Your child did not reach the qualifying score, or was not offered a place at the grammar school you named — and you are wondering whether there is another chance. There is a process: in England every parent has a legal right to appeal a school admission decision to an independent panel, and some areas also run a review of the test score before that. Here is exactly how it works, who is eligible, and when you need to act — with the parts that vary by area clearly marked.
Worth remembering before anything else: sitting the 11+ is a choice, not a requirement, and a result below the qualifying score says nothing about your child's ability in general — it reflects performance on one specific test on one specific morning. That said, anyone who wants another look at the decision has an orderly route to it.
No re-sit — but two possible routes
Unlike some selection systems abroad, the 11+ cannot be sat twice in the same admissions round. The routes that do exist are about reviewing the decision, not retaking the test. It is important to stress three points:
- A review of the score (where offered) happens before places are allocated — usually in October or November of Year 6 — and is initiated by the primary school, not by the parent directly.
- An admission appeal happens after the offer is refused — after 1 March of Year 6 — and is made by the parent to an independent panel.
- Some grammar schools also run a 12+ or 13+ test for entry into Year 8 or Year 9 if places arise. Whether yours does is on the school's admissions page — do not assume it.
Route 1 — a review of the score (varies by area)
In a few areas the local authority runs a formal review stage for children who narrowly missed the qualifying score. The best-known example is Kent's headteacher assessment, where the primary school can submit the child's work and a statement of ability, and a panel of headteachers decides whether the child is of grammar school standard. Other areas have no such stage at all — the score is the score, and the only route is the appeal.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who starts it? | Usually the primary school (the headteacher), sometimes at the parent's request |
| When? | Between the results in October and the application deadline of 31 October, or shortly after — set by the local authority |
| What evidence? | Classwork, teacher assessments, KS2 progress data, a statement from the headteacher |
| Does every area have it? | No. Check your local authority's 11+ page — if it is not mentioned, there is no review stage |
Route 2 — an independent admission appeal
Every parent in England refused a place at a school they applied for has a legal right to appeal to an independent appeal panel. For a grammar school, the panel must first decide whether the child is of the required academic standard, and then whether the school could take an additional pupil without prejudice to the education of the others. Both hurdles have to be cleared. Appeals for a child who missed the qualifying score succeed only where there is strong, specific evidence — for example a documented illness on the day of the test, a bereavement, or a substantial body of school evidence that the child is working well above the standard.
- Step 1 — wait for the refusal. You cannot appeal until you have been refused a place, which for secondary schools is national offer day, 1 March of Year 6.
- Step 2 — check the deadline. The admission authority (the school or the council) must give you at least 20 school days from the refusal to lodge the appeal. The exact date is in the refusal letter.
- Step 3 — lodge the appeal in writing, with your grounds and any evidence. You can add evidence later, up to the deadline the panel clerk gives you.
- Step 4 — the hearing, usually in May or June, in person or online. You can speak yourself or bring someone to speak for you. The panel is independent of the school.
- Step 5 — the decision, in writing, normally within five school days of the hearing. It is binding on the school.
Cost — completely free
Special cases worth knowing about
- Illness on the day: tell the school or council before the test if you can. Most areas will offer a later sitting for a child who is ill on the day, provided a doctor's note or similar is supplied — the arrangements are local.
- A child with SEND or EAL: access arrangements (extra time, a reader, coloured paper) must be applied for before the test, with evidence — usually by the registration deadline. They cannot be added afterwards as grounds for appeal if they were never requested.
- Late transfer: some grammar schools test for entry in Year 8 or 9 when places become available. Whether yours does, and when, is on the school's admissions page.
- Moving into the area: many councils run a late-testing round for families who move in after the main test. Contact the admissions team as soon as you know you are moving.
For any question about a review, an appeal or a deadline, the right contact is your local authority's school admissions team or the school's admissions officer — their details are on the council's website and in the refusal letter.
Frequently asked questions
Can my child re-sit the 11+?
Not in the same admissions round. Some grammar schools run a 12+ or 13+ test for later entry if places arise — check the school's admissions page. Otherwise the routes are a review of the score (in areas that offer one) and an independent admission appeal.
My child missed the qualifying score — can we appeal?
Yes, but only after you have been refused a place, which is national offer day on 1 March of Year 6. The appeal goes to an independent panel, which will consider whether there is evidence the child is of grammar school standard and whether the school can take another pupil. Appeals on the score alone rarely succeed without specific evidence.
Does a review or an appeal cost money?
No. The 11+ for a state grammar school, any review stage, and an admission appeal are all free. You do not need a solicitor or a paid consultant.
Does every area have a review stage before the appeal?
No. A formal review of the score (such as Kent's headteacher assessment) exists only in some areas. If your local authority's 11+ page does not mention one, the only route is the admission appeal after offer day.
When is the deadline to appeal?
The admission authority must give you at least 20 school days from the date of the refusal letter. The exact date is in the letter and on the council's or school's website — it varies, so check yours rather than relying on another area's date.
Everything about reviews and appeals, by stage
To the parents' guide — deadlines and contacts ←