About Calday Grange Grammar School
Calday Grange Grammar School is a boys' grammar school (co-educational Sixth Form) in West Kirby, Wirral, founded in 1636 — Wirral's oldest grammar school. It is part of the Wirral Grammar Schools Consortium along with West Kirby Grammar School for Girls, Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Wirral Grammar School for Girls. All four share the same GL Assessment entrance test (the Wirral Admissions Test). Qualifying score: 236+. An Assessment Request Form must be completed by 31st May (Year 5).
Calday Grange Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 52.7%. A-Level A*–B: 60.8%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Calday Grange Grammar School
Calday Grange Grammar School is a boys state grammar school in England that selects pupils through the Wirral Admissions Test (the shared Wirral 11+, set using GL Assessment papers) for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 155 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Wirral test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 6 September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Calday Grange Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (155 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Calday Grange Grammar School
Calday Grange Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Calday Grange Grammar School is a boys' grammar school (co-educational Sixth Form) in West Kirby, Wirral, founded in 1636 — Wirral's oldest grammar school. It is part of the Wirral Grammar Schools Consortium along with West Kirby Grammar School for Girls, Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Wirral Grammar School for Girls. All four share the same GL Assessment entrance test (the Wirral Admissions Test). Qualifying score: 236+. An Assessment Request Form must be completed by 31st May (Year 5).
- ✓Complete an Assessment Request Form via the Wirral Council website or any Wirral grammar school website — form available from 1st May, must be submitted by 31st May (Year 5).
- ✓Sit the Wirral Admissions Test (GL Assessment) in September of Year 6 — two 60-minute multiple-choice papers covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Mathematics.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standardised score of 236 or above.
- ✓Free 11+ preparation provided for Pupil Premium students via Atom Learning — apply via the school.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys who achieve the qualifying score of 236+, ranked in order of score.
- ✓Where tied, distance from Calday Grange is used as a tie-breaker.
- ✓Complete the Wirral Parental Preference Form or your own Local Authority CAF by 31st October.
Calday Grange Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 155 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Calday Grange Grammar School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Calday Grange Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 6 September 2026 (CEM-style: VR + NVR + Maths + English) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Calday Grange Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Wirral) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Calday Grange Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 6 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Calday Grange Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Calday Grange Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Calday Grange Grammar School
Calday Grange Grammar School selects through the Wirral Admissions Test (GL Assessment), shared across the Wirral grammar schools — two audio-guided, computer-marked multiple-choice papers of about one hour each, converted to a Standardised Age Score, with a qualifying score of 236 or above.
- Verbal reasoning: words, letters and language patterns.
- Non-verbal & spatial reasoning: shapes, patterns and spatial awareness.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 problem-solving and reasoning.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Calday Grange Grammar School
Calday Grange Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Calday Grange Grammar School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Calday Grange Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Calday Grange Grammar School places among the strongest schools in the country, with attainment at GCSE historically in the top 5% nationally; in recent years around 91% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and mathematics, and its Attainment 8 score sits well above both national and local averages, with strong results continuing at A-Level.
- GCSE: consistently high results across a broad curriculum, with a strong science focus.
- Sixth form: a large co-educational sixth form.
- Progression: strong progression to Russell Group and other leading universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Calday Grange Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Wirral Admissions Test, produced by GL Assessment and used by the Wirral grammar schools — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers of about one hour each, guided by an audio soundtrack and computer-marked; each paper covers verbal reasoning, non-verbal/spatial reasoning and mathematics, and scores are converted to a Standardised Age Score. To qualify for consideration at Calday Grange, a child must achieve a standardised score of 236 or above.
The school does not operate a formal catchment area; where oversubscribed, priority is based on the shortest home-to-school walking distance as measured by the local authority's computer mapping system. Registration is made through the Wirral local-authority portal by the May deadline. Always confirm the current qualifying score and criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1636, Calday Grange Grammar School is one of the oldest grammar schools in the North West — a selective school for boys (with a co-educational sixth form) of around 1,390 pupils, on Grammar School Lane in West Kirby on the Wirral (CH48 8GG). It blends a rich history with a forward-looking approach, promoting independence, ambition and responsibility and holding a strong reputation in the sciences.
The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and, through a partnership with Atom Learning, provides free 11+ preparation for children eligible for the Pupil Premium. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Calday Grange Grammar School
How do I apply to Calday Grange Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Calday Grange Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026), then list Calday Grange Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Calday Grange Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Calday Grange Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 6 September 2026 (CEM-style: VR + NVR + Maths + English). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Calday Grange Grammar School?
Calday Grange Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 155 places.
How many Year 7 places does Calday Grange Grammar School have?
Calday Grange Grammar School admits 155 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Calday Grange Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Calday Grange Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Calday Grange Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Calday Grange Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Calday Grange Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Calday Grange Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Calday Grange Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.