2026 11 Plus Exam for Watford Grammar School for Girls

How does my daughter apply for a 2026 11+ academic place at Watford Grammar School for Girls?

Register for the SW Herts Academic Ability Test (Hertfordshire 11+ exam)

If your child was born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016, they will need to register to take the Academic Ability Test on 5th September 2026 to be eligible to apply for an academic place for September 2027.

Online registration for the 2026 exam will open on Wednesday 1st April 2026 and close on Friday 5th June 2026.

The 2026 SW Herts 11+ results will be announced at around noon on Thursday 15th October 2026.

Complete Your Daughter’s Common Application Form (CAF)

When you receive your daughter’s results on 15th October 2026, you will need to decide whether to apply for an academic place at Watford Grammar School for Girls. You can use the historical lowest scores below as a guide, however, as scores change each year, even if your daughter scores higher than the previous year’s lowest admitted scores, it does not automatically mean that they will be offered a place.

To apply for an 11+ place at Watford Grammar School for Girls, you will need to submit a Common Application Form to your local authority (the authority to whom you pay council tax), listing each school that you are applying for, including Watford Grammar School for Girls in order of preference. The number of schools you can list will vary by authority (for example, if you live in Hertfordshire, you can name up to 4 schools).

To apply for a place for September 2027, the CAF will be available online from your local authority in September 2026 and will need to be submitted by 31st October 2026.

In addition to completing a Common Application Form, you will need to submit a Supplementary Information Form to Watford Grammar School for Girls. If applying for a place for September 2027 admission, you will find the SIF from September 2026 on the admissions page of Watford Grammar School for Girls.

If you do not complete the SIF, there may be a delay in processing the application; this is because Watford Grammar School for Girls will not know under which criteria you intend to apply and they will have no way of knowing if your child has taken the academic (or music) tests. Your application will therefore only be processed under their distance criterion.

Please ensure that you refer to the Watford Grammar School for Girls admissions pages for the latest information. It is important that you carefully read their admissions policy and FAQs before applying.

How many 11+ (academic) places are available at Watford Grammar School for Girls and what score is required in the Hertfordshire 11 Plus?

Watford Grammar School for Girls admits 210 students into Year 7 each year, of which 52 places (up to 25% of the total) are allocated based on academic ability, as measured by a student's score in the Hertfordshire 11 Plus (Academic Ability Test). To ensure that younger students are not disadvantaged (i.e. those born later in the school year), the scores are age-standardised. There is no pass mark for the Hertfordshire 11 Plus and instead, students are ranked in order based on their score.

You will not know until Allocation Day (around 1st March), whether your daughter has been successful in securing an academic space at Watford Grammar School for Girls, however, as a helpful guide for when you apply for a place, the school provides historical data on the minimum scores that students were admitted with in previous years; you can find the most recent scores below. Please bear in mind that even if your daughter scores higher than the previous year’s lowest admitted scores, it does not automatically mean that she will be offered a place at Watford Grammar School for Girls. Ensure that your daughter is fully prepared, with our meticulously planned Hertfordshire 11 Plus tuition courses.

	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
Lowest academic score allocated a place at Watford Grammar School for Girls in the Watford area	200	204	200	202	202
Lowest academic score allocated at Watford Grammar School for Girls in the 'rest of admission area'	203	217	209	212	209

Feedback from parents

He did very well in both the Bucks (140) and the Herts (237) Tests. Many thanks to you and your fantastic tutors for all the support and feedback. He attended your year 5 course, summer course and 2 mock tests and really improved over the last year. Things that were particularly helpful about your course: strong focus on vocabulary starting before the course had even begun, structured homework, rewarding them for their effort with the points and prizes system, regular testing so we could understand where our child’s weaknesses were and lots of question practice for technique. We look forward to seeing you again with our younger son.
Year 6 parent, Chalfont St Giles (2019)
He got a fantastic score of 162 for Buckinghamshire and 224 for SW Herts 🥳. Thanks to your team and tutoring. Please pass on our thanks to Sarah.
Year 5 parent, Amersham (2024)
Our son has scored 249 in SW Herts - once again, many thanks to you.
Year 5 parent, Slough (2024)

Stay ahead with exclusive tips on the Hertfordshire 11+ exam for Watford Grammar School for Girls

We’re dedicated to your daughter's success

With a proven track record in preparing pupils for the 11 Plus, Marie Redmond MEd and her team of exceptional, fully qualified and experienced primary teachers (not 'tutors') provide specialist tuition focused on your daughter's individual learning needs.

Our unique 11 Plus tuition courses in Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Bushey, Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Reading (Winnersh, Wokingham) and Stoke Poges are structured to give children the confidence they need to sit and pass exams in a friendly, stress-free environment.

FAQs about the Hertfordshire 11 Plus

What does the Hertfordshire 11 Plus include?

The South West Herts Consortium Academic Ability Test (Hertfordshire 11+ exam), consists of two papers, taken on the same day, each approximately 50 minutes in duration and testing two areas – maths and verbal reasoning.
The first paper tests mathematical skills and is based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum.
The second paper tests verbal reasoning.
All questions on both papers are multiple choice and pupils indicate their answers on a separate answer sheet.

What does the Hertfordshire 11 Plus look like?

Generic GL familiarisation papers for maths and verbal reasoning can be found here. These do not reflect the exact specification of the South West Herts Schools Consortium exam but are useful tools to familiarise your child with the style of the test booklet and answer sheets. They do not reflect the timings, number and type of questions that will appear in the Hertfordshire 11+ (SW Herts Academic Ability Test).

Does my child have to sit the Hertfordshire 11+ (SW Herts Academic Ability Test) to apply to attend a South West Herts Consortium School?

Your child will only need to sit the Academic Ability Test if they are applying for an academic place. If you are applying under other criterion only (such as sibling or distance criterion), they do not have to sit the academic test.

When can I apply for a South West Hertfordshire Consortium place for my child?

If you are targeting an academic place, once you have received the results of your child’s Academic Ability Test, you can apply for the school(s). You application needs to be submitted by the end of October to apply for a Year 7 place for the following September. You will need to complete a Common Application Form and also apply directly to the school.

1) Common Application Form (CAF)

If you want your child to be considered for entry to a South West Herts Consortium School in September 2027, you will be required to name the relevant school or schools on the Common Application Form (CAF).

Common Application Forms will open at the beginning of September 2026 and you will have until the end of 31st October 2026 to submit it to your Local Authority.

School places for September 2027 will be confirmed on 1st March 2027.

If you live within Hertfordshire, you can name up to 4 schools on your CAF; however some areas differ and may allow you to select more schools (please check with your local authority). Schools must be listed in your preferred order.
You will need to submit the CAF to the Local Authority in which you reside. If you live outside Hertfordshire, you must apply through your own Local Authority – even if your child currently attends a Hertfordshire County Council primary school.

2) Supplementary Information Form (SIF)

In addition to completing a Common Application Form, you will need to submit a Supplementary Information Form to each school to which you are applying*. This needs to be submitted by the end of October to apply for a Year 7 place for the following September.

If you do not complete the SIF, there may be a delay in processing the application; this is because the school(s) will not know under which criteria you intend to apply and they will have no way of knowing if your child has taken the academic (or music) tests. Your application will therefore only be processed under their distance criterion.
Please ensure that you refer to each of the school’s admissions pages for the latest information. It is important that you carefully read their admissions policy and FAQs before applying. You can find a link to the admissions pages on our Parmiter’s School, Queens’ School, Rickmansworth School, St Clement Danes School, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Watford Grammar School for Girls pages.

*For Queens’ School, the school states that a SIF is only completed for students that are applying using rule 2 (medical) or rule 4 (children of staff), however, please always refer to the school admissions pages for the latest information.

Show all FAQs

What is tested in the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus?

Maths

Basic skills (addition, multiplication, division and subtraction)
Mental maths development
Problem solving techniques
Extracting information from graphs and tables
Averages
Foundation algebra concepts
Fractions, decimals and percentages
Ratio and proportion
Area and volume
2d and 3d shapes

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning (the production of words, relationships between words, letters and numbers)

The Marie Redmond Tuition® Difference

Our Unique Approach

We’re not a franchise – we offer a bespoke, highly personal service.
Entire lessons taught by fully qualified and highly experienced primary school teachers – teaching is never delegated to assistants.
Small class sizes with individual attention (average 8 students, max 10).
Meticulously planned 11 Plus Courses by Marie Redmond MEd, continually improved for the best results.
Exclusive access to Marie Redmond’s Superbrain® books, available only to students enrolled on our courses.
Homework after every class, with topics reviewed in the next session to reinforce learning.
Superbrain® Skills Videos – new videos released regularly, written and narrated by Marie, revisiting key techniques from your child’s last lesson.

Comprehensive Courses in Bushey

32 weeks for Year 4 (64 hours), with a September start to build a strong foundation and prepare students for moving confidently into Year 5.
33 weeks for Year 5 (74.25 hours), also starting in September to provide thorough preparation for 11 Plus success.
Flexible enrolment – students are welcome to join at any time during the year, subject to availability.

Personalised Support

An initial assessment to understand your child’s current level of ability.
Two assessments per term, with a personalised Tuition Plan every term that outlines specific targets.
Four written student reports each year to keep parents informed of progress.
Full parental support, including direct access to Marie to discuss your child’s progress

Flexibility

Never miss a lesson with our fully interactive live virtual sessions, available if your child can’t attend their regular classroom slot.
Straightforward monthly payment plans, with options to pay by Direct Debit, credit card, or using Childcare Vouchers, Tax-Free Childcare, or the Childcare Grant Payment Service (CGPS).

Additional Support Available

Book club and creative thinking course.
Intensive 11+ Easter Course and 11+ Summer Courses to boost learning.
Realistic 11+ mock exams to help prepare for success.

Marie Redmond Tuition 'Bag of Knowledge®'

At the start of the term-time course, your child will receive a Bag of Knowledge® containing their class and homework books. This includes selected Marie Redmond’s Superbrain® resources, in addition to books that are carefully curated each year from a wide range of reputable publishers (such as CGP, Bond, Schofield & Sims and Collins). As the course progresses, students are given additional books at the appropriate stages to support their learning throughout the year.

All our students receive their books in a Marie Redmond Tuition® rucksack, along with an electronic thesaurus, Superbrain® vocabulary flashcards, a dry erase whiteboard, notebooks for spellings, vocabulary, maths and general notes, a pencil case with essential stationery, and a high-quality stainless steel insulated water bottle to help reduce exposure to microplastics.

The cost of your child’s Bag of Knowledge® is covered within the monthly course fees.

11+ Mock Exams With Marie Redmond 11+ Intelligent Video Learning®

Get exam ready with Marie Redmond Tuition® 11 Plus Mock Exams. Students who sat our mock exams in 2023 said they were very similar to the actual test, which made them feel prepared and confident when sitting the exam.

Marie Redmond's Superbrain® 11+ Resources

Data-led approach with SuccessTrack® by Marie Redmond

In addition to weekly spelling tests, our term-time students undergo formal assessments twice per term—at half-term and at the end of the term—covering all topic areas. These assessments provide a valuable measure of progress over time, ensuring that we can track genuine improvements in attainment without being overly influenced by short-term fluctuations. Testing more frequently risks skewing results due to the occasional ‘off week,’ whereas our structured approach strikes the perfect balance between regular monitoring and meaningful insight.

Based on the initial assessment and your child's specific answers, we create a personalised tuition plan that sets individual targets for each subject area that is relevant to them, such as English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Every lesson is designed to develop these areas. We continuously monitor progress, allowing us to refine tuition plans to ensure they suit your child's needs and challenges.

Parents are always welcome to contact us at any stage during their child's 11+ course for feedback on their development. They can speak with their child's teacher after lessons or contact Marie directly by phone or email for further insight. As a smaller provider, we take pride in our ability to offer tailored guidance and maintain a close, supportive relationship with families.

The Marie Redmond Tuition® Book Club

Sharing our enjoyment of books is a fantastic way to encourage reading and therefore develop vocabulary and comprehension at home. The Marie Redmond Tuition® Book Club is an excellent platform for discussions about books, opportunities for creativity and promoting reading for pleasure. Discover our book of the month.

The Marie Redmond Tuition® Creative Thinking Course

The virtual Creative Thinking Course is particularly useful for boys preparing for the latest format of the Reading School 11+ exam but is open to all our term-time students.

Students attend one creative thinking lesson per week on Zoom, which lasts for 45 minutes. Students are taught to use innovation and problem solving. They will become adept at approaching situations in different ways, using diverse strategies. Every lesson includes a fun thinking skills warm-up activity followed by the main focus of the lesson. Strategies like group discussions, questioning, mind mapping, and thinking 'outside the box' are employed to encourage creative learning approaches. Students learn various writing techniques and how to draft, review, and edit their work.

For further information, including fees, term dates and FAQ's, please visit our Creative Thinking Course page.

Our courses are led by qualified primary teachers and prepare pupils for all aspects of the Hertfordshire 11 Plus

Discover our 11 Plus courses

Cookie	Duration	Description
`al_cookie_consent`	1 year	Stores your cookie consent preferences for this website.
`wordpress_*`	Session	WordPress sets this cookie when you log in, to authenticate your session.
`wp-settings-*`	1 year	WordPress uses this cookie to customise your view of the admin interface.
`wordpress_logged_in_*`	Session	WordPress sets this cookie to indicate when you're logged in.
`__cf_bm`	1 hour	This cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management.
`_cfuvid`	Session	Cloudflare sets this cookie to track users across sessions to optimize user experience by maintaining session consistency and providing personalized services
`_wpfuuid`	1 year 1 month 4 days	This cookie is used by the WPForms WordPress plugin. The cookie is used to allows the paid version of the plugin to connect entries by the same user and is used for some additional features like the Form Abandonment addon.
`m`	1 year 1 month 4 days	Stripe sets this cookie for fraud prevention purposes. It identifies the device used to access the website, allowing the website to be formatted accordingly.
`__stripe_mid`	1 year	Stripe sets this cookie to set a unique session identifier to recognize users across sessions.
`__stripe_sid`	1 year	Stripe sets this cookie to set a unique session identifier for a single session.

Cookie	Duration	Description
`NID`	6 months	Google Maps sets this cookie to remember your preferences and other information.
`vuid`	2 years	Vimeo sets this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos.

Cookie	Duration	Description
`sbjs_*`	Session	Sourcebuster sets this cookie to identify the source of a visit and stores user action information in cookies. This analytical and behavioural cookie is used to enhance the visitor experience on the website.
`sbjs_session`	1 hour	Sourcebuster sets this cookie to identify the source of a visit and stores user action information in cookies. This analytical and behavioural cookie is used to enhance the visitor experience on the website.