Wilson's School 11+ guide

Applying to Wilson's School for September 2028? This guide covers the two-stage Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) and second-stage exams, the qualifying score, how the 186 Year 7 places are allocated and the key dates for September 2028 entry.

Wilson's School 11+ at a glance

• School type: boys' grammar school
• Location: Wallington, London Borough of Sutton
• Admissions contact: office@wilsonsschool.sutton.sch.uk
• Number of places in Year 7: 186 (2027-entry figure — Wilson's School confirms each year's admission number in its determined arrangements, published the spring before entry.)
• Qualifying score: No fixed pass mark is published. Boys must pass the SET, both second-stage papers and an overall pass mark, and are ranked on SET, English and maths in the ratio 1:2:2.
• 11+ test: Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) and second stage (two multiple-choice SET papers, then two written second-stage papers in English and maths)
• Catchment or priority area: no — places are not allocated by where you live

Source: Wilson's School Year 7 Admission Criteria (September 2027 entry). Last checked October 2026.

Key dates for September 2028 entry

Wilson's School confirms its exact dates in the spring before each cycle. The windows below follow the 2027-entry timetable: registration ran from Friday 1 May 2026 to Friday 31 July 2026, the test took place on Tuesday 15 September 2026 (SET), with the boys' shared second stage on Saturday 3 October 2026 and results were due in October 2026. We'll update this page as soon as the school publishes its 2028-entry dates.

The 1 May 2027 opening date for the shared SET registration comes from Wallington High School for Girls. Wilson's School hasn't published its own 2028-entry dates yet, so the other windows follow the 2027-entry timetable.

How to apply to Wilson's School

Wilson's School is selective, so your child needs to sit the 11+ test to be considered for a place.

You register once for the SET through the shared online Sutton SET registration system (Applicaa), linked from each participating school's website. One registration covers all six schools that use the test.

Once you have your child's result, you apply by naming Wilson's School on your common application form, which goes to your home local authority. For September 2028 entry the deadline is Sunday 31 October 2027. As it falls on a Sunday, you may find it easier to submit your form in the days before.

Reaching the qualifying score makes your child eligible, but it doesn't guarantee a place. If more qualifying children apply than there are places, the school uses its oversubscription criteria, set out further down this page.

What will my child be tested on?

The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) is the first stage for all five Sutton grammar schools. It is two multiple-choice papers, English and maths, each lasting 40 to 50 minutes with a break in between. Both are broadly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum and there is no verbal or non-verbal reasoning. Answers go on a separate answer sheet.

There is no pass mark published in advance: the schools decide it after marking, and scores are standardised for age. You'll receive an outcome email during the week after the SET.

Boys who reach the school's SET pass mark are invited to the shared second stage, sat by Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School and Wilson's School on the same day. It has an English paper and a maths paper, each around 45 minutes to 1 hour, written rather than multiple choice and with no verbal or non-verbal reasoning. Each school then combines these scores with the SET in its own way.

At Wilson's School, boys must pass both second-stage papers and an overall pass mark. The rank order uses the SET, second-stage English and second-stage maths in the ratio 1:2:2. Wilson's also runs separate sport and music aptitude tests for boys applying for the aptitude places. Outcomes are emailed in October.

The table below shows what each paper covers.

How are places allocated at Wilson's School?

If more children reach the qualifying standard than there are 186 Year 7 places, Wilson's School offers places in the order below. This order comes from the school's admissions policy for 2027 entry. The school sets its 2028-entry policy separately, and we'll update this table if anything changes.

Only boys judged to be of selective ability in the entrance tests are eligible. Boys with an EHCP naming the school are admitted before other applicants.

Does Wilson's School have a catchment area?

Wilson's School has no catchment area. Where you live only matters in a tie-break, when boys living in the London Borough of Sutton come first.

Where boys share the same rank and there aren't enough places, those living in the London Borough of Sutton come first, in order of straight-line distance from the school's main front door, followed by other boys by distance. If that can't separate them, a random ballot decides.

If you don't live close to the school, it's worth thinking about how your child will get there every day. How long will the journey take? What transport options are available? Will they be travelling independently or with support?

A longer or more complex journey can affect your child's daily routine, including how much time they have for homework, rest and after-school activities. It's a good idea to think about how manageable the school run will be and whether it will work for your family day to day.

How can I help my child prepare for the test?

The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) can feel like a big milestone, but preparation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s how you can help your child prepare for test day.

Stay on track with a clear plan

One of the hardest parts of 11+ preparation is knowing what to focus on, when, and how to make steady progress without it taking over family life.

A clear, structured plan helps your child feel less overwhelmed and more in control. It ensures they build skills in the right order, cover everything they need, and avoid last-minute cramming.

Atom’s exam plan makes this easier. Enter your child’s target schools and exam dates, and we’ll create a personalised weekly plan tailored to the topics they’ll be tested on. It shows them what to work on and when, adapts as they improve, and helps them build progress in a calm, manageable way — little and often.

That means less guesswork for you, less stress for them, and a clearer path all the way to exam day.

Build smart exam technique

As your child’s knowledge grows, practice tests can help them feel more comfortable with the real exam format.

Atom’s 11+ practice papers are built to match the format, timing and question styles of real 11+ exams. They’re also unlimited – you can download the same paper again and again, and your child will get new questions each time. This helps them practise without repeating the same content.

We’ve made marking easy for you, too. Simply photograph your child’s answer sheets and upload them to Atom. The papers are marked instantly, showing your child’s standardised age score (SAS), where they’re doing well, and what they should focus on next. You’ll also learn how they compare to other children applying to the same school.

Encourage regular reading

Strong reading skills play a big role in 11+ preparation.

Encourage your child to read every day, even for just 10–15 minutes. The key is variety. Mix fiction and non-fiction, different genres, and a range of authors. This helps them become more confident in understanding tone, purpose, and meaning across different texts.

Over time, regular reading will:

• broaden their vocabulary
• improve comprehension and inference
• build confidence in tackling unseen texts

And just as importantly, it can help them enjoy reading — not just see it as exam preparation.

Looking for inspiration? Atom’s recommended reading lists have suggestions spanning fiction and non-fiction for Years 3–6.

Celebrate progress, not just scores

When you’re supporting your child through 11+ preparation, what really matters is knowing they’re moving in the right direction — not just how they scored on a single test.

Atom’s progress tracking gives you a clear, simple picture of how your child is doing in each topic and the direction they’re moving in. You can see where they’re on track, where they might need more practice, and spot progress as it happens.

That makes it easier to give meaningful encouragement, keep motivation steady, and focus on what matters most: consistent improvement, not just one-off results.