Schools in Wirral

Primary schools: 'Every address in Wirral falls within the catchment area of one primary school' — though not necessarily the nearest one. (source)

Most schools use the local authority's default scheme rather than a school-specific catchment map — see each school's page for its own designated/catchment area where one is published.

Wirral has THREE different entrance tests depending on the school: 1. The Wirral Admissions Test — shared by the four non-Catholic grammar schools (Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Wirral Grammar School for Girls). Two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day, covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. From 2027 entry the papers are supplied by Quest Assessments (previously GL Assessment). One sitting covers all four schools; meeting the standard does not guarantee a place. 2. St Anselm's College (boys, Catholic) — its own entrance test of three one-hour papers produced by the school: verbal reasoning, mathematics, and English (reading comprehension plus a writing task). No fixed pass mark — places are offered in rank order of total score. 3. Upton Hall School FCJ (girls, Catholic) — its own entrance exam of two 50-minute GL Assessment multiple-choice papers: English (Key Stage 2 curriculum — reading comprehension, spelling, grammar, punctuation) and verbal reasoning. The Wirral Admissions Test and the two Catholic schools' tests fall on different dates in September, so a child can attempt all three routes if registered separately for each (the Wirral Admissions Test via the council; the Catholic schools direct).

Families living outside Wirral can apply to Wirral grammar schools and sit the entrance tests. Wirral has TWO separate testing routes: 1. The Wirral Admissions Test — shared by the four non-Catholic grammar schools (Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Wirral Grammar School for Girls). One sitting covers all four. Registration is made to Wirral Local Authority (online registration historically opens 1 May and closes at 12 noon on 1 June of Year 5, with the test the following mid-September in Year 6). Late registration is only accepted for children who moved to Wirral after the closing date. 2. The two Catholic grammar schools — St Anselm's College (boys) and Upton Hall School FCJ (girls) — are separate: each runs its own entrance exam on its own date with its own registration deadline, direct with the school. Applying for a place: families in England but outside Wirral apply through their own home LA's Common Application Form by 31 October, listing the Wirral school(s); the preference is forwarded to Wirral. Families outside England use Wirral's own application form. Meeting the test standard does not guarantee a place — oversubscribed schools apply their individual oversubscription criteria, and the two Catholic schools prioritise baptised Roman Catholic children.