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Nonsuch High School for Girls

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How the process works

Nonsuch is one of six Sutton selective grammar schools that share a common two-stage entrance examination. All six schools (Greenshaw, Nonsuch, Sutton Grammar, Wallington County Grammar, Wallington High School for Girls, and Wilson's) use a single registration process via Applicaa, so your daughter only needs to register once, even if you are considering more than one school.

Stage 1 — the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): a multiple-choice test with separate English and Maths papers, each roughly 40–50 minutes long. English covers spelling and reading comprehension; Maths covers Key Stage 2 topics such as number and place value, the four operations, fractions, decimals and percentages. Applicants for Nonsuch and Wallington High School for Girls sit on 15 September; the other four schools sit on 26 September.

Stage 2 — the Nonsuch and Wallington Second Stage Entrance Examination (NWSSEE): only candidates who meet the qualifying standard in Stage 1 are invited. It consists of a written Maths paper and an extended writing task, neither of which is multiple choice. Both papers must be passed independently — a strong aggregate score alone is not sufficient.

NWSSEE exam-day practicalities: each paper lasts 40–50 minutes. Bring a pencil for Maths and a black or blue pen (or pencil) for English — no rough paper is provided, so working must go in the space on the question paper itself. Only the final answer is marked in Maths, so it's worth checking your daughter's exam technique rewards getting to a correct final answer, not just showing method. For the writing task, the essay must directly address the prompt given on the day — a pre-learned or generic essay that doesn't answer the actual question receives no credit.

How your daughter's score is calculated: the final rank is based on NWSSEE marks + half the SET aggregate, with each component weighted equally within that formula. This means Stage 2 carries roughly double the weight of Stage 1.

The school states that it does not consider tutoring necessary for entry, and tutoring companies are not permitted to operate on the school site.

Two-stage selection Single registration for 6 schools No tutoring required

Sources: SET Registration Process · September 2027 Entry Dates · NWSSEE · Wallington NWSSEE page · Admissions Policy 2027 (PDF, §4) · Admissions hub · Sutton Council: tests & assessments (2027 entry)

How places are allocated

The school has 210 places per year (the Published Admission Number). All candidates must first pass both stages of the entrance test. If more eligible applicants than places remain, places are allocated in this priority order:

Priority Places Criterion
1 — Looked After Children who reach the pass mark, or score up to 20% below it — any address
2 85 Highest-scoring applicants, regardless of home address
3 up to 35 Pupil Premium children who reach the pass mark, or score up to 20% below it — any address, by rank
4 up to 125 Within-catchment applicants by highest score (see below)
5 remainder Highest scorers if unfilled places remain after priority 4
5.25 km
The catchment circle. Up to 125 places go to applicants whose permanent home address is within 5.25 km (straight line, GIS-measured) of the school's front door on 31 October — the Common Application Form deadline. Distance is also the tiebreaker when two candidates have identical scores.
Pupil Premium families: up to 35 places are reserved with a lowered threshold (up to 20% below the SET pass mark and the NWSSEE minimum). Evidence must be submitted by your daughter's primary school before she sits the SET — the deadline matches the access arrangements deadline in June. Download the Pupil Premium form when registering on Applicaa.

Sources: Admissions Policy 2027 (PDF, §3–5) (approved November 2025, Girls' Learning Trust) · Admissions Policies page

Beyond Nonsuch: building a balanced application

Your Common Application Form lists up to six preferences, and a balanced list is the safest strategy. Helpfully, Sutton Council confirms you'll find out your daughter's test results before the 31 October application deadline — so you rank your preferences already knowing how the SET went.

A "free" extra option — Greenshaw ability places: the single SET registration already covers all six schools, including Greenshaw High School (a non-grammar). Passing the SET makes your daughter eligible to be considered for one of Greenshaw's ability places — no extra test and no extra registration, so it costs nothing to keep it on your list as a strong plan B.

Other Sutton schools with their own assessments — each needs its own registration, on top of (and separate from) the Common Application Form:

School Assessment Register by Assessment date
Carshalton High School for Girls Sport or Music aptitude places 2 October (10am) 10 Oct (Sport) · 14 Oct (Music)
Glenthorne High School Performing arts workshop 18 September 17 October
Banding test (all applicants) 31 October 21 November
Considering a faith school? St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls requires a supplementary information form with supporting documentation, due 31 October — the same day as the Common Application Form. Other faith schools set their own forms and evidence requirements, so check each school's admissions policy early.

Source: Sutton Council — Secondary school tests, assessments and supplementary forms (2027 entry)