Parents' guide
A general timeline, access arrangements, illness policy, appeals — and where to find the details specific to your area.
In short
The 11+ itself is usually sat early in Year 6, but the national secondary-admissions deadline (31 October) and National Offer Day (1 March) are the two fixed dates every family shares. Access arrangements exist for children with additional needs, an unwell child should never be sent to sit the test, and every area offers an appeals process after offer day. For anything specific to your own area, your local authority's school admissions team is the right first call.
How a typical Year 6 unfolds
The two fixed points — 31 October and 1 March — apply nationally. The 11+ test date itself is set by each local authority or grammar school, so treat the September slot below as a common example, not a guarantee for your own area.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Start of Year 6 (September) | Many areas hold their 11+ test around this time — check your local authority's exact date |
| By 31 October | National closing date for secondary-school applications (the Common Application Form) |
| Autumn term | 11+ results usually issued in time to include on the secondary application, where the local process requires it |
| 1 March | National Offer Day for secondary-school places |
| After offer day | Appeals window for any school place you weren't offered, including a grammar school |
For the exact 11+ date and process in your area, search your local authority's website for its school admissions pages.
Additional needs and access arrangements
- English as an additional language (EAL): some areas offer accommodations for EAL pupils, but this varies by local authority and exam board — there is no single national policy, so ask directly.
- Access arrangements: for children with a diagnosed learning difficulty, an attention or communication need, or a physical/health condition — typically extra time, a reader, or a scribe, similar to exam access arrangements generally. Evidence requirements and the approval process vary by exam board and local authority.
- Apply for any access arrangement well ahead of the test date — check your local authority's or school's admissions page for the specific form and evidence needed.
Skipped year groups, home education and twins
- A child working outside their age-typical year group: whether they sit the test with their age group or their working year group varies by local authority — contact the admissions team directly, well ahead of the test date.
- Home education: home-educated children can usually still apply to sit the 11+ in most areas, though the registration process differs from state-school pupils — contact the local authority admissions team for the steps.
- Twins and siblings: it's worth talking this through with the children in advance — siblings don't automatically get the same result, though some admissions policies do give sibling priority once one child already attends the school.
Illness on test day, and the right to appeal
Don't send an unwell child to sit the test — most exam boards and local authorities can offer an alternative sitting or special consideration; contact the school or local authority as soon as possible.
Every area provides an appeals process for a child not offered a grammar-school place, opening after National Offer Day (1 March) — check the specific grounds and deadline on the relevant school's or local authority's admissions page.
Where to find the official details
Because the 11+ is run locally rather than by one national body, the most reliable source for your own family is your local authority's school admissions pages (search "[your council] secondary school admissions" or "[your council] 11+"), plus the admissions page of the specific grammar school or schools you're applying to. GOV.UK's school admissions guidance covers the national timetable (application deadline, offer day, appeals rights) that applies everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What's the timeline for the 11+ and secondary admissions?
The 11+ test date itself is set locally, usually early in Year 6 (often September). The national secondary-school application (via your local authority's Common Application Form) must be submitted by 31 October, and National Offer Day — when every family finds out which secondary school their child has been offered — is 1 March. Check your own local authority's website for the exact 11+ date and any extra steps it requires.
What happens if a child is ill on test day?
Don't send an unwell child to sit the test. Most exam boards and local authorities offer an alternative sitting or special consideration in this situation — contact the school or local authority admissions team as soon as possible.
Are there accommodations for children learning English as an additional language (EAL)?
Some areas make accommodations for EAL pupils (for example extra time), but this varies a great deal by local authority and exam board — there is no single national policy. Ask your local authority's admissions team directly.
Are there accommodations for children with special educational needs (SEN)?
Yes in principle — access arrangements (such as extra time, a reader, or a scribe) are commonly available for children with a diagnosed learning difficulty, attention or communication need, or physical/health condition, similar to exam access arrangements more generally. The exact process, evidence required, and who decides varies by exam board and local authority, so apply well in advance through the school or local authority.
Is there a right of appeal?
Yes — every local authority and grammar school must offer an appeals process for a child not offered a place, held after National Offer Day. The grounds and process vary by school/authority; check the admissions section of the relevant website for deadlines.
Who do I contact with questions?
Your own local authority's school admissions team is the right first contact for 11+ and secondary-transfer questions — search "[your council] school admissions" or check the grammar school's own admissions page.
What happens if a child has skipped a year group?
This varies by local authority and school — some allow testing in the year group the child is actually working in rather than their age group, others don't. Contact the local authority admissions team directly, well ahead of the test date.
Are home-educated children eligible to sit the 11+?
In most areas, yes — home-educated children can usually apply to sit the 11+, though the exact registration process differs from that used by state-school pupils. Contact the local authority admissions team for the specific steps.
What if there are twins or siblings in the family?
It's worth talking this through with the children in advance, since siblings — including twins — don't automatically get the same result, and some, but not all, admissions policies give a sibling-priority place once one child is already attending the school.