How to apply for grammar school

How does my child transition from primary to grammar school?

Once you have decided to apply for a grammar school for your child, moving from primary to grammar school is a multi-stage process. Using the local authority website (for example, Kent County Council) parents must register their child for the 11+ exam and put that specific school on their application form. The process is slightly different depending on whether you are ‘in area’ or ‘out of area’. If you live in a different local authority, your child can still attend a grammar in a neighbouring area, but priority is normally given to local applicants. The exam is sat on a specific date – again, different for in or out of area applicants. Once the exam has been sat by all applicants, the results are released, around November. This result will tell you whether or not your child is ‘grammar school level’ or not. There is an appeals process for unsuccessful applicants. Specific grammar schools are allocated by the local authority in March.

What is the educational culture at grammar schools?

There is an expectation at a grammar school that your child will be aiming for high grades in their public exams. In addition to this, most grammar school expect pupils to participate in sports, music, or drama, or another extra-curricular activity within the school. There will be plenty of leadership opportunities for pupils. Involvement in outside clubs and societies (for example LAMDA or county-level sport) is also encouraged and celebrated by the school.

How should I ensure my child is prepared academically?

The 11+ is a challenging exam, and needs careful preparation. Tutors can help, as can past papers and home learning. There are four key areas: Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Not only does the content need careful preparation, but exam technique can also be the difference between passing and failing.

What are the key dates to remember?

There are a few key dates, most of which are completely inflexible as they are determined by the local authority. Registration for the 11+ exam typically opens around three months before the exam date, and closes after around a month, meaning there is a short window in which to apply. The 11+ exam is usually held in either September and October, again depending on the local authority. Offers of school places are then made in March of the following year. This is in line with all secondary school places released by the local authority. It should be noted that passing the 11+ does not guarantee you a place at a specific school.

Resources for Further Reading:

Website

1. Kent Test - Kent County Council

Book

1. 11+ - A Practical Guide for Parents (2015) by Mark Chatterton