About Woodford County High School (WCHS)
Woodford County High School (WCHS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Woodford Green, London Borough of Redbridge, admitting 186 girls per year. It is one of two Redbridge grammar schools (with Ilford County High School for Boys), both using the same GL Assessment entrance test. Woodford County High is consistently among the top-performing girls' grammar schools nationally.
Woodford County High School (WCHS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 85%. A-Level A*–B: 78%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Woodford County High School (WCHS)
Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 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.
Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS)
Woodford County High School (WCHS) Admissions Criteria
Woodford County High School (WCHS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Woodford Green, London Borough of Redbridge, admitting 186 girls per year. It is one of two Redbridge grammar schools (with Ilford County High School for Boys), both using the same GL Assessment entrance test. Woodford County High is consistently among the top-performing girls' grammar schools nationally.
- ✓Register for the Redbridge 11+ via WCHS or ICHS 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.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls within the school's designated area who achieve the qualifying score.
- ✓Girls outside the designated area who achieve the qualifying score, ranked by score.
- ✓Distance as tie-breaker.
- ✓Apply via Redbridge LA CAF by 31st October 2026.
Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS))
- 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 — Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS)
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 Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Woodford County High School (WCHS)
Woodford County selects through the Redbridge 11+ (GL Assessment), sat once for the borough's two grammars — two computer-marked, age-standardised papers, qualifying score 104.
- Paper 1 – English & verbal reasoning: comprehension, vocabulary and word-based logic.
- Paper 2 – mathematics & non-verbal reasoning: Key Stage 2 maths plus shapes, patterns and spatial reasoning.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Woodford County High School (WCHS)
Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Woodford County High School (WCHS) is a high-performing girls' grammar in the London Borough of Redbridge, with strong GCSE and A-Level results.
- Outcomes: consistently strong GCSE and A-Level results across a broad curriculum.
- Curriculum: a wide range of GCSE subjects, including Classical Civilisation.
- Sixth form: high entry standards based on GCSE performance and subject-specific criteria.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Woodford County High School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Redbridge 11+, administered by the London Borough of Redbridge and set by GL Assessment, shared with its brother school Ilford County High — so a child sits it once. It is two computer-marked multiple-choice papers taken on the same day: Paper 1 covers English and verbal reasoning, and Paper 2 covers mathematics and non-verbal reasoning. Scores are standardised and age-weighted, with a qualifying score of 104 set each year (children scoring below 104 are not added to the waiting list).
The school admits 180 girls to Year 7 (six forms of 30) and operates a Common Catchment Area (broadly Loughton to Ilford) that strongly determines places. After looked-after children, around a quarter of places (up to about 45) go to catchment-area pupils entitled to Pupil Premium in score order, then other catchment pupils in score order, then any pupils from outside the catchment — though in practice places very rarely go beyond the catchment. Register for the Redbridge 11+ through Redbridge Admissions and name the school on the Common Application Form by 31 October. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Woodford County High School is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18 on High Road in Woodford Green (IG8 9LA), in the London Borough of Redbridge. Opened in 1919, it is housed in Highams, a Georgian manor built in 1768 with grounds originally designed by Humphry Repton, and its brother school is Ilford County High School.
The school offers a broad curriculum and a wide enrichment programme across the arts, sport and academic societies. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Woodford County High School
How do I apply to Woodford County High School (WCHS) for Year 7?
Applications to Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Woodford County High School (WCHS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS)?
Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS) have?
Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS)'s waiting list.
Is Woodford County High School (WCHS) a state school or fee-paying?
Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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 Woodford County High School (WCHS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Woodford County High School (WCHS) 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.