The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test was sat on Tuesday 15 September 2026, and families are now moving quickly from the SET outcome to the second-stage tests. That short gap can feel more complicated than it is because the five selective schools do not all use the same Stage 2 date. The important thing is to separate the schools clearly, check the communication that applies to your child, and avoid relying on arrangements for a different school.
There is also some reassurance built into the timetable. Stage 2 outcomes are sent before the October half term break, which is before the secondary common application form deadline of 31 October 2026. Parents therefore have their Stage 2 outcome in hand when completing the form. If you are still getting clear on how the Sutton schools fit together, our guide to the four Sutton grammars gives useful background alongside the separate girls schools.
The five schools split across two Stage 2 dates
The first distinction to make is the date. Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls share the Nonsuch and Wallington Second Stage Entrance Examination, usually shortened to the NWSSEE, on Saturday 26 September 2026. Wilson's School, Wallington County Grammar School and Sutton Grammar School have their Stage 2 test on Saturday 3 October 2026.
| School | Stage 2 test | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nonsuch High School for Girls | Nonsuch and Wallington Second Stage Entrance Examination | Saturday 26 September 2026 |
| Wallington High School for Girls | Nonsuch and Wallington Second Stage Entrance Examination | Saturday 26 September 2026 |
| Wilson's School | Second Stage Entrance Examination | Saturday 3 October 2026 |
| Wallington County Grammar School | Stage 2 test | Saturday 3 October 2026 |
| Sutton Grammar School | Stage 2 test | Saturday 3 October 2026 |
For Sutton Grammar, the school's published timetable for September 2027 entry records the SET on 15 September 2026 and Stage 2 on 3 October 2026. Wilson's School gives the same Stage 2 date in its admissions FAQs. For a broader explanation of what a second testing stage is designed to do in selective admissions, see how stage 2 tests work more generally.
What happens after the SET result
Wilson's School's admissions FAQs say parents receive the SET outcome by email during the week after the Selective Eligibility Test. The SET itself consisted of two multiple-choice papers, one in Maths and one in English.
For Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls, the next step is particularly clear. Nonsuch's own guidance for the NWSSEE says that all girls who meet or exceed the SET pass mark are invited to sit the joint second-stage examination. The test and the criteria used to determine selective ability are common to both schools.
Families sitting the NWSSEE receive a joint communication from Nonsuch and Wallington High School for Girls a few days before the test confirming the arrangements. The schools also publish FAQs, parent guidance and guidance on being unfit to sit. That communication should be treated as the practical instruction for the day rather than assumptions based on previous years or another Sutton school.
Parents applying there may also find our Wilson's School admissions guide useful for keeping the wider admissions process separate from the immediate test-day arrangements.
What the schools say about the Stage 2 papers
For Wilson's School, the published information is specific. Its Second Stage Entrance Examination on Saturday 3 October consists of two papers, one English and one Maths. Each paper is approximately 45 minutes to one hour long.
For Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls, the NWSSEE is a joint test covering both schools. Their published guidance confirms that the same test and the same criteria for selective ability apply to both.
It is sensible not to fill gaps with assumptions. The published facts here do not establish detailed paper content for every school beyond the subjects and timings that the schools themselves give. If your child is sitting for more than one Sutton school, keep each school's communication separate so that instructions for one test are not accidentally carried over to another.
Why there is no Stage 2 pass mark in advance
One of the most common sources of unnecessary worry is the absence of a published pass mark before the examination. Wilson's School's admissions FAQs are explicit about this: the pass mark cannot be stated in advance because the participating schools decide it after the test has been marked.
That is part of the stated process, not an attempt to conceal a known figure. At Wilson's specifically, a candidate must reach the required standard in each of the English and Maths papers as well as reaching the overall pass mark.
Parents therefore do not gain much from trying to guess a target score before the paper. It is more useful to understand the distinction between test performance, qualifying under a school's rules and the later admissions process. Our explanation of why qualifying is not the same as being offered a place covers that distinction in more detail.
What to do in the week before Stage 2
With only a short period between the SET outcome and Stage 2, this is not the time to turn preparation into a last-minute sprint. The useful priorities are rest, familiarity and routine. Keep the week predictable and make sure practical details are settled before the morning of the test.
- Read the latest email from the school or schools your child is sitting for, and follow the instructions in that communication.
- Check the test date carefully, especially if your family is dealing with applications to schools across both Stage 2 dates.
- Revisit familiar English and Maths work rather than introducing a large amount of new material.
- Keep sleep and normal daily routines as steady as possible during the final few days.
- Talk through the test day calmly so your child knows what to expect without repeatedly discussing scores or outcomes.
- If nerves are becoming the main issue, focus on simple routines and reassurance rather than extra papers. Our guide to exam nerves may help with that conversation.
The aim in these final days is not to manufacture a sudden leap in performance. It is to give your child the best chance to arrive rested, familiar with the process and able to concentrate on the paper in front of them.
Want familiar practice in the final days rather than new material? Work through our free 11+ practice papers so the question styles stay recognisable.
Stage 2 results come before the application deadline
Parents do not need to submit the secondary school application before knowing the Stage 2 outcome. The schools send Stage 2 outcomes before the October half term break, while the national deadline for the secondary common application form is 31 October 2026.
That sequence matters. It means you can make your school choices with the Stage 2 outcome already known rather than submitting the form while waiting for the result. National Offer Day is then 1 March 2027.
When the outcome arrives, read the wording from each school carefully because each school sends its own notification. Then use that information when completing the common application form. Parents should also check their own school's communications and website throughout this period, because arrangements can change.
FAQ
When is Sutton Stage 2 in 2026?
There are two dates. Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls use the joint NWSSEE on Saturday 26 September 2026, while Wilson's School, Wallington County Grammar School and Sutton Grammar School have Stage 2 on Saturday 3 October 2026.
Will I know the Stage 2 result before completing the common application form?
Yes. Stage 2 outcomes are sent before the October half term break, while the secondary common application form must reach your home local authority by 31 October 2026, so you will have the outcome before the application deadline.
What is the Stage 2 pass mark?
There is no pass mark published in advance. Wilson's School's admissions FAQs explain that the participating schools decide the pass mark after the test has been marked, and at Wilson's a candidate must meet the required standard in both English and Maths as well as the overall pass mark.