About Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls admits 150 girls annually and is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. The qualifying score for 2027 entry is 205. The school applies its own oversubscription criteria, including a defined catchment area, once the qualifying threshold is met.
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 82.8%. A-Level A*–B: 76.5%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is a girls state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 150 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 Birmingham 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 13 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) — 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.
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 (150 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls Admissions Criteria
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls admits 150 girls annually and is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. The qualifying score for 2027 entry is 205. The school applies its own oversubscription criteria, including a defined catchment area, once the qualifying threshold is met.
- ✓Register at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk (opens 5th May, closes 26th June, Year 5).
- ✓Sit the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment).
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standardised score of 205 or above.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children.
- ✓Girls achieving the priority score (224+) within the school's designated catchment area.
- ✓Girls within the catchment area with Pupil Premium eligibility.
- ✓All other qualifying girls within the catchment, ranked by score.
- ✓Girls outside the catchment area, ranked by score then straight-line distance.
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls)
- 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 — Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Birmingham CET (King Edward VI Foundation) |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Birmingham) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
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 13 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 (via Birmingham CET portal), 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield selects through the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test (GL Assessment), sat once across the Birmingham, Warwickshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton grammar schools — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers with no writing task.
- English: comprehension and literacy at Key Stage 2 level.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
- Verbal & non-verbal reasoning: word-based logic and visual problem-solving.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is a high-performing girls' grammar in Birmingham with GCSE and A-Level results consistently well above national averages and strong progression to leading universities.
- GCSE & A-Level: results consistently above the national average across a broad curriculum.
- Specialism: a designated Science specialism, and a former Beacon and Leadership Partner school.
- Partnership: a partner school to Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (boys), founded in 1527.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Admission to Year 7 is through the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test (the Birmingham consortium test), set by GL Assessment and used across Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers of around an hour, divided into individually-timed sections covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, with no writing task; scores are age-standardised. There is no fixed pass mark — a qualifying mark (broadly the top 25%, in recent years around 217–221) is set after the test. Families register on the West Midlands portal and name the school on the Local Authority form.
The school admits around 150 girls to Year 7 and has no catchment area or residence requirement — places are offered on test performance alone. Where applicants score equally above the qualifying mark, priority runs through looked-after children, then Pupil Premium pupils (up to 36 places), then those living nearest the school. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a sixth form, on Jockey Road in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham (B73 5PT), with around 1,200 pupils. The school opened in 1929, became Sutton Coldfield Girls School in 1962 and took its current name in the late 1990s, converting to an academy in 2011.
With a Science specialism and a long record of academic excellence, it offers a broad enrichment programme and works closely with its partner school, Bishop Vesey's Grammar. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
How do I apply to Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls for Year 7?
Applications to Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 150 places.
How many Year 7 places does Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls have?
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls admits 150 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 (via Birmingham CET portal) — 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls's waiting list.
Is Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls a state school or fee-paying?
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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.