Upton Hall School FCJ 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Upton Hall School FCJ.
How to get into Upton Hall School FCJ
Upton Hall School FCJ is a selective secondary school in Wirral. To get into Upton Hall School FCJ children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Upton Hall School FCJ with all the important information you need to know.
Background Information
Upton Hall School FCJ is a Catholic girls' grammar school located in Wirral. The school offers 156 places for Year 7 entry [1]. Ofsted rated Upton Hall School 'outstanding' in all areas in 2022 and described the school as one where "students thrive".
Upton was founded over 150 years ago by Marie Madeleine, whose aim was to provide education for the poor and to ensure that educational opportunities for girls were equal to those available to boys [1]. The school has full international school status.
Admission Requirements
Children must pass the Upton Hall School 11+ examination to be eligible for admission. Registration for the 2025 entrance exam opens in April 2025 and closes on Friday 11th July (see key dates). The exam will take place on Saturday 20th September 2025 (see key dates).
Students who score 236 or above in two verbal reasoning tests will be considered for admission [1]. The top 60% of scores are defined as the 'required standard' for entry to Upton Hall School.
Of the girls who meet this required standard, 156 places are offered in this priority order:
- Baptised Roman Catholic girls with priority for Looked After or Previously Looked After Children
- Girls who have not been baptised Roman Catholic, but whose parents wish them to have a Roman Catholic education and who are eligible for free school meals
- Girls who have not been baptised Roman Catholic, but whose parents wish them to have a Roman Catholic education
- If there is oversubscription in any category, places are allocated in order of merit based on entrance exam score, with priority given to girls who live closest to the school if scores are tied
Application Process
If a daughter is baptised Catholic, families must upload her baptismal certificate to the registration form. Baptised Catholic children are prioritised for places in the school's oversubscription criteria.
The school will inform families if their child is eligible for a place based on exam performance. If families would like to apply to the school, they need to name it as one of their preferred schools on the secondary school common application form. This form will be available on the home council website from early September and must be submitted by 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
Essential steps include:
- Register for the entrance examination through the school website by 11th July 2025 (see key dates)
- Sit the Upton Hall School 11+ on Saturday 20th September 2025 (see key dates)
- Submit the Common Application Form through the local authority by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- Contact information available in the school information section
Families will be informed of test outcomes by 24th October (see key dates). Upton Hall School is not a member of the Wirral grammar schools' consortium, so families considering other Wirral grammar schools need to register for those tests separately.
Examination Format and Preparation
The Upton Hall School 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process. Prospective pupils must sit two multiple choice Verbal Reasoning tests, each lasting approximately 50 minutes with a break between papers.
After the test, answer sheets are marked using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology, with children receiving a mark for every correct answer. These marks are then age-standardised to ensure younger children aren't disadvantaged, with a standardised age score of 100 representing the average and 120 indicating the top 10% of the year group.
Preparation recommendations include:
- Aiming for roughly 75-80% in practice tests as a ballpark figure for successful candidates
- Using free preparation resources available at practice 11-plus papers
- Considering tutoring support through 11-plus tutoring
- Incorporating practice papers into study plans to increase chances of surpassing the required score
- Sitting practice papers under timed conditions to improve time management skills
Practical Advice
Families should start preparation well in advance of the examination date. Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating progress will help keep motivation high, while encouraging a growth mindset means celebrating effort as well as achievement.
When children make mistakes or struggle with topics, families should help them understand that improvement comes through practice, with regular praise helping to improve resilience when tackling challenging subjects.
Important considerations for exam day:
- Arrive at the school with plenty of time before the examination starts
- Bring necessary identification and stationery as specified by the school
- Ensure children have adequate rest before the examination day
- Provide a healthy breakfast on the morning of the test
- Review any special arrangements if previously agreed with the school
Passing the 11-plus doesn't guarantee allocation to preferred schools, as many grammar schools are oversubscribed with qualified children, requiring schools to work through admissions criteria to prioritise children for places. Families should consider backup school options in Wirral and ensure they understand the local authority's coordinated admissions process.
A waiting list for girls who have not been offered a place in Year 7 and who are eligible will be kept and ranked according to admissions criteria, with parents informed of their daughter's position. The waiting list will be maintained until 31st December.
For specific contact information and detailed guidance on the application process, families should refer to the school information section.
Upton Hall School 11+ Information
In order to get into Upton Hall School FCJ, children need to pass the Upton Hall School 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Upton Hall School 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Upton Hall School 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Verbal Reasoning
The Upton Hall School entrance exam is designed to assess the academic abilities of prospective students. The exam consists of two papers, both provided by GL Assessment, a well-known provider of 11 plus exams for many grammar schools in England. Each paper has a time limit of 50 minutes and features a multiple-choice format, with separate question booklets and answer sheets.
The English paper evaluates the child's understanding of the subject based on the national curriculum. It includes reading comprehension questions, which require the child to read a passage and demonstrate their understanding by answering related questions. Additionally, the paper assesses other essential English skills, such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
The Verbal Reasoning paper is designed to analyze the child's academic potential rather than their acquired knowledge, as it is not taught in the national curriculum. This paper focuses on the child's ability to reason with written information, including words, letters, numbers, and symbols. It tests their understanding of word production, usage, and relationships between words. The paper may also include logic-based questions, such as solving codes and determining the next item in a sequence.
Upton Hall School 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Upton Hall School FCJ 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!
Upton Hall School 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Upton Hall School 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 Upton Hall School FCJ, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Upton Hall School FCJ 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Upton Hall School FCJ) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 19/06/2025 | Upton Hall School Summer Open Evening | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 11/07/2025 | Deadline To Apply For Upton Hall School Entrance Exam | |
| Late August | Parents Receive Details Of Exam Arrangements | |
| 11/09/2025 | Upton Hall School Autumn Open Evening | |
| 20/09/2025 | Upton Hall School Entrance Exam | |
| Late October | National Deadline To Apply For Secondary School Places | |
| 02/03/2026 | National Secondary School Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Upton Hall School FCJ as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Upton Hall School FCJ
As the Upton Hall School 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ
Unfortunately, Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Upton Hall School 11+ Ensure you double-check with Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School 11+ to get into Upton Hall School FCJ.
| 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ.
| 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ.
| 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Upton Hall School FCJ, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside CH49 6LJ |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.uptonhallschool.co.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01516777696 |
| Email Address | uhs@uptonhall.org |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 156 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1016 (1010 Girls / 6 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mrs Andrea Gaunt |
Upton Hall School FCJ is a girls 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 1,016 pupils attend Upton Hall School FCJ and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Andrea Gaunt.
Upton Hall School FCJ Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Upton Hall School FCJ was last inspected by Ofsted on 28/06/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 21/09/2022, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. 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 | 28/06/2022 | 1 | 21/09/2022 | Outstanding | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
Upton Hall School FCJ was inspected by Ofsted on 21/09/2022 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional performance in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.
The inspection, which took place on 28 June 2022, revealed that Upton Hall School FCJ excels in providing its students with an outstanding educational experience. The school's commitment to academic excellence, fostering positive behaviour, and nurturing personal growth was evident throughout the inspection.
The Outstanding rating across all categories is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the school's staff, students, and leadership team. Upton Hall School FCJ sets a high standard for educational institutions, ensuring that its students receive the best possible support and opportunities to succeed.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ 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 | 30 | - | - | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Biology | 103 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 19 | 28 | 20 | 21 | 13 |
| Chemistry | 102 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 26 | 21 | 27 | 12 | 12 |
| Chinese | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | - |
| Design & Technology | 23 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| English Language | 149 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 53 | 29 | 28 | 15 |
| English Literature | 148 | - | 1 | - | - | 6 | 18 | 44 | 29 | 32 | 18 |
| French | 61 | - | - | 3 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Geography | 72 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 11 | 17 | 7 |
| History | 93 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 24 | 16 | 10 |
| Mathematics | 149 | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 29 | 19 | 48 | 33 | 12 |
| Music | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Physics | 102 | - | - | - | 4 | 8 | 26 | 29 | 14 | 13 | 8 |
| Religious Studies | 147 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 32 | 32 | 22 | 32 |
| Spanish | 82 | - | - | 1 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 11 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 31 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
| Science: Double Award | 46 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design | 11 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |||
| Biology | 28 | - | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 4 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 14 | - | - | - | 4 | 8 | 2 | - | |||
| Chemistry | 28 | - | - | 3 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 1 | |||
| Drama and Theatre Studies | 7 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 4 | - | |||
| English Language | 12 | - | - | - | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | |||
| English Literature | 19 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Film Studies | 9 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 4 | - | |||
| Geography | 11 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | - | |||
| History | 16 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Law | 19 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 6 | |||
| Mathematics | 35 | - | - | 3 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 9 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 10 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 7 | - | - | 2 | - | 4 | 1 | - | |||
| Psychology | 36 | - | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Religious Studies | 6 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Sociology | 12 | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Spanish | 13 | - | 3 | - | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | |||
FAQ
Is Upton Hall School FCJ hard to get into?
Yes, Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ a private school?
No, Upton Hall School FCJ is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Upton Hall School FCJ free?
Yes, Upton Hall School FCJ is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Upton Hall School FCJ won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Upton Hall School FCJ?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Upton Hall School FCJ a girls-only school?
Yes, Upton Hall School FCJ is a girls-only school.
