Ilford County High School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions: The Complete Parent Guide (2026 Entry)

Choosing the right secondary school is one of those pivotal moments in your child’s education, and Ilford County High School 11 plus represents a big opportunity for academically able boys in Redbridge and North East London. As a selective grammar school with a long history and strong academic results, Ilford County High School has a clear set of expectations for Year 7 entry and a competitive process to match.

With competitive entry and limited places, Ilford County High School can feel overwhelming at first. But with a clear plan, it’s absolutely achievable.

This guide walks you through Ilford County High School admissions step by step in friendly, practical language. Where the school and local authority publish details, you’ll find confirmed information. Where details are typically followed but not officially published, you’ll see terms such as “Typically…” or “Based on recent years…”. This ensures you can plan with confidence rather than guesswork.

You’ll learn about registration, how the Redbridge 11 plus test works (the exam used for grammar school entry in Redbridge), application timings, how places are offered, and smart ways to prepare your child academically and emotionally. Understanding what to expect reduces stress — not just on exam day, but in the weeks and months beforehand.

By the end of this guide, you will have a clear timeline, know which skills to prioritise, and have realistic expectations about how the process works for September 2026 entry.

Ilford County High School Overview at a Glance

How the Ilford County High School 11+ Entry Process Works

The pathway to Year 7 entry at Ilford County High School is built around the Redbridge 11 plus test, which is administered by Redbridge Council and used by both Ilford County High School and Woodford County High School for Girls. redbridge.gov.uk

The first key step is registration. Parents must register their child for the Redbridge 11 plus test while their child is in Year 5, typically between May and mid-June of the year before entry. In practice, the deadline tends to be around 15 June. redbridge.gov.uk

Registration is separate from your formal Common Application Form (CAF) to apply for secondary places — you must do both if you want your child considered for a grammar school place. The CAF is submitted to Redbridge Council by the 31 October deadline, listing Ilford County High School as one of your preferences. redbridge.gov.uk

The Redbridge 11 plus exam itself is taken in September of Year 6, usually in the first weeks of the autumn term. It consists of two multiple-choice papers covering English and Verbal Reasoning together, and Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning together. All sections are designed to assess reasoning skills, comprehension, numeracy and problem-solving. redbridge.gov.uk+1

After the test, results are standardised to account for age differences and rankings are produced. Offers of places are then determined by a combination of test performance, oversubscription criteria, and your preferences on the CAF. Offers are communicated by Redbridge Council on National Offer Day in March. redbridge.gov.uk

Key Dates for Ilford County High School Admissions (2026 Entry)

Scholarships, Bursaries and Fees at Ilford County High School

Ilford County High School is a state funded grammar school, so there are no tuition fees and no traditional independent school scholarship or bursary schemes published as part of the admissions process. redbridge.gov.uk

Because there are no fees, the financial picture is simpler than at fee-charging schools. Typical expenses such as uniform, lunches, school trips, and optional music lessons will be the responsibility of families, but none of these costs are officially published by the school.

What to Expect from the Interview at Ilford County High School

For 11 plus entry to Ilford County High School, formal interviews are not part of the published process for most candidates. Selection is driven by performance on the Redbridge 11 plus examination and oversubscription criteria such as looked-after status, pupil premium eligibility, and proximity. redbridge.gov.uk

If your child is invited to an interview as part of a specific outreach or additional assessment day, always contact the school directly for confirmed guidance. In settings where interviews do occur, they tend to focus on confidence in communication, interests, and approach to problem-solving — rather than scripted answers.

Preparing for the Ilford County High School 11 Plus Assessments

Preparation for the Redbridge 11 plus is most effective when it is steady and structured. Start early in Year 4 with activities that build reading fluency, vocabulary, numeracy and reasoning confidence. These fundamentals make the jump to more challenging material easier.

In Year 5, begin to introduce specific practice in English comprehension, verbal reasoning, maths problems and non-verbal reasoning. Familiarisation with the GL Assessment style questions is particularly useful because that provider writes the Redbridge exam. redbridge.gov.uk

By Year 6, refine these skills with timed practice papers and realistic mock tests. This helps with time management and exam stamina, which are key to reducing anxiety on the day. Focus on areas where your child is less confident, and ensure practice covers all question types mentioned in the exam format.

As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11+ diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor (FYT) focused on Ilford County High School. It benchmarks your child’s current level and gives you a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.

Other Schools to Consider Near Ilford County High School

Families applying to Ilford County High School might also consider Woodford County High School For Girls, the other selective grammar school in Redbridge with a similar admissions process, and high-performing comprehensive schools in neighbouring boroughs for additional options. Wikipedia