Grammar school admissions
What is the grammar school 11-plus test?
In those areas with grammar schools, the 11-plus test is a really big deal. Schools attract thousands of applicants and have to hold multiple sittings of the examination.
Depending on the school and local authority (LA), the examination takes a variety of forms – not to mention names – although all are conducted under formal examination conditions. Verbal or non-verbal reasoning is a common component and many schools (or LAs or grammar school consortia) also include maths and English reading and writing papers.
In some areas, such as Kent and Buckinghamshire, children currently at a state primary school sit the examination in their school, but assessments are just as likely to take place at one of the local participating grammar schools.
The term ‘11-plus’ is also commonly used to describe the assessment sat by candidates for private schools at the same age. The tests for grammars and private schools can have a lot in common and it is not unusual for children to be entered for both.
Nearly all grammar schools have their main intake at 11+ but there are a few schools that test for entry at 13+ and many re-open their books at 16+. Entry at other times – ‘in-year’ admissions – is possible if places are available and the child meets the academic criteria. However, grammar schools do not have to take pupils that fail to make the grade, even if they are not full.
Will my child be interviewed?
Unlike private schools, state schools are not permitted to interview prospective pupils or their parents (state boarding schools may interview to ascertain fitness to board) at the 11+ entry point. There can be other factors when it comes to selection (eg geography, faith) but for the academic selection part of the admissions process, performing in the tests is what matters.
When to apply for grammar schools?
There are two distinct processes which you and your child should complete. You will need to register for the 11-plus test AND submit a secondary school application with your local authority.
When to register for the 11-plus
Prior to the secondary school application process with the LA, you will need to register your child to sit the 11-plus examination. The registration period varies depending on the school and LA but is generally open for a period of two to three months during the spring and summer when your child is in year 5. A timeline of crucial dates should be available on the school or LA website.
When to apply for a grammar school place
Grammar school applications are part of the normal secondary school admission process. You apply for your preferred state schools using your home LA’s common application form (CAF). The applications open at the end of the summer, around the time your child starts year 6 in primary school, and close on 31 October.
Depending on the grammar school, it may be necessary to complete and return a supplementary application form as well, and return it directly to the school itself.
Do all children take the 11-plus?
No. It’s up to you to decide if you want to apply to a grammar school for your child and whether it would suit them academically. In some local authorities with grammar schools (eg Buckinghamshire and Kent), if your child goes to a state primary school, they may be automatically registered for the 11-plus test – although it’s not compulsory for them to sit it. In other parts of the country, you may need to make your own arrangements to sit the test. As explained above, registering for the 11-plus is an entirely separate process to applying for the school itself.
Note that where the test is organised by a consortium of schools (eg Slough), a single registration for the assessment is required, but elsewhere you will need to enter your child for a separate test for each school. It is fair to assume that when it comes to grammar school admissions, there are no blanket rules, so make sure to check school websites to understand each entrance procedure.
When is the 11-plus test?
The 11-plus tests take place in September (or early October) soon after the child starts year 6.
Some schools (such as The Tiffin Girls’ School, Tiffin School, St Olave’s Grammar School and The Henrietta Barnett School) set two separate stages of assessment in order to thin out the vast number of applicants. The first stage (sat usually September or October) may remove up to 80 per cent of applicants so that the school can focus handpicking the very best in the next round. The second stage test may take place only a few weeks later – so that parents have the results when completing the secondary school application form – or in November or even January, depending on the school.
What does the 11-plus test involve?
The examinations differ depending on the school, LA or school consortium. The school should publish details of the exam on their website. Typically one or more of the following may be components of the assessment:
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
English comprehension
English writing
Maths
These may require the candidate to answer multiple-choice questions or more complex written answers.
The exact entry requirements and competition for places vary, and they can change year on year, so do check with the school to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. Some schools, or the consortium they are in, will publish practice papers which you can download from their website.
When do 11-plus results come out?
11-plus results are generally released in October, before the secondary school application deadline of 31 October. This allows parents to make an informed choice when listing grammar schools on their LA application form.
However, this is not always the case. Some schools operating a two-stage testing process, may release only the first round of results before the application deadline. The results from the second stage are usually not published and your child’s success (or failure) will become apparent on national offer day at the beginning of March.
Always check the specific arrangements for each school or consortium, as timelines and scoring systems can vary. For those schools which set a pass mark or threshold, if more candidates have passed the 11-plus than the school has places, it is entirely possible to pass but not receive an offer of a place at the school.
Grammar school catchment areas
Some grammar schools have prescribed geographical areas (also called priority admissions areas or other similar terms) from which applicants are prioritised. You can usually download a map from the school or local authority that shows the catchment boundary, although sometimes the catchment area is simply given as a list of postcodes.
Applicants from outside these areas may have a chance of getting a place but this varies with each school. Some grammar schools have no catchment area and admit purely on a child’s score in the 11-plus entrance exam, while others use academic assessment AND distance from the school as factors in allocating places. The best piece of advice is for parents to study the school’s admissions policy (particularly the oversubscription criteria) and, if you have any questions, get in touch with the school.
In-year admissions to grammar schools
Places at grammar schools are highly coveted and tend not to be relinquished unless absolutely necessary. This makes it very unusual for children to join the school outside the normal round of admissions. However occasionally places become available higher up the school, in which case children may be able to complete an ‘in-year’ transfer.
As with all secondary school in-year admissions, there is no coordinated national process, and applications typically have to be made directly to the school or via the local authority. The school’s in-year admissions guidance should be available on its website.
In-year applicants are required to demonstrate their academic ability by sitting a test. If they reach the required level, the applicant will then be placed on a waiting list in case a place becomes available. If they request to stay on the waiting list after a certain period of time has passed (eg one year) they may be expected to repeat the assessment.
What are my child’s chances of getting a grammar place?
Not all grammar schools were created equally. While many produce stellar results, that is not the case for all and so competition for places will vary depending on how attractive an option the school is.
Some grammar schools select purely by the highest score, others make proximity to the school a deciding factor. There are grammar schools which reserve a percentage of places for children from low-income backgrounds and others prioritise places for children of a certain religion or with particular talents in music or sport.
All this means that passing the 11-plus does not always guarantee you a place at a grammar school. However, if you don’t apply, you’ll never find out. Contact the school or look on their website to find out the admissions criteria.
