Key Facts
| School Type | Catholic girls' grammar school (Academy converter) |
|---|---|
| Location | Upton, Wirral, Merseyside |
| Age Range | 11-18 years |
| Pupils | Approximately 1,000 students |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding (2022) |
| Founded | 1849 by the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) |
| Entry Requirements | 11+ examination and Catholic faith preferred |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
Key Information Summary
- School Type: Catholic girls' grammar school (Academy converter)
- Location: Upton, Wirral, Merseyside
- Age Range: 11-18 years
- Pupils: Approximately 1,000 students
- Gender: Girls only
- Religious Character: Roman Catholic
- Ofsted Rating: Outstanding (2022)
- Founded: 1849 by the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ)
- Entry Requirements: 11+ examination and Catholic faith preferred
About Upton Hall School FCJ
Upton Hall School FCJ represents over 175 years of educational excellence in the heart of the Wirral. This Catholic girls' grammar school has been nurturing young women within the FCJ tradition since 1849, combining rigorous academic standards with the development of strong moral character and Catholic values.
The school's impressive track record speaks volumes about its commitment to excellence. With consecutive Outstanding Ofsted ratings in 2006, 2012, and most recently in 2022, Upton Hall has demonstrated sustained educational quality as a leading Catholic grammar school in the North West.
What sets Upton Hall apart is its unique blend of academic rigour and pastoral care rooted in FCJ spirituality. The school's mission centres on developing confident, compassionate young women who are prepared to make meaningful contributions to society. Students benefit from small class sizes, exceptional teaching, and a supportive environment that encourages both intellectual growth and personal development.
The school's location in Upton provides an attractive campus setting whilst maintaining excellent transport links across the Wirral and wider Merseyside area. This accessibility has helped establish Upton Hall as a sought-after destination for Catholic families seeking outstanding grammar school education for their daughters.
11+ tutors
Hannah
Master TutorI am a UK-qualified teacher with 15+ years across private and state schools in the UK and abroad, and hold a BSc from LSE and a PGCE with QTS. I teach English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, 11+ and Common Entrance preparation. My approach is personalised, confidence-building and rigorous.
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Sochima
Master TutorI'm a qualified teacher in a London classroom every day, with a BSc in Computer Science from Brunel and a PGCE with QTS. I teach Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science to A-Level, plus 11+ preparation, through project-based work that suits SEND learners well.
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Robert
Master TutorI am a qualified teacher with over twenty years' experience in the UK, Gulf and New Zealand, holding an MA in History and PGCE. I teach English, History, Geography and French from KS2 to A-Level and IB, preparing 11+/13+ candidates. My approach is student-led, focused and diagnostic.
Enquire about this tutorThe 11+ Assessment Process
Upton Hall School FCJ uses the GL Assessment 11+ examination to identify students who will thrive in their academically selective environment. The assessment is designed to evaluate a candidate's readiness for grammar school education whilst ensuring fairness through age-standardised scoring.
Assessment Components:
- Verbal Reasoning - testing vocabulary, comprehension, and logical thinking
- Non-Verbal Reasoning - assessing spatial awareness and pattern recognition
- English - evaluating reading comprehension, grammar, and written expression
- Mathematics - covering numerical skills, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning
The school operates a threshold system where the top 60% of age-standardised scores are considered to have met the 'required standard' for grammar school entry. From this pool of eligible candidates, 156 places are offered based on the school's oversubscription criteria.
Oversubscription Criteria Priority Order:
- Looked after children and previously looked after children
- Catholic girls eligible for free school meals who meet the required standard
- Other Catholic girls who meet the required standard
- Non-Catholic girls who meet the required standard (limited places)
How to Apply
The application process for 11+ entry requires careful attention to deadlines and specific requirements. Parents should note that registration and the local authority application are separate processes, both essential for securing a place.
Key Application Steps:
- Registration Opens: April (for September entry the following year)
- Registration Deadline: Mid-July
- Required Documents: Completed online registration form and baptismal certificate (for Catholic applicants)
- 11+ Examination Date: Mid-September
- Results Released: Early October
- LA Application Deadline: 31st October
Catholic families should ensure they upload their daughter's baptismal certificate during the registration process, as this documentation is essential for demonstrating faith commitment. The school strongly encourages attendance at their open evenings, typically held in June and September, where families can experience the school's ethos firsthand and ask specific questions about the admissions process.
Parents must remember that meeting the required standard in the 11+ examination does not guarantee a place, as the school may be oversubscribed. Successful candidates must also be named on the local authority's common application form by the October deadline to secure their offer.
Preparing for the Upton Hall School FCJ 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Families preparing for the Upton Hall School FCJ 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.
More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. 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.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Upton Hall School FCJ a grammar school?
- Upton Hall School FCJ is a catholic girls' grammar school (Academy converter) — a state school, so no tuition fees apply, with entry through the selective 11+ process.
- How should my child prepare for the Upton Hall School FCJ 11+?
- Start structured preparation 12–18 months before the assessment: secure core English and maths beyond curriculum pace, introduce verbal and non-verbal reasoning question types systematically (these are rarely taught at primary school), and build up to timed practice in the final months.
Enquire about 11+ preparation
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