A selective boys grammar school in Wallington, Greater London, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,117 pupils on roll.
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At a glance
Wallington County Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school on Croydon Road in Wallington, with girls admitted into the sixth form. Founded in 1927, it has a strong motto-led identity: Per Ardua Ad Summa, "Through Difficulties to the Heights". The headmaster's welcome connects that motto to four core values - compassion, courage, commitment and creativity - and to a culture of academic ambition, praise and recognition.
The curriculum is described as broad and deep, with the explicit aim of developing scholars rather than pupils who simply cover examination specifications. WCGS prospectus material refers to Deep Thinking Challenges in lessons, wider reading, and preparation for highly competitive university routes. Sixth-form documentation indicates that students normally study at least four A levels, with some taking Further Mathematics or the EPQ as an additional qualification before refining their subjects for the upper sixth.
The co-curriculum is one of the school's defining public themes. WCGS describes activities, societies, competitions, sport, arts and leadership as part of a world-class education. The house system, school sports, Duke of Edinburgh, orchestra and ensembles, clubs and societies, school council, charity events, RAG Week, the fashion and talent show, subject ambassadors, anti-bullying ambassadors and mentoring all sit within that offer. Sixth-form enrichment adds options such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary preparation, university admissions-test preparation, local outreach and careers talks.
Year 7 admission uses the Sutton two-stage route. Candidates take the Selective Eligibility Test in English and mathematics, and those who pass go on to the WCGS, Sutton Grammar and Wilson's second-stage English and mathematics tests. The published admission number is 150. The oversubscription rules include looked-after and previously looked-after children, children of staff, score ranking, up to 25 Pupil Premium places, up to 15 Sutton-postcode priority places and distance tie-breaks. Official benchmarks record an Outstanding Ofsted judgement from November 2022, +0.95 Progress 8, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 55.6% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2025/26 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.
Whole-school roll of 1,119 pupils; 1,076 had a recorded ethnic group.
A school admission appeal follows a refusal of a place. Use the school's current timetable and your refusal letter for the deadline. A test review, if available, has separate rules.
Applies to: Applicants claiming the listed-postcode allocation.
Postcode-priority places require the child’s permanent home to be in a listed postcode on 31 October 2026. An address of convenience may be rejected if another home remains available.
Most places are score-ranked; a Sutton-area postcode priority applies for up to 15 places, with distance used as a tie-breaker.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Applies to candidates who reach the required standard.
Children of staff
Priority applies where the published staff criteria are met.
Rank order
Places are allocated by combined entrance-test score, highest first, after higher priorities.
Pupil premium
Up to 25 places are available for eligible pupil premium candidates who reach the required standard.
Sutton postcode priority
Up to 15 places are reserved for candidates living in the listed Sutton-area postcodes who reach the standard.
Tie-break distance
Straight-line distance is used where candidates are otherwise equally ranked.
First stage: multiple-choice English and maths papers.
Candidates who qualify may need a second-stage test, depending on the school.
Second stage: written English and maths papers.
Candidates must first pass the SET.
The three participating schools use the same second-stage test, but apply their own admissions criteria.
Official exam resources
No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.
Sutton SET test guideFree parent account
Create a free parent account to open the official papers, sample questions and guidance listed here.
Access arrangements deadline
12 June 2026
PastSET registration closes
31 July 2026
PastSelective Eligibility Test
15 September 2026
PastSecond Stage Test
3 October 2026
PastCommon Application Form deadline
31 October 2026
PastNational Offer Day
1 March 2027
Admission appeal deadline
16 April 2027
Appeals received by this date are due to be heard by 21 June 2027.
Residence start date
31 October 2026
PastAddress evidence deadline
For shared care, provide the joint residence declaration by application closure
Register for the Selective Eligibility Test
Complete the online SET registration by midnight on 31 July 2026.
Open policySit the SET
The first stage is the multiple-choice Selective Eligibility Test in English and mathematics.
Open policySit the second stage if invited
Candidates who pass the SET sit the WCGS, Sutton Grammar and Wilson's second-stage tests in English and mathematics.
Open policySubmit the Common Application Form
Name WCGS on the CAF by 31 October 2026.
Open policyLatest inspection: 16 November 2022
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Sutton area and similar boys' selective route
Same Sutton area and similar boys' selective route
Nearby London option with a similar admissions route
Nearby option within a reasonable 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
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Guide
11+ Timeline for Parents
A clear timeline from early school research to test registration, results and offer day—with the deadlines that need their own reminder.
Guide
Grammar School Admissions Explained
Understand the difference between entering the test, qualifying and being offered a place—and which forms each stage needs.
Guide
Grammar School Catchment Areas Explained
A catchment can affect admission priority without guaranteeing a place. Learn how boundaries, distance and home-address rules work together.
Guide
Grammar School Offer Day and Waiting Lists
Respond to the offered place, understand any refused preferences and keep waiting-list and appeal actions separate.
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Grammar School Open Day Questions
Use the visit to understand teaching, support and everyday life. These questions help you get beyond the presentation and into what matters for your child.
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Grammar School Standardised Scores Explained
A standardised score is not a percentage. Learn how raw marks, age adjustment, combined scores and qualifying standards differ.
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Sutton Grammar Schools Guide
Understand Sutton’s five grammar schools, the shared Selective Eligibility Test and the school-specific decisions that follow.
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Sutton SET results and school admission appeals
Sutton SET appeals for 2027 entry: first- and second-stage results, school refusals, appeal contacts, evidence and separate deadlines for each grammar school.
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Year 5 Grammar School Research Checklist
Use Year 5 to confirm the exam route, read the right admission policies and record registration deadlines before the busy autumn of Year 6.
FAQ
For September 2027 entry, Wallington County Grammar School uses Sutton SET + second stage. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.
1. Register for the Selective Eligibility Test: Complete the online SET registration by midnight on 31 July 2026. 2. Sit the SET: The first stage is the multiple-choice Selective Eligibility Test in English and mathematics. 3. Sit the second stage if invited: Candidates who pass the SET sit the WCGS, Sutton Grammar and Wilson's second-stage tests in English and mathematics. 4. Submit the Common Application Form: Name WCGS on the CAF by 31 October 2026.
Access arrangements deadline: 12 June 2026. SET registration closes: 31 July 2026. Selective Eligibility Test: 15 September 2026. Second Stage Test: 3 October 2026. Common Application Form deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027. Admission appeal deadline: 16 April 2027. Residence start date: 31 October 2026. Address evidence deadline: For shared care, provide the joint residence declaration by application closure
Wallington County Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 16 November 2022.
