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School profile Verified 2 June 2026

Redbridge Redbridge 11+

Ilford County High School

Fremantle Road, Barkingside, IG6 2JB

A selective boys grammar school in Ilford, Greater London, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,126 pupils on roll.

Boys Community school Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment
UK rank
UK Rank #50
Year 7 places
180
Competition i
5.5 candidates per place
Ofsted
Good
11+ route
GL Assessment
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank
UK Rank #50
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
GL Assessment
Places in Year 7
180
Competition i
5.5 candidates per place
Catchment
Applicants should check the Redbridge grammar-school Common Catchment Area before registering. The 2027/28 arrangements rank looked-after children, a 25% pupil-premium band, other common-catchment children, and then any outside-catchment children by total standardised score.
Ofsted
Good

Overview

Ilford County High School is a selective boys' grammar in Barkingside with a co-educational sixth form and roughly 1,125 pupils. The school is large enough to offer a substantial sixth-form and leadership culture, but its own materials still frame the experience around young men being known, stretched and prepared for life beyond school.

The vision is clear: ICHS aims to be a centre of excellence with a challenging learning environment, exceptional outcomes and strong character development. Its curriculum pages set out a broad offer with subject teaching, enrichment, careers, personal development, learning skills and examinations support; the sixth form adds course choice, student leadership, skills development and community life.

Outside lessons, ICHS gives particular weight to participation and responsibility: Duke of Edinburgh, clubs and societies, primary liaison, volunteering, Student Council, Reading Ambassadors, peer mentoring, form leadership and house activity all appear in the official school material. The site also highlights the Learning Resource Centre and a student-life culture shaped by Eagle, Falcon and Hawk houses.

Year 7 has 180 places and entry is through the Redbridge 11 plus, using two GL Assessment papers. A candidate must live in the Redbridge grammar-school common catchment area to be offered a place. Published performance is strong: Ofsted Good, Progress 8 around +0.87, 98.9% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 35.4% AAB or better at A level.

Key points
Assessment route
GL Assessment across a 2-stage process, covering English, Verbal reasoning, Maths and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
180 places in Year 7 and 5.5 candidates per place
Catchment
Applicants should check the Redbridge grammar-school Common Catchment Area before registering. The 2027/28 arrangements rank looked-after children, a 25% pupil-premium band, other common-catchment children, and then any outside-catchment children by total standardised score.
Results
98.9% grade 5+ in English and maths and 75.7 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 35.4% AAB or better and 67% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Redbridge and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Ilford County High School, Redbridge, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
75.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
98.9%
EBacc APS
7.33
EBacc entry
97.8%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Redbridge and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Ilford County High School, Redbridge, and England. 100 80 60 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Redbridge and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Ilford County High School, Redbridge, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
School type
Community school
Admissions
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mr Gavin Barnett
Pupil roll
1,126 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
FSM i
11.7%
EAL i
62.1%
EHCP i
0.8%

Extracurriculars

Duke of Edinburgh

Ethnicity

January 2025 school census

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,126 pupils; 1,089 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 0.6% Asian 86.2% Mixed 5.4% Black 1.9% Other 2.7% Unclassified 3.3%
Recorded group Share Category Pupils
Indian Asian 267
Pakistani Asian 262
Bangladeshi Asian 258
Any other Asian background Asian 166
Unclassified Unclassified 37
Any other ethnic group Other 30
Any other mixed background Mixed 26
African Black 20
White and Asian Mixed 19
Chinese Asian 18
White and Black African Mixed 14
Any other White background White 4
White and Black Caribbean Mixed 2
White British White 2
Caribbean Black 1

Location and contact

Address

Address
Fremantle Road, Barkingside, Ilford, Greater London
Postcode
IG6 2JB
Area
Redbridge
Exam area
Redbridge 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Gavin Barnett

School contact

School email
enquiries@ichs.org.uk
School phone
02085516496

Admissions contact

Admissions email
enquiries@ichs.org.uk
Admissions phone
02085516496
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
180 places (2025 entry)
Applications listed
569 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences
319 first preferences (2025 entry)
Competition i
5.5 candidates per place
Catchment picture
Applicants should check the Redbridge grammar-school Common Catchment Area before registering. The 2027/28 arrangements rank looked-after children, a 25% pupil-premium band, other common-catchment children, and then any outside-catchment children by total standardised score.
Residence requirement
Yes, home address evidence is part of the published admissions checks
Cut-off score
106.02 (2026 entry)
Pass mark note
For 2027 entry, Redbridge sets a minimum threshold score of 104 for the grammar-school ranked list. Meeting the threshold does not guarantee an offer because priority categories and total standardised score ranking still apply.

For September 2027 entry, applicants register for the Redbridge 11 plus, sit two GL Assessment papers, and must live in the common catchment area to be offered a place.

Applicants should check the Redbridge grammar-school Common Catchment Area before registering. The 2027/28 arrangements rank looked-after children, a 25% pupil-premium band, other common-catchment children, and then any outside-catchment children by total standardised score.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked-after and previously looked-after children

    Children in care, previously looked after, or previously in state care outside England are first once they meet the Redbridge grammar-school threshold.

  2. 2

    Pupil premium band ranked by total standardised score

    Up to 45 places, 25% of the intake, are offered to eligible pupil-premium children ranked by total standardised score.

  3. 3

    Other common-catchment children ranked by score

    Other children living in the Redbridge grammar-school Common Catchment Area are ranked by total standardised score.

  4. 4

    Outside common catchment if places remain

    Children outside the Common Catchment Area are ranked by total standardised score after the prior categories.

Admissions policy

Redbridge determined admissions arrangements 2027-2028

2027 entry

Score cut-off

Secondary transfer 2026 allocations and cut-off scores

2026 entry

Score history

  1. 2026

    106.02

    Initial offer score

  2. 2025

    109.35

    Initial offer score

  3. 2024

    108.72

    Initial offer score

  4. 2023

    111.38

    Initial offer score

  5. 2022

    108.58

    Initial offer score

  6. 2021

    108.03

    Initial offer score

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

Register for the Redbridge 11 plus in Year 5 and sit the test in Year 6. Only children living in the Redbridge grammar-school common catchment area can be offered a place.

Assessment route
GL Assessment
Papers and stages
2 papers
Format
Multiple-choice papers
Age standardisation
Published as age-standardised

Shared exam route

Practice for this school's entrance test

Ilford County High School uses the shared Redbridge route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.

View all Redbridge practice papers
Practice paper Maths

GL Assessment Maths Practice Paper 1

Practice paper Non-Verbal Reasoning

GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Practice Paper 1

Practice paper Verbal Reasoning

GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1

Practice paper Maths

GL Assessment Maths Practice Paper 2

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    English, Verbal reasoning

    Paper 1

    GL paper covering English and verbal reasoning.

  2. Paper 2

    Maths, Non-verbal reasoning

    Paper 2

    GL paper covering mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.

What the test includes

English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.

Science is not listed in the current published format.

Included

  • English

  • Maths

  • Verbal reasoning

    GL paper covering English and verbal reasoning.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    GL paper covering mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.

Not listed

  • Science

Application

Key dates

  1. Open evening

    30 April 2026

    Past

  2. Redbridge 11 plus registration opens

    1 May 2026

    Past

  3. Redbridge 11 plus registration closes

    5pm Monday 15 June 2026

  4. Redbridge 11 plus test

    18 September 2026

  5. Test results

    mid-October 2026

  6. CAF deadline

    31 October 2026

  7. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

How to apply

  1. 1

    Check the common catchment area first

    Redbridge says children must live in the common catchment area for the Redbridge grammar schools before registering for the test.

    Open Redbridge map
  2. 2

    Register for the Redbridge 11 plus in Year 5

    Register for the test while your child is in Year 5 so they can sit it in Year 6.

    Open Redbridge 11 plus
  3. 3

    Use the official familiarisation materials

    Redbridge links families to GL Assessment familiarisation materials for practice in the same format.

    Open GL materials
  4. 4

    Submit your secondary application through your home local authority

    Apply for a Year 7 place through the normal local authority secondary admissions process after registering for the test.

    View Redbridge guidance

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Redbridge determined admissions arrangements 2027-2028

2027 entry

Results

Attainment snapshot

Progress 8 i
+0.87 Progress 8
Attainment 8 i
75.7 Attainment 8
GCSE results
98.9% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths i
98.9% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score i
7.33 EBacc APS
A-level results
35.4% AAB or better
A-level average points
41.23 points per entry

Where students go next

Higher education progression
67% in higher education
Apprenticeships
7% in apprenticeships
Employment
4% in sustained employment

Latest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.

Subject performance

Maths
98.3% grade 5+ in EBacc maths
English
97.8% grade 5+ in EBacc English
Sciences
98.3% grade 5+ in EBacc sciences
Languages
79.7% grade 5+ in EBacc languages

Performance trends

Recent trend

Overall GCSE performance

This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.

Ilford County High School Grammar schools England
Overall GCSE performance across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for Ilford County High School, grammar schools, and England. 100 85 70 55 40 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 78.6 74.2 49.4
2022/23 77.4 71.8 47.0
2023/24 77.4 72.1 46.7
2024/25 75.7 72.3 46.8

Recent trend

Average A-level result

This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.

Ilford County High School Grammar schools England
Average A-level result across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for Ilford County High School, grammar schools, and England. 50 pts 45 pts 40 pts 35 pts 30 pts 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 B+ average (44.1 points) 44.0 points 37.5 points
2022/23 B average (38.9 points) 40.5 points 33.7 points
2023/24 B- average (35.9 points) 41.3 points 34.5 points
2024/25 B average (41.2 points) 41.8 points 35.0 points

Recent trend

Where pupils go after Year 11

This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.

Ilford County High School Grammar schools England
Where pupils go after Year 11 across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for Ilford County High School, grammar schools, and England. 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 99% 99.1% 94.1%
2022/23 99% 98.9% 93.9%
2023/24 100% 99.0% 93.3%
2024/25 98% 98.7% 91.8%

Latest year breakdown

In education 98%
In apprenticeships 0%
In employment 0%

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 22 September 2021

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The evidence retains a Good overall grade, while the January 2026 report uses the newer standards language. It found safeguarding met and strong standards for achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, with very high GCSE and A-level outcomes.
  • Quality of education: Curriculum and teaching were judged a strong standard in 2026. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, sometimes going beyond the national curriculum, including further mathematics at GCSE; leaders monitor achievement closely and refine teaching when needed.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Attendance and behaviour met the strong standard. Leaders monitor punctuality carefully, reward positive attendance and work with families where barriers exist. Pupils behave calmly, learn without distraction and receive targeted support if expectations are hard to meet.
  • Personal development: The available evidence is thinner for personal development, but it shows pupils speaking confidently about learning, respecting others' contributions and being prepared for university or degree apprenticeships. Behaviour support includes reflection and, where useful, external organisations.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders and governors were found to meet safeguarding responsibilities and maintain an open culture where concerns are identified and acted on. Leaders also know teaching quality well, track achievement closely and make swift refinements.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.

Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

Shortlist comparisons

Compare Ilford County High School with Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet Compare Ilford County High School with Beths Grammar School Compare Ilford County High School with St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What assessment types does Ilford County High School use?

Ilford County High School currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to Ilford County High School?

1. Check the common catchment area first: Redbridge says children must live in the common catchment area for the Redbridge grammar schools before registering for the test. 2. Register for the Redbridge 11 plus in Year 5: Register for the test while your child is in Year 5 so they can sit it in Year 6. 3. Use the official familiarisation materials: Redbridge links families to GL Assessment familiarisation materials for practice in the same format. 4. Submit your secondary application through your home local authority: Apply for a Year 7 place through the normal local authority secondary admissions process after registering for the test.

When are the key dates for Ilford County High School?

Open evening: 30 April 2026. Redbridge 11 plus registration opens: 1 May 2026. Redbridge 11 plus registration closes: 5pm Monday 15 June 2026. Redbridge 11 plus test: 18 September 2026. Test results: mid-October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027

What does the latest Ofsted picture look like for Ilford County High School?

Ilford County High School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 22 September 2021.