Is my Barking postcode in the Redbridge 11+ catchment area?

Every year, Barking parents ask us the same question: "Can my child sit the Redbridge 11+ and actually get a place?" The honest answer depends on your exact address, not just your town. This guide shows you how to check, what the official rules say, and what to do if you are close to the line.

What is the Redbridge 11+ Common Catchment Area?

It is the area that Redbridge Council uses to decide who gets priority for its two grammar schools. Those schools are Ilford County High School (boys) and Woodford County High School (girls). Both use the same catchment, which is why it is called "common".

The council's Redbridge 11 plus page says simply: your child needs to live in the blue lined area on the map.

Which areas are in the catchment?

The catchment includes all of Redbridge and Waltham Forest, and only parts of Barking and Dagenham, Newham and Essex. This is how Fairlop Primary School's 11+ information page describes it.

So living in Barking (IG11) does not automatically put you in or out. Two families on different streets in the same part of the borough can get different answers. Official sources do not publish a list of included streets or postcodes, so the map is the only reliable way to check.

How do I check my postcode on Redbridge Maps?

It takes about two minutes on the council's own map. Follow these steps:

1. Open Redbridge Maps.
2. Choose the map category Education.
3. Select 11+ Common Catchment Area.
4. Type your postcode or address into the search box.
5. Look at where your home sits. If it is inside the blue lined area, you are in the catchment.

These steps come from both the council's 11+ page and the Ilford County High School admissions page.

Take a screenshot of the result for your records. If your home looks very close to the line, do not guess. Call the Redbridge admissions team before you register (more on that below).

What happens if I live outside the catchment?

Your child can still sit the test, but in practice they are very unlikely to be offered a place. Here is why.

The Redbridge Admissions Arrangements 2027-28 rank children in this order:

1. Looked after and previously looked after children.
2. 45 places (25%) for children entitled to the pupil premium, ranked by score.
3. Other children living in the Common Catchment Area, ranked by score.
4. Children living outside the Common Catchment Area, ranked by score.

Children outside the area are only considered after everyone inside it. The same document says that only children who live in the Common Catchment Area have been admitted to the grammar schools in the last 10 years.

That is the key fact for Barking families. If your postcode is outside the blue line, think carefully before putting your child through the test and the preparation. There may be better uses of that time, such as looking at the best secondary schools in Barking and Dagenham.

Is living in the catchment enough to get a place?

No. Living in the catchment only lets your child be ranked in the main group. They still need a strong score.

Every applicant must reach a minimum threshold score of 104. No one below 104 is added to the ranked list or the waiting list, according to the Redbridge Admissions Arrangements 2027-28. Above that, places go in score order until all 180 Year 7 places at each school are filled.

In reality the last score offered is usually well above 104. For September 2026 entry, Redbridge reported that the last on-time catchment candidate offered a place scored 106.02 at Ilford County High and 110.62 at Woodford County High (Redbridge allocations and cut-offs, March 2026). These numbers change every year.

Which address does the council use?

Use the address where your child really lives. For the main secondary application, Redbridge's arrangements say the address must be where your child normally lives on 31 October 2026 and is expected to live in September 2027 and beyond.

Councils do check addresses. If you are moving house during Year 5 or Year 6, speak to the admissions team early so you know which address counts.

What should I do if my house is right on the boundary?

Ask the council directly, in writing if possible. Woodford County High School's Join Us page says Year 7 admissions are handled by the Redbridge Admissions Office and gives their secondary transfer number as 0208 708 3139.

When you call, have your full postcode and house number ready. Ask them to confirm whether your address is inside the 11+ Common Catchment Area, and note the date and name of the person you spoke to.

When do I need to check?

Check before registration opens in May of Year 5. For September 2027 entry, registration ran from 1 May to 15 June 2026 and the test was on Friday 18 September 2026 (Redbridge 11 plus page). Late registrations are not accepted.

If your child is in Year 4 or Year 5 now, this is the right moment. See our full guide to Redbridge 11+ dates and registration and our advice on when to start 11+ preparation.

What if we are in the catchment for Essex grammar schools instead?

Some East London families also look at the Essex CSSE grammar schools in Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend. These have their own test and their own rules about where you live. Read our guide to Essex CSSE grammar schools for East London families before deciding.

How LCB can help

We are based in Barking, at Roding House on Cambridge Road, so we hear about the catchment question every week. If you are not sure whether the 11+ is worth it for your child, a free 30-minute assessment is a good first step. We look at your child's Maths, English and reasoning, tell you honestly where they are, and suggest a plan.

Our 11+ tutoring runs in small groups of 3 to 5 children, in person in Barking or online, and covers Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Plans start at £52 a month for one lesson a week, with no contract. You can book a free assessment today.