list.
- Paper 1: English and Verbal Reasoning (60 minutes)
- Paper 2: Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning (60 minutes)
- Format: Multiple-choice questions throughout
- Pass Mark: 104 (standardised score)
- Exam Date: Friday 19th September 2025 (see key dates)
Oversubscription Criteria
In September 2024, 1,116 boys took the Redbridge 11 Plus, and 447 boys met the pass mark of 104. However, Ilford County High School only has 180 places available. When the number of children who have met the qualifying standard exceeds the number of places available, the school applies oversubscription criteria.
Children are prioritised for places in the following order: 'Looked after children' and 'previously looked after children', then 45 places (25% of the total places) will be offered to children entitled to the pupil premium. Remaining places go to other children living in the common catchment area, ranked according to their total standardised score.
- First Priority: Looked after children and previously looked after children
- Second Priority:45 places (25%) for pupil premium children (ranked by score)
- Third Priority: Other children in catchment area (ranked by score)
- Final Priority: Children outside catchment area (ranked by score)
Preparation Guidance
Children may need to invest a significant amount of time in 11+ exam preparation to gain one of the 180 Year 7 places. It's important to build a good knowledge base before the 11 plus using a 'little and often' approach – child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes for children aged 10–11.
Data from previous years suggests that pupils who are able to score 90%+ consistently in practice tests should be on track to pass this GL Assessment test. Families should begin preparation well before the examination date of Friday 19th September 2025 (see key dates).
- Start preparation at least 12 months before the exam
- Use 20-30 minute daily study sessions
- Focus on achieving 90%+ scores in practice tests consistently
- Access free preparation resources at practice papers section
- Consider professional tutoring support through qualified tutors
- Familiarise children with GL Assessment question formats
- Practice time management with 60-minute paper sessions
Practical Advice
On examination day, children should arrive well-prepared and relaxed. There will be no parking facilities available at either school site, except for those who have displayed a disabled badge, so families should use public transport.
With a carefully thought-out revision plan that focuses on studying 'little and often', the preparation process should become less demanding. Families should also consider backup school options within Redbridge, London in case their child does not secure a place.
- Plan transport arrangements well in advance - no parking available
- Ensure children are familiar with multiple-choice answer sheets
- Practice completing two 60-minute papers in exam conditions
- Prepare backup school applications within Redbridge area
- Consider visiting the school during Open Day on Thursday 1st May 2025 (see key dates)
- Maintain regular study routine without overwhelming the child
- Contact the school information section for specific queries
A waiting list is maintained by the London Borough of Redbridge, and should a place become available in any year group, it will be offered based on the waiting list [1]. This provides additional opportunities even after the initial allocation process.
Redbridge 11+ Information
In order to get into Ilford County High School, children need to pass the Redbridge 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Redbridge 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Redbridge 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Verbal Reasoning
- Maths
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
The Redbridge 11 plus selection test is a crucial assessment for children seeking admission to Ilford County High School. This comprehensive examination comprises two distinct multiple-choice papers, each lasting for one hour.
The first paper focuses on English and verbal reasoning, evaluating the candidate's language proficiency, comprehension skills, and ability to analyze and interpret written information. The second paper assesses the child's aptitude in maths and non-verbal reasoning, testing their numerical skills, logical thinking, and capacity to identify patterns and solve problems.
Success in the Redbridge 11 plus selection test is essential for securing a place at Ilford County High School, as it serves as a key criterion in the admissions process. Thorough preparation and practice are highly recommended to ensure that children are well-equipped to tackle the challenges posed by this rigorous examination.
Other Schools using Redbridge 11+
As well as Ilford County High School, several other schools also use Redbridge 11+. These are:
Redbridge 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Ilford County High 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.
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!
Redbridge 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Redbridge 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).
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 Ilford County High School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Ilford County High School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Ilford County High School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 01/05/2025 | Registration Opens For The Redbridge 11 Plus Selection Test | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 15/06/2025 | Registration Closes For The Redbridge 11 Plus Selection Test At 5pm | |
| 19/09/2025 | Redbridge 11 Plus Selection Test Takes Place | |
| Late October | Deadline To Apply For Secondary School Places | |
| 02/03/2026 | National School Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Ilford County High School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Ilford County High School
As the Redbridge 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 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 Ilford County High School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Ilford County High 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 Ilford County High School
Unfortunately, Ilford County High School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Redbridge 11+ Ensure you double-check with Ilford County High 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 Ilford County High 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 Redbridge 11+ to get into Ilford County High School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High 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 Ilford County High School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High 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 Redbridge 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High 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 Ilford County High School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High 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 Ilford County High School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Ilford County High 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 Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Ilford County High School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Ilford County High School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Ilford County High School, Fremantle Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 2JB |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.ichs.org.uk/ |
| Telephone | 02085516496 |
| Email Address | enquiries@ichs.org.uk |
| Gender | Boys only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 180 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1184 (0 Girls / 1184 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mrs Rebecca Drysdale |
Ilford County High School is a boys only school. It is also a local authority maintained school, meaning the local authority oversee the funding, admissions, and overall performance of the school.
In total 1,184 pupils attend Ilford County High School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Rebecca Drysdale.
Ilford County High School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Ilford County High School was last inspected by Ofsted on 21/09/2021 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 12/12/2021, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 21/09/2021 | 1 | 12/12/2021 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
Ilford County High School was inspected by Ofsted on 21 September 2021 and received an overall rating of Good. The school was judged to be Good in all areas, including Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, and Sixth form provision.
The inspection report highlights the consistent quality of education provided by the school across all areas. It also emphasizes the positive behaviour and attitudes of the students, as well as the school's strong focus on personal development.
The report commends the effective leadership and management of the school, which has contributed to the overall success of Ilford County High School. Additionally, the Sixth form provision was also rated as Good, indicating that the school provides a high-quality education for students at all levels.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Ilford County High School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Ilford County High 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)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 16 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Biology | 176 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 33 | 38 | 75 |
| Business Studies:Single | 101 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 32 | 17 | 9 |
| Chemistry | 176 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 21 | 50 | 76 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 53 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 3 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 21 |
| Design & Technology | 66 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 2 |
| English Language | 176 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 7 | 26 | 50 | 58 | 31 |
| English Literature | 175 | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 57 | 39 | 37 |
| D&T Food Technology | 19 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| French | 49 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 3 |
| Geography | 67 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 22 | 14 |
| History | 112 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 30 | 36 |
| Mathematics | 176 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 71 | 66 |
| Music | 15 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Physics | 176 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 7 | 21 | 29 | 51 | 66 |
| Psychology | 17 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Spanish | 125 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 18 | 8 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 59 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 4 |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design | 10 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Biology | 116 | - | 10 | 7 | 16 | 31 | 42 | 8 | |||
| Chemistry | 163 | - | 12 | 13 | 34 | 48 | 41 | 8 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 25 | - | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 6 | - | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | - | |||
| Economics | 63 | - | - | 4 | 12 | 24 | 14 | 7 | |||
| English Literature | 24 | - | - | - | 4 | 14 | 5 | 1 | |||
| Government and Politics | 35 | - | 1 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 4 | 2 | |||
| History | 14 | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | 4 | - | |||
| Mathematics | 237 | - | 10 | 18 | 33 | 53 | 85 | 31 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 23 | - | 2 | - | 2 | 5 | 8 | 6 | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 9 | - | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | 1 | |||
| Physics | 117 | - | 8 | 14 | 28 | 23 | 31 | 8 | |||
| Psychology | 25 | - | - | 6 | 5 | 11 | 3 | - | |||
FAQ
Is Ilford County High School hard to get into?
Yes, Ilford County High 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 Ilford County High School a private school?
No, Ilford County High School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Ilford County High School free?
Yes, Ilford County High School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Ilford County High School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Ilford County High School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Ilford County High 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 Ilford County High School a boys-only school?
Yes, Ilford County High School is a boys-only school.
