Ilford County High School 11+ Guide

About Ilford County High School

Ilford County High School is a selective secondary school in Redbridge, London. For children to get into Ilford County High School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Ilford County High School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Barkingside, East London, Ilford County High School stands as a beacon of academic excellence for boys aged 11 to 18. As the sole selective grammar school for boys in the London Borough of Redbridge, ICHS has garnered a reputation for nurturing bright minds and fostering a culture of achievement. With a rich history spanning over a century, the school has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of its students while remaining steadfast in its commitment to providing an exceptional education.

At Ilford County High School, students are immersed in a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that encourages them to explore their passions, develop critical thinking skills, and cultivate a love for lifelong learning. The school's dedicated faculty goes above and beyond to ensure that each student receives the support and guidance necessary to reach their full potential. By fostering a culture of mutual respect, kindness, and open-mindedness, ICHS creates an atmosphere where students feel valued, empowered, and inspired to pursue their dreams.

The school's comprehensive curriculum is designed to challenge and engage students across a wide range of subjects. From the core disciplines of mathematics, science, and English to the diverse offerings of economics, computer science, and food preparation and nutrition, ICHS provides a well-rounded education that equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world. Moreover, the school's vibrant enrichment programme offers an array of extracurricular activities, spanning sports, creative arts, languages, and more, allowing students to explore their interests and develop their talents beyond the classroom.

As a member of the Leading Edge Partnership, Ilford County High School collaborates with schools across the United Kingdom, sharing best practices and innovative teaching methods to ensure that its students receive a cutting-edge education. This commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration demonstrates the school's unwavering dedication to providing an outstanding educational experience for every student who walks through its doors.

With its rich history, exceptional academic programme, and commitment to student success, Ilford County High School continues to set the standard for excellence in education. As a grammar school of choice for boys in East London, ICHS prepares its students to become confident, well-rounded individuals ready to make their mark on the world.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Ilford County High School together with their admissions contact details.

Ilford County High School is a boys only school. It is also a local authority maintained school, meaning the local authority oversee the funding, admissions, and overall performance of the school.

In total 1,184 pupils attend Ilford County High School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Rebecca Drysdale.

Ilford County High School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Ilford County High School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Redbridge 11+ Information

In order to get into Ilford County High School, children need to pass the Redbridge 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Redbridge 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Redbridge 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Verbal Reasoning
• Maths
• Non-Verbal Reasoning

The Redbridge 11 plus selection test is a crucial assessment for children seeking admission to Ilford County High School. This comprehensive examination comprises two distinct multiple-choice papers, each lasting for one hour.

The first paper focuses on English and verbal reasoning, evaluating the candidate's language proficiency, comprehension skills, and ability to analyze and interpret written information. The second paper assesses the child's aptitude in maths and non-verbal reasoning, testing their numerical skills, logical thinking, and capacity to identify patterns and solve problems.

Success in the Redbridge 11 plus selection test is essential for securing a place at Ilford County High School, as it serves as a key criterion in the admissions process. Thorough preparation and practice are highly recommended to ensure that children are well-equipped to tackle the challenges posed by this rigorous examination.

Other Schools using Redbridge 11+

As well as Ilford County High School, several other schools also use Redbridge 11+. These are:

• Woodford County High School

Redbridge 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Ilford County High School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Redbridge 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Redbridge 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Ilford County High School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Redbridge 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Redbridge 11+ tests (to get into Ilford County High School) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Ilford County High School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Ilford County High School was last inspected by Ofsted on 21/09/2021 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 12/12/2021, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

Ilford County High School was inspected by Ofsted on 21 September 2021 and received an overall rating of Good. The school was judged to be Good in all areas, including Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, and Sixth form provision.

The inspection report highlights the consistent quality of education provided by the school across all areas. It also emphasizes the positive behaviour and attitudes of the students, as well as the school's strong focus on personal development.

The report commends the effective leadership and management of the school, which has contributed to the overall success of Ilford County High School. Additionally, the Sixth form provision was also rated as Good, indicating that the school provides a high-quality education for students at all levels.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Ilford County High School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Ilford County High School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Redbridge 11+ Ensure you double-check with Ilford County High School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.