Redbridge 11 Plus Registration 2026: Key Dates and How to Apply

The Redbridge 11 plus is the selection test used by two grammar schools, Ilford County High School for boys and Woodford County High School for girls, both in the London Borough of Redbridge. For 2027 entry, registration opens on 1st May 2026 and closes on 15th June 2026, and the exam date is Friday 18th September 2026. The test consists of two GL Assessment papers, English and verbal reasoning, plus maths and non-verbal reasoning, sat on the same day. The pass mark is 104, and both schools use a common catchment area covering most of Redbridge and parts of Waltham Forest, giving priority to children living within it. 

Two of East London's most sought after grammar schools sit inside one borough, and both use the same exam. Here is a clear, complete guide to the Redbridge 11 plus, covering every date, deadline and detail you need for 2027 entry. 

What is the Redbridge 11+ and which schools use it

The Redbridge 11+ is a selection test used by two grammar schools within the London Borough of Redbridge, helping decide which children are offered a Year 7 place at each school.

• Ilford County High School, a selective boys' grammar school in Barkingside

• Woodford County High School, a selective girls' grammar school in Woodford Green

Both schools share the same test, the same registration process, and the same common catchment area, which makes understanding the system once genuinely useful for any family considering either school.

Redbridge 11+ exam date and key dates for 2027 entry

The test is sat in September of Year 6, considerably earlier in the school year than some other 11+ systems. For 2027 entry, children born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016 will sit the exam.

How to complete Redbridge 11 plus registration

Registering for the Redbridge 11+ is a distinct, separate step from the secondary school common application form that comes later in the year, and missing this earlier window means a child cannot sit the test at all.

1. Attend an open evening if possible

Both schools hold open evenings in late April, giving families a genuine feel for each school before committing to registration.

2. Register online during the window

Redbridge 11 plus registration is completed through the Redbridge council website, open from 1st May to 15th June 2026 for 2027 entry. This single registration covers the test itself, not a specific school place.

3. Sit the exam on the set date

Your child sits both papers on 18th September 2026, with results following in mid-October.

4. Complete the common application form separately

Once results arrive, eligible families list their preferred school on the secondary school common application form, due by 31st October 2026.

What's in the Redbridge 11+ exam

The Redbridge 11+ consists of two multiple-choice papers, supplied by GL Assessment, both sat on the same day with a short break in between. Each paper takes roughly 50 minutes to an hour.

Paper 1: English and Verbal Reasoning

• Reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar

• Vocabulary based questions

• Verbal reasoning using letters, words and numbers

Paper 2: Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning

• Key Stage 2 maths, covering number, geometry, measurement and statistics

• Non-verbal reasoning using shapes, diagrams and pictures

• Both papers are entirely multiple choice

It is worth knowing that verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not taught as part of the national curriculum, so most children encounter this style of question for the first time specifically through 11+ preparation, not through ordinary school lessons.

How the Redbridge 11+ is scored and the pass mark

Answer sheets are marked using Optical Mark Recognition technology, then converted into an age-standardised score, which adjusts results so that younger children within the year group are not disadvantaged compared with older classmates.

The pass mark is 104. Any child reaching an age-standardised score of 104 or above becomes eligible for a place at either Redbridge grammar school. Reaching this score does not guarantee a place outright, since both schools apply their own further admissions criteria once eligibility is confirmed.

Results are sent to parents in mid-October, giving families a few weeks to review outcomes before the common application form deadline at the end of that same month.

The Redbridge 11 plus catchment area explained

Ilford County High School and Woodford County High School share a common catchment area, which plays a significant role once a child has passed the 104 mark, since each school has only 180 available places.

The catchment area broadly covers Redbridge and parts of Waltham Forest. This includes Ilford, Woodford, Wanstead, Barkingside and the Chigwell side of the borough, alongside Walthamstow, Leyton, Leytonstone and Chingford. Children living within this area are given priority for places over those living outside it, once looked after children and pupil premium eligible pupils within the catchment have been placed first. 

In practice, both schools are heavily oversubscribed, and in recent years very few, if any, places have gone to families living entirely outside the catchment area, even where a child's score comfortably clears the pass mark. Families should always check the current admissions booklet for each school directly, since catchment boundaries and criteria are reviewed periodically.

How to apply for a place after the Redbridge 11+ test

Passing the exam is only the first stage. Families still need to formally apply for a place through the standard secondary school admissions process.

1. Once results arrive in mid-October, check whether your child has met the qualifying standard for your target school.

2. List the school on your secondary school common application form, submitted to your home local authority by 31st October 2026.

3. Review each school's specific admissions policy carefully before listing it, since criteria can vary in detail even between the two Redbridge grammar schools.

4. Wait for National Offer Day, 1st March 2027, when every family finds out which secondary school place has been allocated.

If a preferred school is not offered, families still receive an alternative local school place, along with information on how to appeal the decision, should that route be appropriate.

How to prepare your child for the Redbridge 11+

With registration, an unfamiliar reasoning format, and a September exam date, preparation genuinely benefits from starting well before Year 6 begins.

1. Start with verbal and non-verbal reasoning specifically

Since neither is covered in ordinary school lessons, these question types often need the most dedicated, focused practice of anything on the paper.

2. Practise under real timed conditions

Working through 11+ past papers and sitting 11 plus mocks builds the pace and composure needed for two back to back papers on exam day itself.

3. Read widely to build the English side of the paper

Comprehension, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary all improve steadily through regular, varied reading, well before formal exam preparation ramps up.

4. Get structured, experienced support

A tutor familiar with GL Assessment style papers helps target preparation far more effectively than generic revision. Our 11 plus tuition is delivered online across the UK, alongside our Birmingham based sessions, so families outside our local area can access the same structured, experienced support.

Our 11 plus intensive summer course is a genuinely useful option for families with a September exam date, since it delivers a concentrated push over the summer holidays, right before registration and the test itself. 

Our free 11+ practice papers are a helpful starting point for families beginning preparation, and if your family is nearby, our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham would love to support your child right through to results day. 

Final thoughts

The Redbridge 11 plus follows a clear, well-defined process, but with a genuinely short registration window and an exam date earlier in the year than many families expect. Understanding the key dates, the exam format, the pass mark and the catchment area well ahead of time takes a lot of the uncertainty out of the process.

Whether your family lives inside the catchment area or is exploring options from further afield, thorough, well-timed preparation gives your child the strongest possible chance of a place at one of these two well regarded schools.