Upton Hall School FCJ 11 Plus (11+) Exam Guide

About Upton Hall School FCJ

Upton Hall School FCJ is a Catholic girls’ grammar school in Upton, Wirral, for ages 11 to 18, in the Diocese of Shrewsbury.

It sets its own entrance examination and is not part of the Wirral grammar schools’ shared test, so registering for the consortium test does not enter your daughter here, and there is no catchment area: applications are welcome from outside Wirral.

Key information for 2027 entry to Upton Hall School FCJ at 11 Plus (11+)

• School type: Catholic girls’ grammar school, ages 11 to 18 (the sixth form also admits boys)
• Published admission number: 156 places in Year 7
• Entrance exam: the school’s own, sat in one morning with a break between papers
• Papers: verbal reasoning (50 minutes) and English (45 minutes): comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar
• No maths paper, no non-verbal reasoning and no writing task
• Qualifying standard: minimum standards apply in each paper separately, not just the total. No numeric mark is published
• Registration closed Friday 10 July 2026, with baptism certificates and SEN evidence due the same day
• Test date: Saturday 19 September 2026 (alternative sitting Wednesday 23 September 2026)
• Results: by 23 October 2026
• Contact details: uptonhallschool.co.uk, [email protected], 0151 677 7696

Admissions information for 2027 entry to Upton Hall School FCJ at 11 Plus (11+)

Of the girls who meet the required standard, Upton Hall’s 156 places are offered in a faith-led order: looked-after children first, then baptised Roman Catholic girls eligible for free school meals, then baptised Catholic girls generally, children of staff, and then non-baptised girls whose parents want a Catholic education, with free-school-meals eligibility prioritised inside that group too. Ties are broken by exam score, then by the shortest safe walking distance.

The detail that matters most for preparation: the qualifying standard applies to each paper separately. A very strong verbal reasoning score cannot carry a weak English paper, or the other way round, so the preparation has to hold both subjects up rather than leaning on a favourite.

Exam conditions mirror a formal external exam, and the school points parents to GL-style familiarisation booklets with separate answer sheets for practice. The waiting list runs only to 31 December 2026, and only for Year 7.

How can I register my child for the 11 Plus (11+) exams at Upton Hall School FCJ?

Registration for the September 2027 round has closed (Friday 10 July 2026, including the baptism certificate for Catholic applicants; the school does not accept it later). If your daughter is registered, the exam is still ahead.

1. She sits both papers in one morning on Saturday 19 September 2026, with a refreshment break between them. Sittings run through the day.
2. Wednesday 23 September 2026 is the alternative date for illness (with medical evidence), for SEN and disability arrangements, or if the Saturday is full.
3. Results arrive by 23 October 2026.
4. Apply through your local authority by Saturday 31 October 2026, naming Upton Hall. Offers follow on Monday 1 March 2027.

What is the 11 Plus (11+) entrance exam format for Upton Hall School FCJ?

The examination is two papers, sat in one morning with a break between:

• Verbal reasoning, 50 minutes.
• English, 45 minutes. Comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

There is no maths paper, no non-verbal reasoning and no writing task, which makes this a leaner exam than most 11+ formats. Scores are weighted for age and added, with minimum standards in each paper.

The school’s admissions policy doesn’t name an outside test provider, but the familiarisation material it points parents to is GL-style, with separate answer sheets, so multiple-choice practice with an answer sheet is the sensible way to prepare.

Upton Hall School FCJ 11 Plus (11+) top tips for your child

• Prepare both papers to the same level. Minimum standards apply to each separately, so a weak paper cannot be carried.
• Work spelling, punctuation and grammar deliberately: they are named parts of the English paper.
• Practise with separate answer sheets, matching the familiarisation material the school points to.
• Skip maths and non-verbal reasoning practice for this exam.
• If you’re outside Wirral, apply anyway. There is no catchment area.

How to prepare your child for the 11 Plus (11+) Upton Hall School FCJ exam

Preparation for Upton Hall is verbal reasoning plus close-focus English: comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar, practised to time with an answer sheet. A mid-September exam makes the summer of Year 6 the working window.

For Upton Hall School FCJ 11+ preparation, we recommend the following packs: