Sutton Grammar School for Boys: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School: Sutton Grammar School
• Location: Manor Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 4AS
• Type: Selective state grammar school for boys
• Age Range: 11-18 years (co-educational sixth form)
• Year 7 Places: 135 available annually
• Headmaster: Mr Ben Cloves
• Founded: 1899
• Ofsted Rating: Good
• Entrance Exam: Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) plus second stage exam

About Sutton Grammar School

Established in 1899, Sutton Grammar School has built a reputation as one of South London's premier selective state schools. Located in the heart of Sutton, this boys' grammar school offers exceptional academic standards whilst maintaining a strong community ethos that values both individual achievement and collective responsibility.

The school's comprehensive curriculum extends far beyond traditional academics, encompassing extensive sports programmes, performing arts, and leadership opportunities. With a co-educational sixth form, the school provides continuity of education through to A-levels, ensuring students benefit from sustained academic progression and pastoral support.

Sutton Grammar School's commitment to developing well-rounded young men is evident in its diverse extracurricular offerings, from debating societies to Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes. The school's location in Surrey provides excellent transport links whilst offering students access to both urban opportunities and green spaces.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Entry to Sutton Grammar School requires success in a two-stage assessment process, beginning with the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This comprehensive examination evaluates candidates across four key areas:

• Verbal Reasoning: Assessing comprehension, vocabulary, and logical thinking
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: Testing spatial awareness and pattern recognition
• Mathematics: Covering numerical reasoning and problem-solving skills
• English: Evaluating grammar, comprehension, and written expression

Students achieving the qualifying standard in the SET progress to the second stage examination, which is shared with other Sutton grammar schools. This additional assessment provides a more detailed evaluation of academic potential and ensures fair allocation of places across the borough's selective schools.

The assessment process includes age-weighted scoring to ensure fairness for younger candidates, alongside considerations for socioeconomic factors that may impact performance.

How to Apply

The application process for Sutton Grammar School follows a structured timeline with specific deadlines that families must observe carefully:

Key Dates for 2025 Entry:

• Registration Opens: May 1st
• Registration Deadline: August 2nd
• SET Examination Date: September 17th
• Results Released: Week of September 23rd
• Second Stage Exam: Date confirmed following SET results

Application Requirements:

• Complete registration via Sutton Council's online portal
• Provide proof of address and date of birth
• Submit application by the August deadline
• Attend SET examination at designated centre
• Participate in second stage assessment if qualified

Places are allocated based on combined examination performance, with additional consideration given to catchment area proximity and any special educational needs that require specific provision.

Preparing for the Sutton Grammar School for Boys 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Preparation for the Sutton Grammar School for Boys 11+ tends to go best when it starts early and stays steady, and most families who work with us begin between twelve and eighteen months out. Our tutors, who have prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, plan the work backwards from the school's own assessment format and registration deadline.

The tutors we match to 11+ preparation are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.