Registration deadlines, exam dates, and results timelines for every major grammar school consortium in England
Grammar school examination dates in England vary significantly by region and consortium. For families planning 11+ preparation, knowing registration deadlines is just as important as knowing exam dates -- missing a registration window can mean missing the exam entirely for a target school. This guide covers the key grammar school regions, their typical exam windows, and what to check before the 2026 entry cycle opens.
The London Consortium is a group of highly selective state secondary schools in north and east London that share a common 11+ registration and examination process. The consortium currently includes:
Typical registration window: May to June of Year 5 (i.e. May to June 2025 for 2026 entry).
Typical exam date: September or early October of Year 6.
Results: October or November of Year 6.
All London Consortium schools are super-selective -- they have no catchment area and admit solely on the basis of the 11+ score, subject to place availability. The standardised score required for an offer at QE Boys Barnet and Henrietta Barnett is typically 118 to 121+. Demand is intense, with children applying from across Greater London and the surrounding counties.
The Sutton Consortium covers six selective schools in the south London borough of Sutton, all of which use GL Assessment papers through a shared registration process. Member schools include:
Typical registration window: June to July of Year 5 (i.e. June to July 2025 for 2026 entry).
Typical exam date: September of Year 6 -- usually a week or two before the London Consortium exam.
Results: October of Year 6.
The Sutton Consortium schools are highly selective but not fully super-selective; most have partial catchment area provisions. Competition is intense, particularly for Nonsuch, Wallington, and Wilson's, which rank among the highest-performing state schools in England.
Kent is England's largest remaining fully selective county, with 32 grammar schools. Eligibility is determined by the Kent Test, which is administered centrally rather than by individual schools.
Typical registration: August of Year 5 (i.e. August 2025 for 2026 entry) -- earlier than most other regions.
Typical exam date: September of Year 6, on a single Saturday morning.
Results: October of Year 6.
The Kent Test uses GL Assessment papers covering reasoning skills and academic attainment. Children who pass the Kent Test are "deemed selective" and can be considered for any Kent grammar school place. The cutoff score is set annually based on the distribution of results.
Buckinghamshire is also a fully selective county. The Bucks 11+ is administered by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Buckinghamshire (CSSE Bucks). Schools include Aylesbury Grammar, Royal Latin School, Wycombe High, Beaconsfield High, Dr Challoner's Grammar, and others.
Typical registration: May of Year 5, with forms due by late June (i.e. May to June 2025 for 2026 entry).
Typical exam date: September of Year 6.
Results: October of Year 6.
The Bucks test is broadly GL-style in format. Children living outside Buckinghamshire can still register and sit the exam, but out-of-county children are typically offered places only after in-county children.
The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE Essex) covers selective schools across the county, including two super-selective schools of national standing: King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS) Chelmsford and Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS).
Typical registration: Spring of Year 5 -- typically April to May (i.e. April to May 2025 for 2026 entry).
Typical exam date: September of Year 6.
Results: October of Year 6.
KEGS and CCHS are among the top-performing state schools in England and admit students from across Essex and neighbouring counties. Read our super-selective grammar schools guide for more detail on KEGS and CCHS preparation requirements.
Trafford is Greater Manchester's selective area, home to five grammar schools: Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Urmston Grammar School, Sale Grammar School, and Stretford Grammar School.
Typical registration: April to May of Year 5 (i.e. April to May 2025 for 2026 entry).
Typical exam date: September of Year 6.
Results: October to November of Year 6.
Trafford grammar schools use their own entrance test format, which includes verbal reasoning and English papers. Competition is strong, with many families from across Greater Manchester applying for Trafford places.
The King Edward VI Foundation in Birmingham operates five selective grammar schools: KES (King Edward's School), KEHS (King Edward VI High School for Girls), King Edward VI Aston, King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys, and King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls. These are independent schools within a charitable foundation, not state grammars, and use their own entrance examination rather than a consortium test.
Typical registration: Autumn term of Year 5 (September to October 2025 for 2026 entry).
Typical exam date: January of Year 6.
Results: February to March of Year 6.
KES and KEHS in particular are among the most academically selective schools in England and draw applicants from across the Midlands.
Understanding the exam dates is only the first step. The more important question is how to prepare effectively in the time available. Read our complete guide to when to start 11+ preparation for a year-by-year breakdown, and our GL Assessment parent guide to understand the format used by most of the consortia above.
Our 11+ specialists can help you build a preparation plan calibrated to your specific target schools and timeline. We work with families across London, Kent, Essex, Buckinghamshire, and beyond.
External resource: GOV.UK: Grammar schools -- official information
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