A selective girls grammar school in Sutton, Greater London, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,494 pupils on roll.
Nonsuch High School for Girls
1
On this page
At a glance
Nonsuch High School for Girls is a large selective girls' grammar in Sutton, serving ages 11 to 18 on the Cheam side of the borough. Its name reaches back to the Nonsuch Palace built for Henry VIII, and the school still uses that heritage as part of its identity. The school presents itself as academically ambitious and community-minded, with the aim of empowering young women to take their centre-stage place in the world.
The curriculum statement is broad and confident. Nonsuch says its curriculum provides intellectual challenge, develops creativity and curiosity, and helps students articulate their thinking. The school links its curriculum to mental health, positive relationships, equality and diversity, and uses the PRICE values of Positivity, Respect, Integrity, Courage and Endeavour. Sixth-form information adds a strong academic layer: students are encouraged to take a breadth of A levels, supported through one-to-one tutorials, enrichment, PSHE, PE and electives, and nearly 60% of A level results were graded A*/A in the school-published sixth-form admissions material.
School life is built around participation as well as performance. The website highlights sport, creative activity, fundraising, leadership, local and wider community engagement, enrichment, student councils, house system and the Jack Petchey programme. The sixth form has a study centre and cafe, a new library and dedicated ICT rooms, giving older students a recognisable base. Drama sits within that wider creative offer, and the website makes clear that creative and social enrichment are central to the offer.
Year 7 admission has 210 places and uses two stages. The Selective Eligibility Test covers multiple-choice English and mathematics; candidates who pass are invited to the NWSSEE, where English and mathematics papers are not multiple choice. Final ranking uses NWSSEE marks plus half of the SET aggregate score. Oversubscription includes looked-after and previously looked-after girls, 85 rank-order places, up to 35 Pupil Premium places, up to 125 catchment-circle places and remaining places by score. Performance measures show Ofsted Good from 2021, +1.02 Progress 8, 98.3% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 58.9% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Sutton and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Sutton and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Sutton and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,494 pupils; 1,486 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 34.5% | Asian | 515 |
| Any other Asian background | 24.5% | Asian | 366 |
| White British | 8.7% | White | 130 |
| Chinese | 8% | Asian | 120 |
| Pakistani | 6% | Asian | 90 |
| Any other White background | 5.2% | White | 77 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.3% | Mixed | 50 |
| White and Asian | 2.8% | Mixed | 42 |
| African | 2% | Black | 30 |
| Bangladeshi | 2% | Asian | 30 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.2% | Other | 18 |
| Unclassified | 0.5% | Unclassified | 8 |
| White and Black African | 0.5% | Mixed | 7 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.3% | Mixed | 5 |
| Any other Black background | 0.2% | Black | 3 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
The catchment category is a 5.25 km circle measured from the school, but some places are allocated by score regardless of address. The rule is therefore a hybrid of score-led and catchment-priority allocation.
EHCP naming the school
Candidates with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted before the oversubscription criteria are applied.
Looked-after and previously looked-after girls
Priority applies to eligible looked-after and previously looked-after candidates who meet the required selective standard, with the policy's permitted lower threshold where applicable.
85 rank-order places
Up to 85 places are allocated by highest entrance-test score regardless of home address.
Up to 35 Pupil Premium places
Eligible Pupil Premium candidates are ranked by score, with the policy's permitted lower threshold where applicable.
Up to 125 catchment-circle places
Eligible candidates living within 5.25 km of the school are ranked by score for catchment-circle places.
Remaining places by score
Any remaining places are offered by highest score, with proximity and then random allocation used as tie-breaks.
The entrance process has two stages: the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test followed by the NWSSEE for candidates who pass stage 1. The NWSSEE English and mathematics papers are not multiple choice.
Shared exam route
Nonsuch High School for Girls uses the shared Sutton SET 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 Sutton SET practice papersPaper 1
English, Maths
Selective Eligibility Test
Stage 1 consists of two multiple-choice tests: English and mathematics. Candidates must pass this stage to be invited to the NWSSEE.
Paper 2
English, Maths
NWSSEE
Stage 2 consists of English and mathematics papers that are not multiple choice. Candidates must pass both parts.
English and Maths are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
SET registration opens
1 May 2026
PastAccess-arrangements deadline
12 June 2026
SET registration closes
31 July 2026
Selective Eligibility Test
15 September 2026
NWSSEE second-stage test
26 September 2026
Common Application Form deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Register for the Selective Eligibility Test
Complete online registration between 1 May 2026 and 31 July 2026.
2027 entryRequest access arrangements if needed
Submit access-arrangements evidence by 12 June 2026.
2027 entrySit the Selective Eligibility Test
The Selective Eligibility Test is scheduled for 15 September 2026.
2027 entrySit the NWSSEE if invited
Candidates who pass the Selective Eligibility Test may sit the NWSSEE on 26 September 2026.
2027 entrySubmit the Common Application Form
Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 31 October 2026.
2027 entryLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 81.3 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 82.3 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 81.3 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 80.5 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | A- average (48.1 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (44.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B+ average (43 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A- average (47.8 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 9 June 2021
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Sutton area and similar girls' selective route
Nearby London option with a similar admissions route
Nearby option within a reasonable travel distance
Same wider selective region with a comparable travel distance
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Sutton
Compare 5 Sutton grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Sutton SET route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in London
Compare 19 London grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, local 11+ routes, travel clusters, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools in Sutton
Compare 5 Sutton grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Sutton SET route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in London
Compare 19 London grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, local 11+ routes, travel clusters, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
FAQ
Nonsuch High School for Girls currently uses Sutton SET, Individual.
1. Register for the Selective Eligibility Test: Complete online registration between 1 May 2026 and 31 July 2026. 2. Request access arrangements if needed: Submit access-arrangements evidence by 12 June 2026. 3. Sit the Selective Eligibility Test: The Selective Eligibility Test is scheduled for 15 September 2026. 4. Sit the NWSSEE if invited: Candidates who pass the Selective Eligibility Test may sit the NWSSEE on 26 September 2026. 5. Submit the Common Application Form: Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 31 October 2026.
SET registration opens: 1 May 2026. Access-arrangements deadline: 12 June 2026. SET registration closes: 31 July 2026. Selective Eligibility Test: 15 September 2026. NWSSEE second-stage test: 26 September 2026. Common Application Form deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Nonsuch High School for Girls is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 9 June 2021.