About Ilford County High School (ICHS)
Ilford County High School (ICHS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Barkingside, London Borough of Redbridge, admitting 180 boys per year. It is one of two Redbridge grammar schools (with Woodford County High School for Girls), both using the same GL Assessment entrance test. Registration opens 1st May 2026.
Ilford County High School (ICHS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 68.2%. A-Level A*–B: 72.7%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Ilford County High School (ICHS)
Ilford County High School (ICHS) is a boys state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 180 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 Essex 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 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.
Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 (180 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS)
Ilford County High School (ICHS) Admissions Criteria
Ilford County High School (ICHS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Barkingside, London Borough of Redbridge, admitting 180 boys per year. It is one of two Redbridge grammar schools (with Woodford County High School for Girls), both using the same GL Assessment entrance test. Registration opens 1st May 2026.
- ✓Register for the Redbridge 11+ via ICHS or Woodford County High School website (opens 1st May 2026).
- ✓Sit the Redbridge GL Assessment entrance test — two multiple-choice papers (English, Maths, VR, NVR).
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standardised score.
- ✓Results released before 31st October.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys within the school's designated area who achieve the qualifying score.
- ✓Boys outside the designated area who achieve the qualifying score, ranked by score.
- ✓Apply via Redbridge LA CAF by 31st October 2026.
Ilford County High School (ICHS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 180 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS))
- 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 — Ilford County High School (ICHS) 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by school) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Essex) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by school). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Ilford County High School (ICHS)
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 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Ilford County High School (ICHS)
Ilford County High School selects through the Redbridge 11+ (GL Assessment), shared with Woodford County High School for Girls — two electronically-marked multiple-choice papers, age-standardised, with a qualifying standardised score of 104.
- English & verbal reasoning: reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary and verbal logic.
- Mathematics & non-verbal reasoning: Key Stage 2 maths plus spatial and pattern-based problem-solving.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Ilford County High School (ICHS)
Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 Ilford County High School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Ilford County High School is a long-established and high-achieving selective boys' grammar with a strong academic record at GCSE and A-Level and a science specialism. As part of the Leading Edge Partnership it works with other schools to share practice and raise standards, and it has a strong record of progression to leading universities.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a sixth form with strong outcomes and progression.
- Specialism: a recognised specialism in science.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Ilford County High School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Redbridge 11+, produced by GL Assessment and shared with Woodford County High School for Girls — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers (one covering English and verbal reasoning; the other mathematics and non-verbal reasoning), sat in the autumn of Year 6, electronically marked and age-standardised; the qualifying mark is a standardised score of 104, below which a child is not added to the waiting list. The London Borough of Redbridge is the admissions authority.
Crucially, the school admits 180 boys and uses a common catchment area (broadly Woodford to the north, Goodmayes to the east, Ilford to the south and Wanstead to the west): a child must live within it to be offered a place — in practice no child living outside the area has been admitted, regardless of score. Within the catchment, after the priority categories (such as EHCP and looked-after children), places are allocated by test score with distance as a factor. Always confirm the current catchment map and criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Ilford County High School is a selective boys' grammar for ages 11–18 on Fremantle Road in Barkingside, Ilford (IG6 2JB, in the London Borough of Redbridge), and is the only boys' selective school in the borough. Founded in 1901, it has a science specialism and has been part of the Leading Edge Partnership, which encourages schools to collaborate and learn from one another to raise standards.
The school combines a strong academic focus with a range of extracurricular opportunities. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ilford County High School
How do I apply to Ilford County High School (ICHS) for Year 7?
Applications to Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 (varies by school)), then list Ilford County High School (ICHS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Ilford County High School (ICHS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Ilford County High School (ICHS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Ilford County High School (ICHS)?
Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 180 places.
How many Year 7 places does Ilford County High School (ICHS) have?
Ilford County High School (ICHS) admits 180 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS)'s waiting list.
Is Ilford County High School (ICHS) a state school or fee-paying?
Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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 Ilford County High School (ICHS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Ilford County High School (ICHS) 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.