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Wirral's switch to Quest: what changed

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial Team

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

In short

The Wirral Consortium's test moved to Quest Assessments for the test sat on 15 September 2026Wirral 2027 entry: Test dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: It will take place on Tuesday 15 September 2026.View the official source, but for children the test stayed much the same: the same subjects, the same style, the same weightings and the same standard. Nothing further has been announced for 2028 entry, and the same two papers are listed for next year's test. The main things to update are the practice booklets and the registration dates.

Which schools changed provider?

The change covers The Wirral ConsortiumWirral: NameChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: This website had been produced by Quest Assessments and The Wirral Consortium (Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for boys and Wirral Grammar School for girls)View the official source, a group of 4Wirral: School countChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Calday Grange Grammar School.The source says: Your child will sit the test at one of the four Wirral grammar schools.View the official source grammar schools that share one test: Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Wirral Grammar School for GirlsWirral: SchoolsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Calday Grange Grammar School.The source says: The non-faith Wirral grammar schools (West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Calday Grange Grammar School)View the official source. The test is run by Wirral Council (Mainstream Admissions team) on behalf of the four schools; papers provided by Quest AssessmentsWirral: Test run byChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: The governing bodies of Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Wirral Grammar School for Girls have reached an agreement with the authority on how their admission procedures will work. If parents want their children to be considered for places at these schools, Wirral Local Authority will assess these children on behalf of the school.View the official source.

The two Catholic grammar schools on the Wirral, Upton Hall School FCJ and St Anselm's College, set their own entrance exams. The Quest change does not apply to them. If you are applying to one of them as well, see our Wirral 11+ guide for how their tests compare.

What exactly changed?

The official explanation is: The four non-faith schools moved to a new test provider (Quest Assessments) for the September 2026 test. For this first year the style, format, subjects and relative weightings stayed the same, and the standard needed to pass did not changeWirral 2027 entry: Provider changeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Calday Grange Grammar School.The source says: we have moved to a new test provider ... The test will now be delivered through a different provider. However, for this first year, we have taken the decision to retain the same overall style and format of the test, including the areas assessed and their relative weightingsView the official source.

So, for the children who sat the test on 15 September 2026Wirral 2027 entry: Test dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: It will take place on Tuesday 15 September 2026.View the official source, the visible change was the supplier of the papers. The official sources do not name the previous provider, so we don't either.

What does the test look like now?

2027 entry (Year 6 now)2028 entry (Year 5 now)
ProviderQuest AssessmentsWirral grammar schools consortium 11+ assessment: Provider by entry year (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: The assessment will be provided by Quest Assessments. It will take place on Tuesday 15 September 2026.View the official sourceQuest AssessmentsWirral grammar schools consortium 11+ assessment: Provider by entry year (2028)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: This website had been produced by Quest Assessments and The Wirral Consortium ... Results day: Mid-October 2027 ... National Offer Day: 1 March 2028View the official source
PapersPaper one (verbal reasoning) (50 minutes); Paper two (maths and non-verbal reasoning) (50 minutes)Wirral 2027 entry: PapersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Calday Grange Grammar School.The source says: Your child will sit two papers: Paper one: assesses verbal reasoning Paper two: assesses mathematics and non-verbal reasoning Both papers will be sat in the same session, and your child will have a short break between them. Each paper will last approximately 50 minutes.View the official sourcePaper one (verbal reasoning) (50 minutes); Paper two (maths and non-verbal reasoning) (50 minutes)Wirral 2028 entry: PapersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: Two papers, sat in the same session with a short supervised break. Each paper lasts approximately 50 minutes. Paper one Verbal reasoning Paper two Mathematics and Non-verbal reasoningView the official source
Question stylemultiple-choiceWirral 2027 entry: FormatChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Calday Grange Grammar School.The source says: The Wirral 11+ Assessment is a paper test. All questions in the assessment are multiple choice.View the official sourcemultiple-choiceWirral 2028 entry: FormatChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: All questions are multiple choice, with your child selecting from a set of options (usually five: A, B, C, D or E).View the official source
WhenAutumn term of Year 6 (test on 15 September 2026)Wirral 2027 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: The assessment is based on the results of a test comprising two papers that pupils take in the Autumn term of Year 6.View the official sourceSeptember 2027 (September of Year 6)Wirral 2028 entry: Test timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: September 2027 Assessments for grammar schools are expected to be carried out.View the official source

How are answers recorded? All questions are multiple choice, answered on a separate answer sheet.Wirral grammar schools consortium 11+ assessment: Answer formatChecked 12 Oct 2026 against Calday Grange Grammar School.The source says: All questions in the assessment are multiple choice.View the official source For 2028 entry, the position is: No further change has been announced; the provider's page for the September 2027 sitting shows the same two papersWirral 2028 entry: Provider changeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Calday Grange Grammar School.The source says: For future cohorts, parents/carers should refer to the 11+ admissions information published on school and Local Authority websites, as elements of the test may be updated over time.View the official source.

Does a Quest test elsewhere look the same?

No, and this matters if you are buying practice material. Quest says that each school’s Quest test is uniqueQuest: Bespoke per schoolChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: Your child’s assessment is unique to the school they’re applying to,View the official source. For example, Bexley's Quest test for 2028 entry has these papers: Paper one (verbal reasoning and comprehension) (50 minutes); Paper two (maths and non-verbal reasoning) (50 minutes)Bexley 2028 entry: PapersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against London Borough of Bexley.The source says: Your child will sit two non-adaptive paper assessments. Each paper lasts around 50 minutes.View the official source. Wirral's test has no comprehension section in its published paper list.

So "Quest-style" books or papers written for another area may not match the Wirral format. Wirral's own familiarisation booklets are the reliable guide.

What practice material does the consortium provide?

For 2028 entry, the consortium offers: Free Quest familiarisation booklets (with sample OMR answer sheet), guidance for children and parents, reading list and vocabulary list; free Atom Home access for pupil premium eligible candidates.Wirral 2028 entry: FamiliarisationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: set of free resources to help your child understand what the test looks and feels like, and build confidence across all subjects ahead of exam day. These booklets provide sample questions so your child can become familiar with the question format and filling in an OMR answer sheet. [...] we are offering free access to Atom Home for all pupil premium eligible candidatesView the official source.

Two things are worth knowing:

  • The answer sheet. The booklets come with a sample answer sheet. Children answer on a separate sheet in the test, so one or two calm practice runs at marking answers neatly help.
  • Pupil premium access. Quest offers free access to an Atom Learning product for pupil-premium-eligible childrenQuest: Pp free accessChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: With The Dorset Consortium, we are offering free access to Atom Home for all pupil premium eligible candidates.View the official source, and the consortium passes this on to eligible candidates. Ask your primary school or the council how to take it up.

If you prepared an older child for the test before the change, much of that work still fits, because the subjects did not change. It still makes sense to swap to the new Quest booklets for the final weeks, so the layout and answer sheet are familiar.

What dates do Year 5 families need?

The council has already published the main dates for 2028 entry:

Step2028 entry
Registration opens1 May 2027Wirral 2028 entry: Registration opensChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: 1 May 2027 Online registrations for selective assessments for entry to non-Catholic grammar schools in September 2028 opens.View the official source
Registration closes31 May 2027Wirral 2028 entry: Registration closesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: 31 May 2027 Deadline for registrations for selective assessments for entry to non-Catholic grammar schools.View the official source
TestSeptember 2027Wirral 2028 entry: Test dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: September 2027 Assessments for grammar schools are expected to be carried out.View the official source
Results sent21 October 2027Wirral 2028 entry: ResultsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: 21 October 2027 Non-Catholic grammar school assessment results are sent to parents.View the official source
Secondary applications open1 September 2027Wirral 2028 entry: Caf opensChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: 1 September 2027 Literature and application forms will be available from the council, from schools and other outlets for Admissions in 2028. The online application system goes live.View the official source
Application deadline31 October 2027Wirral 2028 entry: School place applications close (CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: 31 October 2027 Online applications and preference forms must be returned by this date.View the official source
National Offer Day1 March 2028Wirral 2028 entry: National Offer DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: 1 March 2028 Email offers are sent to online applicants.View the official source

How do you register? Online registration with Wirral CouncilWirral 2028 entry: Registration routeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: Online registrations for selective assessments for entry to non-Catholic grammar schools in September 2028 opens.View the official source. Children do not need to live in Wirral to sit the test: No residence requirement to sit the consortium test; children from other authorities are considered on the same basis as Wirral children. Each school applies its own distance criteria when oversubscribed.Wirral 2027 entry: CatchmentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: Requests from parents of children living in other authorities are considered on the same basis as described for Wirral children.View the official source

If your child needs extra time or other support, ask early. For 2028 entry: Questions about special arrangements go to the Wirral consortium at secondaryplaces@wirral.gov.uk; deadlines for the 2027 sitting are not yet publishedWirral 2028 entry: Access arrangementsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Quest Assessments.The source says: All queries about the Wirral 11+ Assessment, including questions about registration, results, venues, and special arrangements, should be directed to The Wirral Consortium: secondaryplaces@wirral.gov.uk.View the official source. For comparison, the 2027-entry arrangements were: Request on the registration form with supporting evidence (less than two years old); requests for the September assessment must be received by 7 June 2026; arrangements confirmed by 17 July 2026; examples include enlarged print, 25% extra time, smaller room, rest breaks; readers and scribes not provided; arrangements must ordinarily be in place at primary school.Wirral 2027 entry: Access arrangementsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: The arrangements must ordinarily be in place at your child ... Readers and scribes are not provided. ... We will confirm if any arrangements have been agreed by 17 July 2026 for the September assessment. ... Requests for the September assessment must be received by 7 June 2026.View the official source.

Which rules stayed the same?

The practical rules around the test did not change with the provider. For 2027 entry:

  • One attempt: yes: the test can be taken only once, with no re-sitWirral: One attempt onlyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: The assessment can only be taken once. There is no re‑sit.View the official source.
  • Illness on the day: A child who registered but is ill or absent on the test day sits a late test later in the autumn termWirral: Late testingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: A late test will take place later in the Autumn term for pupils who were registered to take the test but were unable to do so due to illness or absence on the main test date. No other arrangements will be made to assess children if request forms were received after 31st May, unless they have moved from another part of the country.View the official source.
  • On the day: A printed Test Day Identity Form with passport-style photo, primary school stamp and headteacher signature must be brought on test dayWirral: Test day identity formChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: Your child must bring this form with them on the test day and may not be able to sit the test without it.View the official source.
  • Seeing papers: Parents cannot see their child's test papersWirral: Test papers confidentialChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: Q. Can I see my child’s 11+ test papers? ... A. No. Test papers are confidential to the ... Authority.View the official source.
  • Applying: Name at least one grammar school on your council form; if your child does not reach the standard, the grammar school preferences are withdrawnWirral: If the grammar school standard is not reachedChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: Parents should include at least one grammar school when they apply for a school place. If a child does not meet the grammar school standard, their preference for a grammar school will be withdrawn.View the official source.

Check the council's pages again before registration, in case any of these are updated for next year's sitting.

Does the change affect results and offers?

Meeting the standard makes a child eligible; it is not an offer. Each school then applies its own rules, mostly priority groups and distance. Priority for children on free school meals also continues: All four non-Catholic grammar schools give some priority to FSM children who reach the standard; the number of places is set in each school's policy (Calday up to 15, West Kirby up to 18 per the council policy booklet).Wirral 2027 entry: Pp priorityChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Wirral Council.The source says: All Wirral non-Catholic grammar schools give some priority to ... children who get low income based Free School Meals at the ... time of applying in Autumn 2026. Children must still reach the ... standard for admission. Wirral Grammar School for Boys has a ... lower standard for these children.View the official source

Because the standard did not change with the provider, results from before and after the change are described in the same way. Our Wirral results page explains what a result letter means, and our Wirral pass marks page shows what the schools publish about past offers.

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 13 October 2026: Wirral Council, Quest Assessments (including its parent guidance for the Wirral Consortium and the Bexley Selection Test), Calday Grange Grammar School, Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Wirral Grammar School for Girls.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with Wirral Council, the Wirral Consortium or its member schools, or Quest Assessments. How we make our content.