Key Dates Guide · 2027 Entry

11+ Upcoming
Exam Dates &
Deadlines.

For children currently in Year 5 sitting the 11+ in autumn 2026, to start Year 7 in September 2027. Every UK grammar-school registration deadline, exam date and result release — collected, verified and ready to add to your calendar.

Regions Covered 14
Exam Window Sep 2026
CAF Deadline 31 Oct 2026
Year 7 Starts Sep 2027
2027 Entry Edition
Verified
May 2026
!
The Most Important Rule

Registering for the 11+ test is not the same as applying for a school place. After your child sits the test, you must also submit a Common Application Form (CAF) to your home local authority by Saturday 31 October 2026. Both steps are required.

01
Essex · Consortium

Essex — CSSE Consortium

The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) runs a single 11+ test for 10 grammar schools across Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend. Your child sits one paper and can be considered for any CSSE school.

Registration & Test Schedule
StageDate
Registration opens9:00 AM, Tuesday 12 May 2026
Registration closes5:00 PM, Friday 19 June 2026
Exam date (English & Maths)Saturday 19 September 2026
Results emailedMid-October 2026
CAF deadlineSaturday 31 October 2026
National Offer DayMonday 1 March 2027
Test Format

Two papers — English (60 mins + 10 mins reading) and Maths (60 mins). No verbal or non-verbal reasoning.

Schools Covered

King Edward VI Grammar (KEGS), Colchester Royal Grammar, Colchester County High for Girls, Southend High Boys, Southend High Girls, Westcliff High Boys, Westcliff High Girls, St Bernards High, St Thomas More High.

Register at csse.org.uk
02
Essex · Independent Test

Chelmsford County High for Girls (FSCE)

CCHS is not a member of CSSE — it runs its own admissions test through Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE). Girls applying to both CCHS and a CSSE school sit two separate tests.

Key Dates · CCHS
StageDate
Registration opens9:00 AM, Monday 13 April 2026
Registration closes4:00 PM, Wednesday 3 June 2026
Open EveningThursday 30 April 2026 (passed)
Exam dateThursday 3 September 2026
ResultsMid-October 2026
CAF deadlineSaturday 31 October 2026
Important: Late registrations will not be accepted under any circumstances. The school states no teacher, tutor or parent has access to information that others don't.
Test Format

FSCE-style multi-subject papers covering English, Maths and other KS2 subjects (Science, Geography, History, Computing, etc.) up to and including the Year 5 programme of study.

Register at cchs.co.uk/admissions
03
London · Borough Test

Redbridge — Ilford County & Woodford County

The two Redbridge grammar schools — Ilford County High School (boys) and Woodford County High School for Girls — share a single test administered by the London Borough of Redbridge.

Key Dates · Redbridge
StageDate
Registration opensFriday 1 May 2026
Registration closes5:00 PM, Monday 15 June 2026
Open evenings (both schools)Thursday 30 April 2026 (passed)
Exam dateFriday 18 September 2026
ResultsMid-October 2026
CAF deadlineSaturday 31 October 2026
Test Format

Two GL Assessment papers covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Pass mark currently 104 (standardised). Common catchment area applies.

Register at redbridge.gov.uk
Field Note

Calendar everything. Twice.

Most regional tests fall in the first two weeks of September 2026. Most registration windows close in May or June. Late registrations are almost never accepted — and there is no appeal process for missing the deadline itself. Add the dates to your calendar today, then add a reminder two weeks before each one.

04
London · Two-Stage Tests

Barnet Grammar Schools

The two state grammars in Barnet run their own bespoke 11+ exams (not standard GL Assessment). Among the most competitive in England — around 11 applicants per place.

The Henrietta Barnett School (girls)

StageDate
Registration deadline5:00 PM, Wednesday 1 July 2026
Round 1 exam2–4 September 2026
Round 1 results / Round 2 invitationsLate September 2026
Round 2 exam (top ~300 candidates)Early October 2026

Queen Elizabeth's School Barnet (boys)

StageDate
Registration opensMay 2026 (expected)
Registration deadlineMid-July 2026 (expected)
Stage 1 examSeptember 2026
ResultsEarly October 2026
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School (girls, Catholic) also has its own September 11+ exam — registration usually closes early July. Check the school's website directly.
05
London · Consortium · Two Stages

Sutton Consortium (SET)

Five Sutton grammar schools share a Stage 1 test called the Selective Eligibility Test (SET). Children who pass are invited to Stage 2 papers run by individual schools.

Key Dates · Sutton SET
StageDate
SET registration opensEarly May 2026 (expected)
SET registration closesAugust 2026 (verify with portal)
SET (Stage 1) examTuesday 15 September 2026
Stage 2 — Nonsuch + Wallington GirlsSaturday 26 September 2026
Stage 2 — Wilson's, Wallington Co., SuttonSaturday 3 October 2026
Wilson's Aptitude Test (shortlisted boys)Saturday 10 October 2026
ResultsMid-October 2026
Schools

Sutton Grammar, Wilson's School, Nonsuch HS for Girls, Wallington County Grammar, Wallington HS for Girls, plus Greenshaw HS (selective band).

Format

Two-stage selection. Stage 1 identifies eligibility; Stage 2 ranks candidates per school.

06
South-East · Largest Cohort

Kent Test (32 grammar schools)

One test covers all 32 Kent grammar schools. Note: Medway, Bexley and Bromley grammar schools are NOT in the Kent Test — they run separate selection processes.

Key Dates · Kent Test
StageDate
Registration opens1 June 2026 (expected)
Registration closesMidnight, Wed 1 July 2026 (expected)
Test (Kent primary children)Thursday 10 September 2026 (own school)
Test (out-of-county / home-ed)Sat 12 / Sun 13 September 2026
Results16–22 October 2026
CAF deadlineSaturday 31 October 2026
Test Format

GL Assessment papers covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Identifies top 25% of year group.

Register at kent.gov.uk/kenttest
07
South-East · Independent of Kent

Medway Test

The Medway Test is administered by Medway Council and is separate from the Kent Test, despite the geographical overlap.

Key Dates · Medway
StageDate
Registration opensMid-May 2026 (expected)
Registration closesMid-June 2026 (expected)
Test (Medway primary children)Mid-September 2026 (in school)
Test (out-of-area)Mid-September (weekend centres)
ResultsMid-October 2026
Test Format

Three components — English (comprehension, vocabulary, SPaG), Maths and Verbal Reasoning. From 2024 the English component is multiple-choice. Pass mark set at 26th percentile for 2026 entry onwards.

08
London · Earliest Closure

Bexley Selection Test

The four Bexley grammar schools use their own selection test — separate from Kent and Medway. Bexley closes registration earlier than other regions.

Key Dates · Bexley
StageDate
Registration deadline (2027 entry)Already closed (31 March 2026)
Next cycle (2028 entry) opensFebruary 2027 (expected)
If you missed the Bexley deadline: there is no appeal process. Set a calendar reminder for February 2027 if applying for 2028 entry.
Status

2027 entry registration window has already closed. The next opportunity is the 2028 entry cycle, opening in early 2027.

09
Home Counties · 13 Schools

Buckinghamshire (TBGS)

The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test is run by The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) consortium. Children at Bucks state primary schools are auto-registered — only out-of-county and partner-school children need to register manually.

Key Dates · Buckinghamshire
StageDate
Registration opens (out-of-county)10:00 AM, Friday 1 May 2026
Registration closes3:00 PM, Tuesday 2 June 2026
Practice TestTuesday 8 September 2026
Secondary Transfer TestThursday 10 September 2026
ResultsFriday 9 October 2026
CAF deadlineFriday 30 October 2026
Pass Mark

Standardised score of 121 or above qualifies for a Bucks grammar school place.

Test Format

Two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers (~1 hour each on the same day) covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Maths and English.

10
Berkshire · Co-Educational

Slough Consortium

Four co-educational grammar schools — Herschel, Langley, St Bernard's Catholic, Upton Court — share one test. One registration covers all four.

Key Dates · Slough
StageDate
Registration opens10:00 AM, Friday 1 May 2026 (expected)
Registration closes10:00 AM, Thursday 5 June 2026 (expected)
Exam dateSaturday in mid-September 2026
ResultsMid-October 2026
Slough no longer shares scores with Kendrick or Buckinghamshire. If applying to Slough plus Bucks plus Kendrick, your child sits three separate exams.
Pass Mark

Standardised score of 111 (top ~35% of cohort).

Schools

Herschel Grammar, Langley Grammar, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar, Upton Court Grammar.

11
Berkshire · Two Independent Schools

Reading — Kendrick & Reading School

Reading's two grammar schools each run their own independent admissions tests.

Kendrick School (girls)

StageDate
Registration opensFriday 1 May 2026
Registration closesMidnight, Wed 1 July 2026
Exam dateFriday 18 September 2026

Reading School (boys)

StageDate
SEN applicants examWednesday 15 July 2026
Day & boarding applicants examThursday 16 July 2026
Out-of-catchment day applicantsFriday 25 September 2026
ResultsMid-October 2026 (expected)
12
West Midlands · 19 Schools

Birmingham & West Midlands

Nineteen grammar schools across Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Shropshire and Warwickshire share one entrance test through the West Midlands Grammar Schools partnership.

Key Dates · West Midlands
StageDate
Registration opensTuesday 5 May 2026
Registration closes4:00 PM, Friday 26 June 2026
Reasonable adjustments deadline4:00 PM, Friday 26 June 2026
Entrance test (AM & PM sessions)Saturday 12 September 2026
Results emailedFriday 16 October 2026
CAF deadlineSaturday 31 October 2026
Schools Include

King Edward VI Aston, Camp Hill (Boys & Girls), Five Ways, Handsworth (Boys & Girls), Sutton Coldfield Grammar, plus partner schools across the wider West Midlands.

13
North-West · Consortium

Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium

Five grammar schools (Altrincham Boys, Altrincham Girls, Sale, Stretford, Urmston) share one entrance test. Loreto Grammar and St Ambrose College are NOT in the consortium.

Key Dates · Trafford
StageDate
Registration opens12:00 noon, Thursday 23 April 2026
Registration closes12:00 noon, Friday 19 June 2026
Entrance examinationMonday 14 September 2026
ResultsMid-October 2026
CAF deadlineSaturday 31 October 2026
Test Format

Two GL Assessment papers (~1 hour each) covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths. Standardised qualifying score 334+.

Schools

Altrincham Grammar Boys, Altrincham Grammar Girls, Sale Grammar, Stretford Grammar, Urmston Grammar.

Section 14 · National Key Dates

Everyone needs these dates.

No matter which region your family applies in, these national milestones apply to every 11+ candidate. Print them, pin them, and add them to your shared calendar.

Apr–May 2026

Most regional registration windows open

May–Jul 2026

Most regional registration windows close

Sep 2026

Most regional 11+ exams (first two weeks)

Mid-Oct 2026

Most regional results released

31 Oct 2026

Common Application Form (CAF) deadline

1 Mar 2027

National Offer Day

Sep 2027

Year 7 starts

Common Questions

Frequently asked.

Q.01

What happens if I miss a registration deadline?

Late registrations are not accepted by any UK grammar school region. There is no appeal process for missing the registration deadline itself. The only options are to wait for the next admissions cycle (i.e. apply for 2028 entry) or, in some cases, apply for in-year admission later — which depends entirely on whether places become available.

Q.02

Can my child sit 11+ tests for more than one region?

Yes — and many families do. For example, a Bucks-based child might also sit the Slough Consortium and Kendrick tests. You'll need to register and pay for each separately, and watch for date clashes (most regional tests fall in the first two weeks of September, so logistics matter).

Q.03

Is registering for the 11+ test the same as applying for a place?

No. Registration only allows your child to sit the test. To actually apply for a school place, you must also list your preferred schools on the Common Application Form (CAF) and submit it to your home local authority by 31 October 2026. Both steps are separately required.

Q.04

My child has SEND or needs special arrangements — what should I do?

Contact each school's admissions office before registering, and upload supporting evidence with the registration form. Most regions have a separate (often earlier) deadline for reasonable adjustments. The West Midlands deadline, for example, is the same as the registration deadline (4pm, 26 June 2026) — but supporting documentation must be in by then.

Q.05

Are these dates official and final?

Confirmed dates are taken directly from official council, consortium or school websites as of May 2026. Expected dates are based on historical patterns and consortium intentions. Always verify directly with the official source before relying on any date. Eleven Ace accepts no liability for changes made after publication.

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