The east London and south-west Essex corridor — running through Wanstead, Woodford, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell — has one of the strongest 11+ traditions anywhere in England. Families here are preparing for both selective grammar schools and competitive independent day schools, often simultaneously. The area has produced consistently high 11+ pass rates for decades, in part because the culture of preparation is deeply embedded — and competition for grammar places is fierce. This guide explains the schools, the exams, the timeline, and what to look for in a tutor.
Grammar schools and independent schools: two overlapping markets
East London and south-west Essex is unusual in having both strong grammar schools and respected independent schools within reach. Many families prepare for both simultaneously, since the skill sets overlap significantly.
Grammar schools in this area include Ilford County High School (boys), Woodford County High School (girls), Valentines High School (Redbridge) and, a little further out, the Essex grammar schools including King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford and Chelmsford County High School for Girls. These schools use either GL Assessment or CEM test formats, depending on the borough or county.
Independent schools in the area include Forest School in Snaresbrook, Chigwell School in Essex, and Bancroft's School in Woodford Green. These schools set their own entrance papers, which are generally more demanding in English and Maths than the grammar school reasoning tests.
Key schools in detail
- Ilford County High School (ICHS) — one of the most competitive grammar schools in London. Entry is via the Redbridge grammar school test, which uses GL Assessment papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and Mathematics. Competition is exceptionally intense: the school receives thousands of applications for around 150 places, and the effective pass mark is in the high 90s out of 100.
- Woodford County High School (WCHS) — a highly regarded selective girls' school in Woodford Green. Also uses the Redbridge grammar school test. Like ICHS, competition is severe and thorough preparation is necessary for all but the very strongest candidates.
- Forest School, Snaresbrook — an independent co-educational school with a distinctive campus on the edge of Epping Forest. Forest sets its own 11+ in English and Maths, with an interview for shortlisted candidates. The school has a strong all-round culture — sport, drama and music alongside academics — and is a popular choice for families who want a well-rounded education.
- Chigwell School — an independent school in Chigwell, Essex, with boarding options. Chigwell sets its own entrance exam and is known for a warm community feel and strong pastoral care. It attracts families from across the east London and Essex area.
- Bancroft's School, Woodford Green — one of the strongest academic independent schools in this area. Bancroft's 11+ is competitive and tests English and Maths with a high standard. The school has an excellent record of progression to top universities and is often compared to the most selective grammar schools in terms of academic rigour.
- King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford — one of the country's highest-performing grammar schools, drawing from a wide Essex catchment. Entry is via the Essex grammar school test, a different paper from the Redbridge test. KEGS is consistently ranked among the very best state schools in England.
GL Assessment vs CEM: understanding the formats
Families in this area will often encounter both GL Assessment and CEM test formats, depending on which grammar schools they are targeting. Understanding the difference matters for preparation.
GL Assessment (used for Redbridge grammar schools including ICHS and WCHS) uses separate papers for verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and Mathematics. The papers are more predictable in format — the types of question are well established, and practice materials closely resemble the real papers. This makes structured preparation via practice papers particularly effective.
CEM (used for Essex grammar schools) blends skills across longer papers and includes a wider vocabulary component. CEM papers are less predictable, designed to be harder to "coach" than GL Assessment. This doesn't mean preparation is less valuable — it means preparation should focus more on building genuine reading comprehension, numerical fluency and vocabulary than on drilling specific question types.
Children targeting both Redbridge (GL) and Essex (CEM) schools need a tutor who understands both formats and can prepare them accordingly. This is common in this area and experienced local tutors will be familiar with both.
The competitive reality
It is worth being direct about the level of competition for the Redbridge grammar schools. ICHS and WCHS consistently receive more than 2,000 applications for around 150 places each. The effective score needed to secure a place leaves very little room for error, and most children who gain entry have been preparing systematically for 12–18 months.
This does not mean every child needs to begin in Year 4. Strong mathematical and verbal ability can compensate for a later start. But it does mean that parents should be realistic about where their child is starting from and choose a target mix — grammar school, independent school or both — that matches that starting point honestly.
A good tutor will assess your child's current level in the first session or two and give you an honest view of which schools are realistic targets. Families who receive this kind of honest guidance early save themselves — and their children — considerable stress later.
When to start preparation
For the Redbridge grammar schools, most families begin structured preparation in Year 4 and intensify in Year 5. The September exam date (most grammar school 11+ exams in this area are held in September of Year 6) is earlier than the January exams for independent schools, which means that the critical preparation period is roughly the summer term of Year 5 and the summer holiday before Year 6.
For Forest School, Chigwell and Bancroft's, preparation timelines are similar to other independent schools — typically starting in Year 4 or 5 with exams in January of Year 6.
What to look for in a tutor for this area
- Both GL and CEM experience — if you are targeting schools across Redbridge and Essex, your tutor needs to be fluent in both formats.
- Familiarity with the Redbridge test specifically — the ICHS and WCHS entry process has its own rhythm and the papers have a consistent style. A tutor who has prepared many children for this specific test is more valuable than one with general 11+ experience.
- Honest assessment — in a market as competitive as Redbridge, the tutors who add most value are those who tell you early where your child stands and what needs to improve.
- Independent school knowledge — if you are also targeting Forest School or Bancroft's, make sure your tutor has specific knowledge of their papers, not just the grammar school tests.
Finding tutors in East London and Essex
Browse tutors available in east London and the south-west Essex area on our East London tutors page. For a fully personalised search — specifying your exam type, target schools and location — use the parent portal.