Grammar School Application Checklist: Forms, Preferences and Deadlines

Applying for a grammar school place involves more than passing the 11+ exam. Parents must check entrance test registration dates, complete the correct secondary school application, list their preferred schools and meet any additional admissions requirements. For children starting secondary school in September 2027, the standard application deadline in England is 31 October 2026. National Offer Day is 1 March 2027. Check your local authority’s official guidance because individual grammar school areas may have additional requirements and separate entrance test deadlines. This grammar school application checklist explains what to prepare, which forms to complete and how to avoid common mistakes.

Grammar School Application Checklist: What Parents Need to Do

Use this checklist to keep track of the main stages of your child’s grammar school application.

• Research grammar schools in your preferred area.
• Check each school’s admissions policy and entry requirements.
• Register your child for the relevant 11+ or selection test before its deadline.
• Check your child’s entrance test result and eligibility, where results are available before applications close.
• Complete your local authority’s Common Application Form (CAF) or equivalent secondary school application.
• List your preferred schools in the correct order.
• Complete any required supplementary information forms (SIFs).
• Provide any requested evidence, such as proof of address.
• Submit your application before the deadline.
• Save your confirmation and application reference.
• Check your offer on National Offer Day and follow the instructions provided.

Important: Passing the 11+ does not automatically guarantee a grammar school place. Admission depends on the school’s published criteria, available places and, where applicable, other requirements such as catchment areas or priority categories.

Step 1: Research Grammar Schools and Their Admission Requirements

Before completing an application, identify the grammar schools you want to consider and understand how each one selects pupils.

Check the following for every school:

• Entrance exam: Find out which selection test the school uses and which subjects or skills it assesses.
• Qualifying requirements: Check whether your child must achieve a particular score or meet another eligibility requirement.
• Catchment area: Establish whether distance from the school affects admission priority.
• Oversubscription criteria: Find out how the school ranks eligible applicants when more children qualify than there are places.
• Supplementary forms: Check whether the school requires additional information alongside the main application.
• Application deadlines: Record the dates for both the entrance test and the secondary school application.

Start with the school’s official admissions page and its current admissions policy. Do not rely solely on previous years’ requirements, as arrangements can change.

Parents can also read our Grammar School Catchment Areas: A Parent’s Guide to understand how location may affect eligibility and priority.

Step 2: Register for the 11+ Entrance Exam

In many grammar school areas, children must sit an entrance or selection test before they can be considered for a grammar school place.

However, the registration process varies by area. Some authorities coordinate testing across several schools, while others have different arrangements or deadlines.

For example, Buckinghamshire requires children seeking a grammar school place to sit the Secondary Transfer Test and achieve a qualifying score. Parents must still submit the separate secondary school application.

Check the official admissions information for your target area to establish:

• When 11+ registration opens and closes.
• Whether registration is completed through the local authority, school or test provider.
• The test date and how results will be communicated.
• Whether your child must meet a qualifying score before being considered.
• Whether any separate registration is required for schools outside your local area.

Do not assume that registering for the 11+ also applies for a school place. In many areas, test registration and the secondary school application are separate processes.

For preparation, see our 11+ Practice Questions and Grammar School Revision Plan: A Parent’s Guide for 2026.

Step 3: Complete the Common Application Form for Grammar Schools

The Common Application Form (CAF) is the main form used to apply for state-funded secondary school places in England. It is usually completed online through your home local authority, although paper options may be available.

You should apply through the council where your child lives, even if you want to apply to a grammar school in a different local authority area.

When completing the form, you will generally need to:

1. Enter your child’s personal details.
2. Provide your home address and any other requested information.
3. Select the schools you want to apply to.
4. Rank your preferences in the required order.
5. Supply any requested supporting information.
6. Review the details and submit the form.

The exact form and number of school preferences available depend on your local authority.

Read the official GOV.UK guidance on how to apply for a school place before submitting your application.

What Information Do You Need for a Grammar School Application?

Prepare the following information before you start:

Requirements vary, so this is a preparation list rather than a guarantee that every document will be required.

Step 4: Put Your Grammar School Preferences in the Correct Order

Your school preference list matters. Rank schools according to your genuine preferences, rather than trying to guess which order will improve your child’s test result or admission score.

For example, if your preferred schools are School A, School B and School C, list them in that order if School A is your first choice.

In England’s coordinated admissions system, schools assess applications against their own admission criteria. Your home local authority then coordinates the results and makes an offer for the highest-ranked school on your list that can offer your child a place.

GOV.UK confirms that listing only one school does not increase your chances of receiving an offer from it.

When choosing preferences:

• Put the school you genuinely want most first.
• Check that your child meets each school’s published entry requirements.
• Consider realistic alternatives, including non-selective schools.
• Check whether you can include schools outside your local authority.
• Follow your council’s rules on the number of preferences you can submit.

Do not list only grammar schools without considering alternatives. A child may qualify for the 11+ but still not receive a place at a preferred school because of oversubscription or other admission criteria.

Step 5: Check Whether Supplementary Information Forms Are Required

Some schools require a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) in addition to the main secondary school application. This may apply to particular schools because of their admissions arrangements, such as faith-based criteria or other school-specific requirements.

A supplementary form is not usually a substitute for the main application.

For each preferred school:

1. Read its current admissions policy.
2. Check whether a supplementary form is required.
3. Download the correct form from the school’s official website.
4. Complete it with accurate information.
5. Send it to the organisation specified in the instructions.
6. Submit it by the school’s own deadline.

Do not assume that the local authority will automatically receive a supplementary form sent directly to a school, or that completing a school form automatically adds the school to your council application.

Step 6: Know the Grammar School Application Deadlines for 2026 and 2027

For children starting secondary school in September 2027, the standard secondary application deadline in England is 31 October 2026. Applications usually open on 1 September, and National Offer Day is normally 1 March.

As the deadline is approaching, parents applying for September 2027 entry should check their local authority’s online admissions portal immediately.

These dates relate to the coordinated secondary school application process. 11+ registration and test dates may be earlier, and individual schools or authorities may have additional deadlines.

If you are applying for September 2026 entry, the normal application period has already passed. Contact the relevant local authority or school about late or in-year admissions, depending on your circumstances.

Always confirm dates with your own council and the relevant school’s official admissions page.

For more information, read the official GOV.UK school application guidance and our existing Grammar School Application Deadlines 2026: Key Dates.

Step 7: Understand Catchment Areas and Oversubscription Criteria

Passing the entrance test does not always mean your child will be offered a place at a particular grammar school.

Where more eligible children apply than there are available places, schools use their published oversubscription criteria to determine priority. Depending on the school, these may include:

• Whether the child meets the school’s selective entry requirements.
• Whether the child lives within a defined catchment area.
• The distance between the child’s home and the school.
• Whether the child has a sibling attending the school.
• Other criteria set out in the school’s admissions policy.

The criteria and their order vary by school. Do not assume that living nearby guarantees admission or that all grammar schools use the same rules.

Read each school’s admissions policy carefully and check how it defines home address, distance and priority groups.

Step 8: Prepare Your Child While Managing the Application

The application process and 11+ preparation should be managed separately. Completing the paperwork correctly is essential, while preparation can help your child build the skills assessed by their entrance test.

Depending on the test used in your area, preparation may include:

• Maths: arithmetic, problem-solving and applying mathematical knowledge.
• English: comprehension, vocabulary and understanding language.
• Verbal reasoning: identifying patterns and solving word-based problems.
• Non-verbal reasoning: recognising shapes, sequences and visual relationships.
• Exam technique: managing time, reading instructions carefully and checking answers.

Start by confirming the subjects and question types used by your target schools. Avoid spending all your preparation time on question types that are not relevant to the actual test.

Explore our 11+ Practice Questions for structured practice.

Parents who want additional support can also explore the Think Academy UK 11+ course.

Step 9: What to Do After Submitting Your Application

Once you have completed the form, take a few minutes to check that everything has been submitted correctly.

• Save the confirmation email or reference number.
• Check that all intended school preferences appear on the submitted form.
• Confirm that any supplementary forms have been sent separately where required.
• Keep copies of supporting documents.
• Check your email and local authority account for updates.
• Make a note of the offer date and any response deadline.

If you need to change your preferences, check the council’s rules and deadlines. Changes made after the closing date may be treated differently from changes submitted on time.

On National Offer Day, read the offer notification carefully. If your child does not receive the preferred school, check the local authority’s guidance on waiting lists, further preferences and appeals, where applicable.