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Expert guidance from Leading Tuition
Book a Free ConsultationA result that comes back just below the qualifying score is one of the hardest outcomes for families to navigate. Before deciding what to do next, it helps to understand exactly what options exist — and there are several, depending on how close the score was and which schools you were targeting.
A few standardised points can represent 3–5 raw marks depending on the test. Whether this is addressable through appeal depends on whether there is a procedural basis — not simply the narrowness of the margin. Schools do not reconsider scores on the grounds that they are close. The standardised score stands as the objective measure.
Three to five raw marks is a small, specific gap
At that distance the cause is usually identifiable — a question type, a timing habit, an answer-sheet routine — rather than a general shortfall in ability. Knowing which it was matters for whatever comes next.
We can look at the papers with you and say honestly what closed the gap and what did not.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppYou have the right to appeal a grammar school rejection. Appeals succeed on two main grounds: the admissions process was not followed correctly, or the decision to refuse a place was unreasonable given your child's circumstances. If your child was unwell on the day, if there was a marking error, or if the school did not follow its own policy, an appeal has a genuine basis. Getting organised early is essential — appeal windows are short.
Our 11+ specialists work with families at every stage of the process, including preparing children for independent school entry and 13+ routes alongside any appeal or waiting list position. We're rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot, and our students have achieved a 95%+ offer rate across selective school entry. Book a free consultation to discuss your options.
Grammar school waiting lists are live and change significantly as families accept or decline places elsewhere. Many offers come from waiting lists in March, April, and even after September. Your child's position depends on the same criteria as the original decision — score, then distance. Find out your current position in writing.
For children who narrowly miss a grammar place, an independent school is often the right next step. Many independents admit at 11+ through their own assessments, and a child who scored close to the grammar threshold often has the ability to succeed at a good independent school. Explore this in parallel with any appeal or waiting list position.
Independent entry at 11+ and 13+ runs on its own timetable
While an appeal or a waiting list resolves, those routes carry on with their own deadlines — and for a child who missed narrowly they are often the more realistic next step rather than a fallback.
A free consultation will set out which are still genuinely open and by when.
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