Calday Grange Grammar School 11+ Guide 2026
Quest Assessment format, 210 Year 7 places for September 2027, admissions dates, and a month-by-month preparation plan for this Wirral boys' grammar school
Book a Free ConsultationQuest Assessment format, 210 Year 7 places for September 2027, admissions dates, and a month-by-month preparation plan for this Wirral boys' grammar school
Book a Free ConsultationCalday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby is a selective boys' school that has served the community of Wirral since 1636. Entry at Year 7 requires passing the Wirral 11+ assessment, which is provided by Quest Assessments and administered by Wirral Local Authority. For the 2026 test cycle (entry in September 2027), the assessment took place on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The school's planned admissions number for Year 7 in September 2027 is 210, and children must reach the qualifying score, made up of two age-standardised test scores added together. This guide covers everything families need to know: the school's history and character, the full admissions process, the Quest Assessment format, how places are allocated, and a month-by-month preparation plan to give your child the best possible chance of a place.
Checked September 2026
The Wirral assessment for September 2027 entry took place on Tuesday 15 September 2026. Wirral Council sends results on 21 October 2026, and applications close on 31 October 2026. Calday Grange's admissions policy for September 2027 gives 210 Year 7 places, and registration for September 2028 entry opens on 1 May 2027.
Calday Grange Grammar School stands at Grammar School Lane, West Kirby, on the Wirral peninsula in Merseyside. The school has served the community of Wirral since 1636. It has 1,493 pupils on roll, aged 11 to 18. It is a non-denominational boys' school with a co-educational sixth form.
The school welcomes applications from students across the Wirral, Chester, North Wales, Liverpool, Warrington and beyond.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Grammar School Lane, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 8GG |
| Serving Wirral since | 1636 |
| Type | Non-denominational boys' grammar (co-educational sixth form) |
| Year 7 places (September 2027 entry) | 210 |
| Qualifying score | Two age-standardised test scores added together, compared with the school's qualifying score |
| Test provider | Quest Assessments (Wirral non-Catholic grammar consortium) |
| Test date 2026 | Took place on Tuesday 15 September 2026 |
| Results | Council sends results to parents on 21 October 2026 |
| Secondary school application deadline | 31 October 2026 |
| Year 5 registration deadline | Assessment Request Form by 31 May of Year 5 (opens 1 May); for September 2028 entry, 1 May 2027 to 31 May 2027 |
Source: Wirral Council admissions pages, Calday Grange Grammar School's admissions policy for September 2027 and the Wirral consortium's 2026 parent guide, retrieved 30 September 2026.
Entry to Year 7 at Calday Grange Grammar School requires passing the Wirral 11+ assessment, which is administered by Wirral Local Authority and delivered by Quest Assessments. The process begins earlier than many families realise: in Year 5, not Year 6.
Year 5 — Registration (May): An Assessment Request Form must be completed by 31 May of Year 5. The form becomes available on 1 May. For the 2026 test cycle (entry to Year 7 in September 2027), this registration deadline was 1 June 2026. Late applications are not accepted unless a child has moved to the Wirral after the closing date, in which case a paper registration form is available.
Special access arrangements: If your child has additional needs (an EHCP, English as a second language, or a medical or educational need that may affect performance), special access arrangements can be requested when submitting the registration form. Arrangements that are ordinarily in place at the child's primary school can be accommodated, including enlarged print, extra time (25%), smaller rooms, or short breaks. These must be requested in advance — for the September 2026 test, the deadline was 7 June 2026.
Year 6 — Test day (15 September 2026): Children sat the assessment at one of the four Wirral grammar schools. Wirral Council said parents would be told their venue by the end of August 2026. The assessment is sat once, on a single day, with no re-sit. If a child was absent or unwell on the day, parents should email secondaryplaces@wirral.gov.uk, and Wirral Council says the child is invited to another assessment session. The assessment consists of two papers sat in one session, with children recording their answers on a separate OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) answer sheet.
21 October 2026 — Results: Wirral Council sends results to parents on 21 October 2026. Parents should include at least one grammar school on their secondary school application (the Wirral Parental Preference Form for Wirral residents). If a child does not meet the grammar school standard, their preference for a grammar school will be withdrawn.
31 October 2026 — Secondary school application deadline: All families must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October 2026. Families living in the Wirral borough submit the Wirral Parental Preference Form online at wirral.gov.uk. Wirral Council says families living outside Wirral but in England must apply through their local authority, and Calday Grange's admissions page adds that they must also complete a Wirral Parental Preference Form online at wirral.gov.uk. Families living outside England must use the Wirral application form to apply for Wirral schools. Calday Grange's admissions page asks families to list the school as their top choice. See our 11+ exam dates 2026–2027 guide for the timetables of other regions.
Calday Grange Grammar School, along with all non-Catholic grammar schools on the Wirral, uses Quest Assessments for its 11+ test. This is confirmed both on the school's own 11+ information page and on the Wirral Council website. The non-faith Wirral grammar schools say they moved to a new test provider and kept the same overall style and format of the test for the first year. Families should use Quest Assessments' own familiarisation materials.
The assessment consists of two papers taken on the same day. Both papers are multiple-choice and last approximately 50 minutes each, and an invigilator reads the instructions before, during and after each paper. Children record their answers on a separate OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) answer sheet. There are no long written answers, and readers and scribes are not provided.
Verbal Reasoning: Verbal reasoning questions test understanding of words, language patterns, and codes. A strong reading habit — across fiction, non-fiction, and a variety of genres — builds the vocabulary breadth that verbal reasoning requires. Children who read widely tend to recognise unusual word patterns and analogies more quickly under timed conditions.
Non-Verbal Reasoning: Non-verbal reasoning assesses logic, pattern recognition, spatial awareness, and visual problem-solving. Non-verbal reasoning is assessed in the second paper, alongside mathematics, and Quest Assessments offers free non-verbal reasoning familiarisation materials.
Mathematics: The mathematics section is in the second paper, alongside non-verbal reasoning, and the school's admissions policy says the tests are set around work that is part of the national curriculum. Children who are secure in what they are learning at school will have a solid foundation, and will also benefit from working through Quest's familiarisation booklets and from timed practice.
Free familiarisation materials for the three areas the Wirral assessment covers (maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning) are available from Quest Assessments at questassessments.com/parent-guidance. The Wirral non-Catholic grammar schools consortium also provides free preparation resources via Atom Learning for Pupil Premium eligible students — families should check the school's admissions page for details. For more about the 11+ and grammar school entry, see our introduction: What is the 11 Plus Exam?
Preparing for Calday Grange Grammar School 11+ Entry?
Our specialist tutors deliver focused one-to-one 11+ preparation for the Wirral Quest Assessment, covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and mathematics using Quest-style practice materials. We build personalised programmes tailored to each child's current strengths and the specific question types that appear on the Calday Grange assessment.
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Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppThe school's planned admissions number for Year 7 in September 2027 is 210. Calday welcomes applications from a wide area, including the Wirral, Chester, North Wales, Liverpool and Warrington. The test is shared across the non-faith Wirral grammar schools (West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Calday Grange Grammar School), so a child sits it once whichever of them the family applies to.
Children who reach the school's qualifying score are deemed to have reached the grammar school standard. Each of the two test scores is adjusted for the child's exact age in years and months, so children are not disadvantaged because of their date of birth. The two standardised age scores are then added together. Meeting the standard does not guarantee a place at Calday specifically.
If the school is oversubscribed, priority is determined in the following order:
For families outside the looked-after, medical, free school meals and sibling priority groups, shortest walking distance from the school is the deciding factor once the qualifying score is met. Distance is measured by the Local Authority computer mapping system, and if priority still cannot be distinguished, a random allocation process is followed. For families in the Greater Manchester area considering Wirral alongside other selective schools, our guide to Altrincham Grammar Schools covers their admissions process.
Effective preparation for the Calday Grange 11+ requires a structured approach beginning in Year 4 or early Year 5. The Wirral Quest Assessment rewards children who have built solid foundations in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and KS2 mathematics over an extended period — not those who cram in the final weeks before the September test. The following month-by-month framework gives families a realistic timeline for preparing a child who is starting in Year 4.
Year 4 (September – July): Foundation building. In Year 4, the focus should be on building the underlying skills that the 11+ tests — not on exam technique. Strong reading habits are the single most valuable investment at this stage: daily reading across a wide range of genres and difficulty levels builds vocabulary, inference skills, and the ability to process unfamiliar language quickly. For mathematics, ensure KS2 curriculum topics are progressing solidly — times tables to 12 should be fully memorised by the end of Year 4. A first introduction to verbal reasoning question types (word analogies, letter sequences) in Year 4 helps children begin to recognise patterns without the pressure of an approaching exam.
Year 5 (September – April): Structured skill development. In Year 5, preparation becomes more systematic. This is the time to introduce non-verbal reasoning question types in a structured way: shape sequences, matrices, mirror images, and spatial reasoning. For verbal reasoning, progress from introductory question types to more challenging formats. For mathematics, keep working on the school curriculum and on applying it to unfamiliar questions; the consortium guide says the test is built to assess genuine understanding of the curriculum. The Assessment Request Form must be submitted by 31 May of Year 5 to register for the September assessment; for September 2028 entry, Wirral Council's timetable has registration opening on 1 May 2027 and closing on 31 May 2027. Make sure this is in your family calendar from 1 May when the form becomes available.
Year 5 (May): Registration and consolidation. Submit the Assessment Request Form on time and keep a copy. Through May, maintain preparation at a steady pace — keeping to short, regular sessions in the three subject areas. The goal is to consolidate skills already developed. Free Quest Assessments familiarisation materials are available at questassessments.com/parent-guidance and should be introduced at this stage so your child is familiar with the specific question format and answer-sheet style.
Year 5 (June – July): Timed practice. From June, preparation shifts to timed, exam-style practice. Begin running full timed practice papers under test conditions at least once a week. Analyse performance carefully after each session: which question types are your child finding most challenging? Allocate focused practice time to those areas. Non-verbal reasoning and verbal reasoning should both be practised using Quest's free familiarisation materials, which show the question format and the answer sheet. Our specialist tutors at Leading Tuition use Quest-style practice materials. For more on the wider 11+ calendar across the UK, see our 11+ exam dates 2026–2027 guide.
August (between Year 5 and Year 6): Final preparation. In the few weeks before the September test, the priority is exam technique and pacing, in short regular sessions, rather than cramming new content. Practise full two-paper mock test sessions under timed, test-day conditions. Review any remaining weak areas but avoid introducing entirely new topics at this stage. Ensure your child is familiar with the format of the Quest Assessment papers, where an invigilator reads the instructions, and comfortable recording answers on a separate OMR answer sheet. The test cannot be re-sat, so a confident, practised approach on the day is the goal.
15 September 2026: Test day. Children sat both papers at one of the four Wirral grammar schools, in one session with a short break between the papers.
21 October 2026: Results. Wirral Council sends results to parents on 21 October 2026. Name Calday Grange on your secondary school application; if your child does not meet the grammar school standard, their preference for a grammar school will be withdrawn. If several Wirral grammar schools are named, list them in your genuine order of preference; Calday's admissions policy considers children whose parents have placed the school as a preference on any Local Authority preference form.
31 October 2026: Secondary school application deadline. Submit your application to your local authority by the deadline. Wirral residents use the online Wirral Parental Preference Form; families living outside Wirral but in England apply through their local authority, and Calday's admissions page says they must also complete a Wirral Parental Preference Form; families living outside England use the Wirral application form. School place offers are released on 1 March 2027.
Leading Tuition provides specialist 11+ preparation for children targeting Calday Grange Grammar School and the wider Wirral non-Catholic grammar school consortium. Our specialist tutors are experienced in the Quest Assessments format and deliver focused, one-to-one sessions tailored to each child's strengths and the specific question types that appear on the Wirral assessment.
Our preparation programmes cover all three subject areas of the Quest Assessment: verbal reasoning (word patterns, analogies, codes, and logical language tasks), non-verbal reasoning (pattern sequences, matrices, spatial reasoning, and shape manipulation), and mathematics (problem-solving, multi-step word problems, and data interpretation). Our Wirral preparation is built around Quest-style question formats, so your child practises the format they will meet on test day.
We offer structured programmes that can begin as early as Year 4, and intensive preparation for families starting closer to the September test date. All sessions are delivered online, one-to-one, and fully tailored to your child's current level and target score. Progress is tracked throughout the programme so you always know where your child stands.
Leading Tuition has supported families preparing for selective schools across the UK, including Wirral grammar school applicants. Our specialist tutors understand the specific pressures of the September test window and the importance of building exam confidence and pacing skills alongside content knowledge. The Calday Grange 11+ rewards prepared, confident children — and building that preparation over the right timeline makes the difference between meeting the qualifying standard and not. Book a free consultation to discuss your child's preparation needs and timeline with one of our specialist tutors.
Related guides: West Kirby Grammar School 11+ Guide 2026 and St Anselm's College Wirral 11+ Guide 2026.
Leading Tuition is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 59 reviews, read on 3 October 2026, and 91% of our students achieve their desired grades.
Reviewed September 2026: dates, figures and rules checked against Wirral Council's admissions timetable and grammar assessment page, Calday Grange Grammar School's September 2027 admissions policy and 11+ information pages, the Wirral consortium's 2026 parent guide and FAQs, Quest Assessments, GIAS.
Calday Grange Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in West Kirby on the Wirral peninsula that has served the community of Wirral since 1636. Entry at Year 7 requires passing the Wirral 11+ assessment, administered by Wirral Local Authority and delivered by Quest Assessments. The test is sat on a single day in September; for September 2027 entry, that was Tuesday 15 September 2026. The assessment consists of two papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and mathematics, all in multiple-choice format. There is no re-sit; if your child was absent or unwell on the day, contact Wirral LA at secondaryplaces@wirral.gov.uk, which invites the child to another assessment session.
Children must reach the school's qualifying score, made up of two age-standardised test scores added together, to be considered for a place. Each score is adjusted for the child's exact age in years and months, so children are not disadvantaged because of their date of birth. Meeting the standard does not guarantee a place: where more children meet it than there are places, each school's published admissions criteria apply. The school's planned admissions number for Year 7 in September 2027 is 210 and, when oversubscribed, priority runs: looked-after children, valid medical or social reasons, up to 15 places for children on free school meals by walking distance, siblings, then shortest walking distance from the school.
The Wirral Quest Assessment for September 2027 school entry took place on Tuesday 15 September 2026. Children sat the test at one of the four Wirral grammar schools, and Wirral Council said parents would be told their venue by the end of August 2026. Registration for the September 2026 test closed at 12 noon on 1 June 2026; new registrations after that date are only accepted from children who have moved to Wirral after the closing date, via a paper registration form from Wirral LA. Wirral Council sends results to parents on 21 October 2026, and the secondary school application must be submitted to your local authority by 31 October 2026.
The school's planned admissions number for Year 7 in September 2027 is 210. The school welcomes applications from the Wirral, Liverpool, Chester, North Wales, and Warrington. When oversubscribed, the school applies its oversubscription criteria in order: looked-after and previously looked-after children; children with a valid medical or social reason supported in writing by an appropriate professional; up to 15 places for children on free school meals at the time of application allocated by shortest walking distance; children who will have a sibling at the school at the time of admission; and remaining places offered to children with the shortest walking distance from the school.
Preparation for the Wirral Quest Assessment should begin in Year 4 or early Year 5. The assessment covers verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and mathematics in multiple-choice format. Effective preparation combines daily reading to build vocabulary for verbal reasoning, targeted non-verbal reasoning practice covering pattern recognition and spatial awareness, and consistent KS2 maths work. Quest Assessments provides free familiarisation materials at questassessments.com/parent-guidance including sample questions in maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The Wirral non-Catholic grammar schools also provide free Atom Learning accounts for Pupil Premium eligible children. In the weeks before the test, children should get used to timed questions in short, regular sessions to build pacing and exam technique.
Leading Tuition provides specialist 11+ tuition for children preparing for the Wirral Quest Assessment and entry to Calday Grange Grammar School. Our specialist tutors deliver focused one-to-one sessions in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and mathematics, using Quest-style practice materials to ensure children are familiar with the specific format and pacing required on test day. We offer structured programmes starting as early as Year 4, along with targeted preparation in the months before the September test. All sessions are delivered online and are fully tailored to each child's strengths and areas for development. Book a free consultation at leadingtuition.co.uk/consultation or message us on WhatsApp.
Leading Tuition provides specialist 11+ preparation for the Wirral Quest Assessment. Our specialist tutors are experienced in Quest-style verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and mathematics.
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