11+ Key Dates 2027
Entrance-test dates for children currently in Year 5
This page brings together registration dates, examination dates and admissions information for children applying for Year 7 entry in September 2028.
Children in this cohort will sit their entrance examinations during 2027. Depending on the school or area, the test may take place towards the end of Year 5 or during the first term of Year 6.
Important changes for this cohort
Gloucestershire: 3 July 2027
The G7 test moves from September of Year 6 to the summer term of Year 5, with FSCE as the new provider.
Slough: Quest Assessments
The Slough Consortium will use Quest for the September 2027 examination. Registration opens in May; the exact dates remain TBC.
2027 tests at a glance
| Area / school | Registration | Test date | Provider / important change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire Grammar Schools | 8 February–19 March 2027 | 3 July 2027 | CONFIRMED FSCE — new for 2028 entry |
| Slough Consortium | May 2027 — exact dates TBC | September 2027 — exact date TBC | NEW PROVIDER Quest Assessments |
| Buckinghamshire | TBC — normally May/June | TBC — normally early September | 2028 provider TBC |
| Reading School | TBC | TBC | School-specific process |
| Kendrick School | TBC | TBC | School-specific process |
| Sutton Grammar Schools | TBC | TBC | Sutton SET and second-stage tests |
| Kent Grammar Schools | TBC | TBC | Kent Test |
| Birmingham / West Midlands | TBC | TBC | Consortium test |
TBC means the relevant school, consortium or local authority has not yet published a confirmed date for 2028 entry. “Normally” describes recent practice and is not a confirmed date.
We update this page as official dates are released. Always check the relevant school or local-authority website before relying on a registration or examination deadline.
Dates and information by area
1. Slough Consortium Grammar Schools
The Consortium comprises Herschel Grammar School, Langley Grammar School, St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School and Upton Court Grammar School.
Assessment format
Pupils will sit two paper-based tests covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. The overall structure remains similar to the previous provider’s assessment.
Official sources: Herschel Grammar School — 2028 admissions · Quest parent guidance
2. Reading School
Reading School is a selective boys’ school and runs its own admissions and testing process, separate from the Slough Consortium and Kendrick School.
Recent Reading School arrangements have included an earlier July sitting for some candidates. Parents should not assume that every candidate will test in September.
Official source: Reading School admissions
3. Kendrick School
Kendrick School runs its own registration and admissions process. The school states that its open event for pupils considering September 2028 Year 7 entry will take place in April or May 2027.
Official source: Kendrick School open events
4. Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test is used for admission to the 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools.
Children attending a state-funded Buckinghamshire primary school are normally entered automatically. Families whose children attend schools outside Buckinghamshire, including Milton Keynes, generally need to register.
The test assesses verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills. Provider details for 2028 entry should be checked when the official timetable is released.
Official source: Buckinghamshire Council
5. Gloucestershire Grammar Schools — major changes
The July date is considerably earlier than the traditional September timetable. Children will take the examination towards the end of Year 5 rather than at the beginning of Year 6.
New test provider: FSCE
English and mathematics with multiple-choice answers.
English and mathematics with short written answers.
Multiple-choice questions drawing on primary-school subjects, potentially including art and design, computing, design and technology, English, geography, history, languages, mathematics, music, physical education and science.
The schools state that specific prior knowledge of the foundation subjects is not required. Parents should be especially aware that both the test format and examination date have changed for this cohort.
Official sources: Pate’s Grammar School · Gloucestershire County Council
6. Birmingham / West Midlands
Registration, test and results dates for September 2028 entry will be added when the consortium publishes its official timetable.
7. Sutton Grammar Schools
The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test is followed by school-specific second-stage testing. Confirmed 2028-entry dates will be added when published.
8. Kent Grammar Schools
Registration and Kent Test dates for September 2028 entry remain TBC.
9. Bexley
Confirmed registration and selection-test dates will be added when Bexley publishes its 2028-entry timetable.
10. Barnet
Check each selective school separately because test and registration arrangements vary by school.
11. Essex
CSSE and school-specific information for 2028 entry will be added when officially released.
12. Other areas
Additional confirmed regional dates will be added during the 2026–27 academic year. Always use the official admissions page for the school or local authority as the final reference.
Common Application Form
Sitting or passing an 11+ examination does not itself constitute an application for a secondary-school place.
- Register separately for the relevant entrance examination.
- Your child sits the examination.
- Receive the result where the timetable permits.
- Name the chosen grammar school or schools on your home local authority’s Common Application Form (CAF).
For most families applying for September 2028 entry, the secondary-school application deadline will be 31 October 2027. Check your own local authority’s published timetable.
Get key-date updates
This page is checked as schools, councils and consortia release confirmed information. Email us with the areas you are following and we’ll tell you about the available TestLife update options.
Ask for date updatesPlease check dates before applying
Where a date is shown as TBC, it has deliberately been left unconfirmed rather than estimated from the previous year. Always check the relevant school’s, consortium’s or local authority’s official admissions information before completing an application.
2027 entry — previous-year information
Previous-year information
The information on the existing Key Dates page relates mainly to children applying for Year 7 entry in September 2027. It has been preserved while this new 2028-entry layout is tested.
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