UK Rank #24 In-site school
Nonsuch High School for Girls
Sutton
Ofsted: Good Girls only
Consortium guide
Selective Eligibility Test Sutton 11 Plus
The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test is the shared first-stage 11 Plus route for Sutton grammar schools. It covers English and maths, but the route does not stay identical after Stage 1 because some schools use a second-stage assessment and their own admissions criteria afterwards. The page brings together which schools use the SET, what happens after the first result, the key dates and why a shared first test can still lead to different admissions paths.
5 schools Sutton SET / Individual 2 downloads
8 key dates
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test, usually called the SET, is a shared first-stage test rather than the whole admissions process for every school. It is used across the Sutton selective landscape, including the fully selective grammar schools and the selective route at Greenshaw High School. The shared first stage is what makes the route efficient, but it is also where the route starts to branch.
The SET itself has two multiple-choice papers, one in English and one in maths. Children sit the test at a Sutton school test centre, and the test centre is not the same thing as the school being applied for. The first-stage result decides whether a child can continue in the process for schools that use later stages, or whether the SET result itself is the relevant selective measure for a school such as Greenshaw.
The fully selective Sutton grammars add a second stage. The boys’ schools and girls’ schools have their own shared Stage 2 arrangements, with further English and maths papers that are not simply a repeat of the SET. That two-stage structure is the piece that often surprises families: passing the first test keeps the route open, but some schools still have another academic assessment before final rankings and admissions criteria are applied.
Sutton therefore has to be read as a staged route. The first question is whether the child passes the shared eligibility test. The next question is which schools require Stage 2, what those later papers involve, and how the final score interacts with school preferences, gender, journey and admissions policy.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Sutton SET route.
UK Rank #21 In-site school
Sutton Grammar School
Sutton
Ofsted: Good Boys only
UK Rank #33 In-site school
Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington, Sutton
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
UK Rank #19 In-site school
Wallington High School for Girls
Wallington, Sutton
Ofsted: Good Girls only
UK Rank #2 In-site school
Wilson's School
Wallington, Sutton
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
Maths Paper: The maths paper is created by the schools in the consortium and lasts between 40 and 50 minutes. All questions are multiple choice and answers are recorded on a separate sheet.
Paper structure
Stage 1: Maths and English Papers (SET)
See the papers and topics below.
Stage 2: Maths and English Papers (School Set)
See the papers and topics below.
What the test covers
Boys’ schools (Sutton Grammar, Wilson’s, Wallington County Grammar): Shared Stage 2 test on Saturday 4 October 2025. The same papers are used, but eligibility criteria may vary.
Girls’ schools (Nonsuch and Wallington High)
Shared Stage 2 test on Saturday 27 September 2025. Both the test and eligibility threshold are the same for both schools.
English Paper
The English paper follows the same structure as the maths paper. It also lasts 40 to 50 minutes and includes multiple-choice questions. Children record their answers on a separate answer sheet.
If your child is applying to Greenshaw High School, they will only need to sit the Stage 1 SET. Greenshaw uses the SET results to determine which pupils are eligible for one of its 60 selective places.
The five fully selective grammar schools have a second stage of testing. Children who pass the SET will be invited to sit two additional papers, one in English (1 hour in length, which tests extended writing ability) and one in maths (45 minutes long). These papers are not multiple choice.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
SET scores are standardised to account for differences in age, ensuring a fair comparison between pupils. There is no fixed pass mark for each paper. The overall score determines whether your child has passed. This means that a stronger score in one paper can compensate for a weaker score in the other.
If your child does not pass the SET, you will be informed of their scores. For children who progress to Stage 2, total scores from both rounds are combined. Age standardisation is also applied at this stage before calculating the final result. There is no fixed pass mark for Stage 2 papers.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
You only need to register once for the SET, regardless of how many schools you are applying to. Registration opens on Thursday 1 May 2025 and closes at midnight on Friday 1 August 2025. If your child requires access arrangements due to special educational needs, the deadline to submit documentation is Friday 13 June 2025.
Key dates
Registration Opens
Thursday 1st May 2025
Access Arrangement Deadline
Friday 13th June 2025
Registration Closes
Friday 1st August 2025
Stage 1 Selective Eligibility Test
Tuesday 16th September
Stage 2 Testing - Girls
Saturday 27th September 2025
Stage 2 Testing - Boys
Saturday 4th October 2025
Common Application Form Deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National Allocation Day
Monday 2nd March 2026
About a week before the test, you will receive an email with details of your child’s allocated test centre. You cannot choose the test centre. The school where your child takes the SET has no impact on your application.
On the day of the test, your child must bring a printout of the invitation email that includes their candidate number. Mobile versions will not be accepted.
05 / Resources
Practice papers and familiarisation materials
These local PDF copies are useful for format practice and timing; dates, paper formats, and registration details can change, so the current admissions page remains the source to trust.
06 / Linked schools
Schools on this route
These are the schools currently mapped to the Sutton SET route in Grammar School Hub.
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Search and filter schools
Search by school or area, then narrow the shortlist by school type, Ofsted, or test pattern where it helps.
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5 schools
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UK Rank #2
Wilson's School
Wallington / Sutton
Ofsted: OutstandingBoys only
- Assessment
- Sutton SET, Individual
- Competition
- 17.6 candidates/place
- Attainment 8
- 86.9
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 100.0%
UK Rank #21
Sutton Grammar School
Sutton / Greater London
Ofsted: GoodBoys only
- Assessment
- Individual
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 80.3
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 100.0%
UK Rank #24
Nonsuch High School for Girls
Sutton / Greater London
Ofsted: GoodGirls only
- Assessment
- Sutton SET, Individual
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 80.5
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 98.3%
UK Rank #19
Wallington High School for Girls
Wallington / Sutton
Ofsted: GoodGirls only
- Assessment
- Sutton SET, Individual
- Competition
- 12.7 candidates/place
- Attainment 8
- 80.5
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 100.0%
UK Rank #33
Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington / Sutton
Ofsted: OutstandingBoys only
- Assessment
- Sutton SET, Individual
- Competition
- 21.9 candidates/place
- Attainment 8
- 77.7
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 100.0%
07 / Shortlisting
Admissions points to compare school by school
Once the route itself is clear, treat the linked schools as separate choices. This is usually where travel, oversubscription rules, and school fit start to matter most.
Sutton is best shortlisted in phases. A strong Stage 1 result keeps options open, but the real comparison usually comes from asking which schools and second-stage paths your family would actually want to follow through.
Check these before you rank schools
- Which schools use the SET as a first filter and which add school-specific later stages
- Whether a Sutton journey is realistic every day if the route stays live through Stage 2
- Boys', girls', and mixed options across the Sutton selective landscape
- How much test preparation the full two-stage route would really ask of your child
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Here are some suggestions to help your child prepare:
Start early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or at the start of Year 5 to avoid last-minute pressure.
Use practice papers
Work through 11 Plus-style papers under timed conditions to build familiarity and confidence.
Focus on weaker areas
Track your child’s performance and spend more time on the topics they find most difficult.
Encourage regular reading
Reading supports vocabulary growth, comprehension and reasoning, which are essential for the English paper.
Try online tools
Digital platforms can help tailor study plans and offer feedback to keep your child engaged.
A consistent and supportive routine can help your child approach the exam with confidence and readiness.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which Sutton schools use the SET first stage?
The SET is the shared first-stage route for the Sutton selective schools, including the boys' and girls' grammar schools and the selective route at Greenshaw. The later stages then separate by school or school group.
Does passing SET mean the Sutton process is finished?
No. Passing the SET can move a child into the next part of the process, but Wilson's, Sutton Grammar, Wallington County, Nonsuch and Wallington High can involve second-stage papers and final school-specific ranking.
Why does Sutton branch after Stage 1?
The SET is the shared first-stage eligibility test. Some schools then use further Stage 2 papers and their own admissions criteria, so passing the SET can be only the first step rather than the whole selective process.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Sutton SET?
The live process usually sits with the Sutton selective schools and their linked admissions processes. The official pages remain the source of truth for registration windows, test venues, access arrangements and final admissions instructions for the relevant year.