Upton Hall School FCJ vs West Kirby Grammar School
Both are grammar schools in Wirral, 3.5 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Upton Hall School FCJ | West Kirby Grammar School | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Girls | Girls |
| Pupils on roll | 1,011 | 1,186 |
| Free school meals | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| Ofsted rating | Outstanding | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2024/25 | 65.6 | 71.3 |
| A-level average points — 2024/25 | 37.91 | 39.32 |
| 11+ test board | Quest Assessments (switched from GL Assessment; from September 2026 test / 2027 entry onwards) | Quest Assessments (switched from GL Assessment; from September 2026 test / 2027 entry onwards) |
| Admission system | pass/fail then criteria order | pass/fail then criteria order |
| Places offered — 202627 | 156 | 172 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 1.06 | 0.95 |
Qualifying scores
Upton Hall School FCJ
No fixed guaranteed pass mark. Upton Hall School FCJ sets its required standard annually on its own 2-paper GL exam (English + VR); recent unofficial reports put the mark around 236 standardised — verify with the school for the current year.
West Kirby Grammar School
236 (2026 entry)
Wirral Admissions Test standard: a combined standardised score of 236 or above across the two papers has been the reported qualifying level in recent years (set by the schools; verify current year with the school). Meeting the standard does not guarantee a place — oversubscription criteria apply.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Upton Hall School FCJ
- Looked after, previously looked after, or adopted from state care
- Baptised Roman Catholic girls eligible for Free School Meals at time of application
- Baptised Roman Catholic girls
- Children of school staff employed ≥2 years
Source: school admissions policy.
West Kirby Grammar School
- Looked after child or previously looked after child
- Valid medical reason supported by a doctor's letter
- Up to 18 places: Free School Meals children achieving the qualifying score, ranked by distance from school
- Students with a sibling at the school at time of application
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Both schools admit girls, so the decision usually comes down to the admission criteria above and how far each one reaches. The figures on this page are the published ones — they describe intakes and results, not what either school would be like for your child. The right choice depends on your family's own priorities and circumstances.
Other Wirral comparisons
- Calday Grange Grammar School vs St Anselm's College
- Calday Grange Grammar School vs Upton Hall School FCJ
- Calday Grange Grammar School vs West Kirby Grammar School
- Calday Grange Grammar School vs Wirral Grammar School for Boys
- Calday Grange Grammar School vs Wirral Grammar School for Girls
- St Anselm's College vs Upton Hall School FCJ
- St Anselm's College vs West Kirby Grammar School
- St Anselm's College vs Wirral Grammar School for Boys
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