Knowing how to apply for a grammar school place means juggling two separate processes: registering your child for the 11-plus test, usually in Year 5, and then listing the school on your standard secondary application through the local council by the national deadline. Both processes run in parallel and both matter.
What makes grammar school applications different?
Grammar schools select on academic ability, so getting a place involves an extra layer that comprehensive admissions don't have: a test, sat well before the main application deadline, whose result then feeds into the ordinary council application process. Miss the test registration and your child cannot sit it — miss the council application deadline and they cannot be considered for a place at all, whatever their test score. Both steps are independent and both are time-limited, which is why families find the process more stressful than a standard comprehensive application.
Not all areas have grammar schools, and where they exist, arrangements differ — some counties run a single shared test, others let individual schools set their own. Always check your specific local authority's timetable rather than assuming a neighbouring area's dates apply to you.
How do you apply for a grammar school place?
- Check which grammar schools are within reach. Look at your local authority's list of grammar schools and their historic catchment or distance data, since some super-selective grammars draw applicants from a wide radius while others favour local families.
- Register for the 11-plus test early, usually in Year 5. Registration typically opens in the spring or summer term before Year 6 and closes months before the test itself — this is separate from applying to the school and is easy to miss if you assume it happens automatically.
- Prepare your child for the test format. Most 11-plus tests cover verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and maths, though the exact mix varies by test provider (commonly GL Assessment or CEM-style papers).
- Sit the test, usually in September of Year 6. Results are typically issued in October, in time to inform your secondary school application.
- List your preferred schools on the standard secondary school application form, submitted through your home local authority, in genuine order of preference — including the grammar school and realistic back-up options.
- Submit before the national closing date, 31 October in Year 6, for entry the following September. Late applications are handled separately and can significantly reduce your chances at oversubscribed schools.
- Wait for offers on National Offer Day, in mid-March of Year 6, when all applicants receive a single decision letter from their home local authority covering every school on their list.
What test scores do grammar schools use?
Grammar schools set a qualifying score, sometimes just a pass mark and sometimes a ranked cut-off that shifts year to year depending on how many children sit the test and how they perform. Super-selective grammars — schools that draw from a wide area and are heavily oversubscribed — often use ranking within the qualifying group rather than a single fixed pass mark, so a "pass" doesn't automatically guarantee a place if the school is full of higher-ranked applicants.
| Type of grammar school | How places are decided | What this means for applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Standard qualifying-score grammar | Pass mark, then oversubscription criteria (catchment, siblings) | Passing the test is necessary but not always sufficient on its own |
| Super-selective grammar | Ranked score across all who pass, highest scorers offered places first | Even a strong pass may not be enough at the most oversubscribed schools |
| Partially selective school | Percentage of places reserved for highest scorers, rest allocated normally | A mixed intake, with selection affecting only some places |
What happens if my child doesn't pass?
If your child doesn't meet the qualifying score, or misses out at a super-selective school despite passing, their other preferences on the same council application are considered as normal — nothing is lost by having applied. Most local authorities also run an appeals process for grammar school places, and some allow a retest in exceptional circumstances, though this varies by area and is not guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start the grammar school application process?
Start researching in Year 4 or early Year 5, because 11-plus test registration typically opens in spring or summer of Year 5, well ahead of the October deadline for the main secondary school application in Year 6. Starting early gives time for test preparation and for visiting open days before you need to finalise your preference list.
Do I need to apply to the grammar school separately from my council application?
You register for the 11-plus test separately, often directly with the test administrator or your current primary school, but the actual application for a place still goes through your home local authority's standard secondary school application form. Missing either step — test registration or the council form — means the grammar school cannot be considered.
Can my child sit the 11-plus for a grammar school outside our local authority?
In many cases yes, since some grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, but registration rules and deadlines can differ from your home authority's timetable. Contact the individual school or the local authority where the grammar school is based to confirm their specific registration process well in advance.
What if we move house during the application process?
Tell your home local authority as soon as your address changes, since a new address can affect distance-based oversubscription criteria for both grammar and comprehensive schools on your list. Genuine moves made before the deadline are usually reflected in your application, but late changes close to National Offer Day may not be processed in time.
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