How to apply to a grammar school
Applying to a grammar involves two separate steps that families often confuse: registering for the 11+ exam, and applying for a school place. You need to do both, and they have different deadlines.
Registering and applying are not the same thing
Registering for the 11+ (with the LA or consortium, by around late June) lets your child sit the test. Applying for a place (the Common Application Form, by 31 October) is a separate step done through your home local authority. Both are required.
The application timeline
Year 5 - spring/summer
Decide whether to sit the 11+ and start any preparation. Check which exam system your target schools use.
Year 5 end / Year 6 start - by late June
Register for the 11+ with your local authority or consortium. This is a hard deadline - miss it and your child cannot sit the test that year.
September of Year 6
The 11+ test is sat, early in the autumn term.
October of Year 6
Results are released, usually before the secondary application deadline so you know the outcome before ranking preferences.
31 October
National deadline for the secondary school application (the Common Application Form) submitted to your home local authority.
1 March
National Offer Day - you find out which secondary school your child has been allocated.
Mid-March
Deadline to accept your offer and to lodge any appeal or join waiting lists.
Dates are typical for England. Registration deadlines in particular vary by area - confirm with your local authority or consortium.
Ranking your preferences
Most local authorities let you list between three and six preferences in order. Two rules matter most:
- List schools in genuine preference order. The system uses “equal preference” - each school considers your child independently, and your ranking only decides which offer you receive if more than one would say yes. You are never penalised for putting an ambitious school first.
- Always include a realistic option. If you list only highly competitive grammars and don’t qualify for any, the council allocates you the nearest school with a vacancy - which could be far away. Include at least one school you are confident of getting.
A common approach for grammar applicants is to mix the list: one or two stretch grammars, a realistic grammar or strong comprehensive, and a safe local school you would genuinely accept.
If your child doesn’t get a place
In competitive areas, more than half of children who sit the 11+ won’t get a grammar place. Having a plan in advance takes the pressure off:
- Accept your allocated offer. Accepting one offer does not stop you appealing or joining waiting lists for schools you preferred.
- Join the waiting list. Around 5-10% of places change hands between offer day and the start of term as families relocate or decline offers.
- Consider an appeal. You can appeal a refusal at an independent panel. Grammar appeals often hinge on showing the child is of grammar ability despite the test result, so they can be harder to win than ordinary admissions appeals.
- Look again at strong comprehensives. A comprehensive with high Progress 8 can match grammar outcomes for able pupils - it is not a consolation prize.
Next steps