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Are you considering Upton Hall School for your child? We've collated all the information you need to know about 2024 entry to Year 7. Keep reading to learn about the grammar school admissions process on the Wirral and how to excel in the 11 plus exam.
About Upton Hall School
Upton Hall School is a girls’ Catholic grammar school on the Wirral. It was founded in 1849 by Marie Madeleine, whose aim was to provide education for the poor and ensure that educational opportunities for girls were equal to those available to boys.
It is one of five schools in England and Jersey which comprise the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) Educational Trust, operating within the teachings, tenets and practices of the Catholic Church.
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, Upton Hall has full international school status in recognition of its work to ensure pupils have a keen appreciation of the world and its opportunities and challenges. All pupils are encouraged to understand and appreciate what it means to be a British citizen and a member of an FCJ community.
Address: Saughall Massie Lane, Upton, CH49 6LJ
Local authority: Wirral Council
School type: girls' grammar
Headteacher: Andrea Gaunt
Number of pupils: 970
Key info for Year 7 admissions
Admissions contact: [email protected]
Number of places in Year 7: 156
11 plus registration closes: 10th July 2023
Open day: 22nd June & 14th September, 5.30pm–8pm. Virtual tour here
Exam date: 16th September 2023
Exam type: school's own verbal reasoning papers
Common application form (CAF) deadline: 31st October 2023
National school offer day: 1st March 2024
Upton Hall School term dates
The 2023–2024 term dates at Upton Hall School are:
Autumn term: 4th September – 22nd December 2023
Half term: 23rd–27th October 2023
Spring term: 8th January – 29th March 2024
Half term: 19th–23rd February 2024
Summer term: 15th April – 23rd July 2024
Half term: 27th–31st May 2024
How to apply to Upton Hall School
1. Register for the 11 plus
Before registering, speak to your child’s teacher to see if the 11 plus and grammar school is right for them.
While your child is in Year 5, register them to take the Upton Hall School entrance exam on the school website. Registration closes on 10th July. The school will send you a letter by the end of August with details of the exam arrangements.
If you are considering other local selective schools such as West Kirby Grammar or Wirral Girls' Grammar, remember to register for their exams too. Those schools use a different exam called the Wirral Admissions Test.
2. Apply for school places
Once your child has taken the Upton Hall 11 plus, you will get their results by 13th October. You can use the results to decide which schools to include on your local authority application form.
Before listing Upton Hall School as a preference on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible. As well as your child's exam score, how close you live to a school is an important factor in whether your child is likely to be offered a place.
The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2023.
What's on the Upton Hall School 11 plus exam?
Upton Hall School's 11 plus test takes place on Saturday 16th September 2023.
It consists of two multiple-choice papers, both in verbal reasoning. Each paper lasts 50 minutes, with a short break in between.
The exam is provided by NFER (National Foundation of Educational Research).
11 plus verbal reasoning
11 plus verbal reasoning tests a child’s ability to connect, spot patterns with, and manipulate written information. Verbal reasoning relies on a broad vocabulary base and understanding of word meanings both in and out of context. It can identify pupils whose strengths lie in English, history, languages and the arts.
The test will require them to:
Apply logical thinking and problem-solving skills
Find and follow patterns and rules
Determine word meaning
Spell accurately
Apply core maths skills
Work systematically
Introduction to verbal reasoning from Anna, our Chief Learning Officer
Children are unlikely to have seen verbal reasoning questions at primary school. Those who are familiar with reasoning question styles are at a distinct advantage in the exam. Having a wide vocabulary is also an advantage as many of the questions rely on knowledge of synonyms and antonyms.
Free 11 plus verbal reasoning resources
What is the pass mark for Upton Hall School?
A score of 236 or above is needed to be considered for a place. Achieving this score doesn't guarantee a place at the school, as it is likely to be oversubscribed with qualified candidates. We always recommend researching the admission policies for your target schools, looking at their admissions criteria and their catchment area.
After your child takes the exam, their scores are age-standardised and combined to give them a total score across both papers. These total scores are ranked in order, and admissions criteria are applied. As a result, the specific cut-off score varies from year to year and is only decided after the tests have been marked.
Upton Hall School admissions criteria
The planned admission number (PAN) for the school is 156. When there are more eligible applicants than places available, places are allocated in this order:
Baptised Roman Catholic girls, including any girl who was baptised a Christian and can demonstrate that she has subsequently been admitted to the Roman Catholic Church.
Girls who have not been baptised into the Roman Catholic Church, whose parents wish them to have a Roman Catholic education.
In both groups, priority is given to girls who are or were previously Looked After Children.
If either group is oversubscribed, places are allocated in order of the highest scores in the exam. If there are several candidates with equal marks at the 156th place, priority will be given to girls who live nearest the school.
Upton Hall School catchment area
Upton Hall School does not have a defined catchment area. When distance is used as a tie breaker, 'nearest to the school' means the shortest available safe walking distance as measured by the local authority computer mapping system.
How to help your child prepare for the 11 plus
Here are our top tips on how to best prepare your child for the Upton Hall School 11 plus.
Cover all the content
The 11 plus assesses a large breadth and depth of learning objectives. We recommend that your child starts revising content at least one year before the test. Setting aside study periods using a 'little and often' approach will give them time to build the skills and knowledge they need. When preparing, avoid falling into the trap of over-focusing on either the topics your child enjoys or the topics they find hardest.
Atom Nucleus is an 11 plus online course that tailors your child's personalised learning journey to cover all elements of the Upton Hall School 11 plus at the right pace for them.
No surprises
Your child will encounter lots of unfamiliar types of questions in the 11 plus exam. Building exam technique with 11 plus test papers will help your child to feel fully confident with the styles of questions they'll encounter in the exam, reducing the potential for stress on the day.
Celebrate their progress
Setting regular goals and celebrating achievements will help keep motivation high. Atom Nucleus offers data-driven insights into your child’s progress towards mastering the 11 plus curriculum, making it easy to see where they need to focus next.
Personalised 11 plus prep for your child
Wondering how to make sure your child covers the depth and breadth of the entire 11 plus curriculum, stays on track with their progress, and gets help when they're stuck? Online learning is a particularly efficient, cost-effective (and fun) way to do this!
Atom Nucleus is the award-winning online 11 plus practice platform that gives your child everything they need to prepare for grammar school exams.
Children work independently through over 90,000 interactive practice questions in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and maths. Teacher-created helpsheets and videos help them discover new concepts and consolidate their learning.
Atom's algorithm keeps children on their ideal learning path, tailored to their unique learning style and pace to keep them challenged and motivated.
Wirral 11 plus practice papers
Atom Nucleus gives children access to online practice papers. Our online tests are designed to mirror the format and style of the real Upton Hall School 11 plus, so your child will go into the exam knowing exactly what to expect.
And what's more, everything is automatically marked for you.
Try Atom Nucleus free for 5 days
Begin your child's journey to Upton Hall School today. Use the full features of Atom Nucleus free for 5 days – cancel anytime.
Personalised support for you
We understand how important this next step is for them, and for you. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions you may have about the 11 plus or grammar schools on the Wirral.
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