Herschel Grammar School: Admissions, 11+ and Catchment
Herschel Grammar School is a selective co-educational grammar school in Slough, Berkshire, for pupils aged 11 to 18. It is part of the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, which uses a shared 11+ entrance examination for children applying to its four member schools. With a strong academic record and 150 Year 7 places available for September 2027 entry, Herschel is a popular choice for families considering selective secondary education in the area.
Understanding the Herschel Grammar School admissions process involves more than knowing the 11+ qualifying score. Children must sit the Slough Consortium entrance test and achieve the required standard to be considered, but an eligible score does not guarantee a place. The school’s four-mile catchment area, Pupil Premium provisions and examination ranking all influence how places are allocated. Families comparing selective schools can also explore our guide to the best grammar schools in the UK.
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Where Is Herschel Grammar School?
Herschel Grammar School is located on Northampton Avenue in Slough, Berkshire, with the postcode SL1 3BW. It is a co-educational selective academy for pupils aged 11 to 18, with boys and girls admitted into Year 7 and a sixth form offering A-level courses.
The school is one of four grammar schools in the Slough Consortium:
- Herschel Grammar School
- Langley Grammar School
- St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School
- Upton Court Grammar School
These schools share a common 11+ examination process, meaning children only need to sit one Consortium test to be considered for the grammar schools they name on their secondary school application.
Parents can find further information about the school’s curriculum, facilities and admissions arrangements on the official Herschel Grammar School website. For families comparing selective and fee-paying education, our guide to grammar schools vs independent schools explains the main differences.
Herschel Grammar School Admissions
Admission into Year 7 is based on academic eligibility through the Slough Consortium 11+ examination. Children must achieve a standardised score of at least 111 to be eligible for consideration for a place at Herschel Grammar School.
However, there are more eligible applicants than available places. When the number of children achieving the required score exceeds the school’s admission number, Herschel applies its oversubscription criteria to determine who receives an offer.
For September 2027 entry, the school has published 150 Year 7 places. The admissions policy sets out priority categories covering looked-after children, pupils living within the catchment area, eligible Pupil Premium applicants and children of qualifying school staff. Remaining places are allocated according to examination performance.
Herschel Grammar School 2027 Entry Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Selective grammar school |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age range | 11–18 |
| Year 7 admission number | 150 |
| Entrance assessment | Slough Consortium 11+ |
| Test provider | GL Assessment |
| Eligibility score | 111 or above |
| Catchment area | Within four miles of the school |
| School address | Northampton Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 3BW |
| National application deadline | 31 October 2026 |
| National offer day | 1 March 2027 |
Achieving a score of 111 or above means a child is eligible to be considered for a place. It does not mean they are guaranteed admission. If more eligible applicants apply than there are places, the school’s admissions policy determines how those places are allocated.
How Competitive Is Herschel Grammar School?
Herschel Grammar School has 150 Year 7 places, and the Slough Consortium states that there are considerably more eligible applicants than available places across its grammar schools.
This makes the admissions process competitive. A child who achieves the qualifying score may still not receive an offer, particularly if they live outside the school’s catchment area and other applicants have higher priority.
The distinction between eligibility and admission is important for parents. The 11+ result establishes whether a child can be considered, while the school’s oversubscription criteria determine how applicants are ranked when demand exceeds capacity.
Herschel Grammar School 11+ Exam
The entrance examination for Herschel Grammar School is the Slough Consortium 11+ Test, shared by Herschel Grammar School, Langley Grammar School, St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School and Upton Court Grammar School.
The examination is administered by GL Assessment and consists of two test papers. Questions assess verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics.
Children sit the examination during Year 6, in the September before they are due to start secondary school. For September 2027 entry, the test took place on Saturday 19 September 2026.
Parents can read our 11+ preparation guide for a wider overview of how to plan revision and build confidence ahead of selective school entrance examinations.
What Does the Slough Consortium 11+ Test Include?
The two papers contain a combination of questions designed to assess different areas of ability:
- Verbal reasoning: Understanding language, identifying relationships between words and solving problems using verbal information.
- Non-verbal reasoning: Recognising visual patterns, working with shapes and identifying relationships between figures.
- English: Applying language skills, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Mathematics: Using numerical knowledge and mathematical reasoning to solve problems.
Each paper lasts approximately 60–65 minutes. Children record their answers on a separate answer sheet, which is marked electronically.
The test is designed to assess a range of abilities rather than simply measure how much of the primary school curriculum a child has memorised. Familiarity with different question formats and careful time management can therefore be useful parts of preparation.
What Is the Pass Mark for Herschel Grammar School?
For September 2027 entry, the minimum eligibility score is 111 on the standardised scale.
The Slough Consortium states that children achieving 111 or above are within the top 35% of the cohort sitting the examination and are eligible to be considered for a grammar school place.
However, 111 should not be viewed as a guaranteed admission score. It is the eligibility threshold, not a promise of a place at Herschel. Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds 150, the school applies its oversubscription criteria.
The score is also not shared with grammar schools outside the Slough Consortium. Families applying to schools that use a different 11+ examination should check those schools’ separate testing arrangements.
When Do Herschel Grammar School 11+ Results Come Out?
For September 2027 entry, the Slough Consortium 11+ results became available from 4pm on 15 October 2026.
Parents can access their child’s result through the Consortium’s online registration portal using the email address and password created when registering for the test.
The results are released before the national secondary school application deadline so families can make informed decisions about which schools to include on their Common Application Form.
For children who have already sat the 2027 entry test, the next important step is submitting the secondary school application by 31 October 2026.
Herschel Grammar School Catchment Area
Herschel Grammar School has a defined catchment area based on a four-mile radius from the school. For September 2027 entry, pupils living within this area receive priority under the school’s oversubscription criteria, after looked-after and previously looked-after children.
The catchment area is measured using the straight-line distance from the front door of the child’s home, including flats, to the school’s main entrance gate. The school uses a geographical information system to calculate this distance.
Living within the catchment area can improve an eligible applicant’s priority, but it does not guarantee a place. Children must still achieve the qualifying score in the Slough Consortium 11+ examination.
How Does the Four-Mile Catchment Area Work?
The school’s admissions policy defines its catchment area as a home address within four miles of Herschel Grammar School.
If more eligible applicants live within the catchment area than there are places available under that priority category, children living closer to the school receive higher priority.
For example, two children may both achieve a score above 111, but the applicant living within the four-mile catchment area may receive higher priority than an applicant living further away, depending on the admissions categories that apply.
Parents should not rely on general estimates of distance or assume that living in Slough automatically means they are within catchment. The school’s measurement method and official catchment map should be used to check an address.
Does Herschel Grammar School Give Priority to Children Outside Catchment?
The admissions policy includes a separate provision for eligible applicants living within ten miles of the school who receive Pupil Premium.
Up to ten additional places may be offered to applicants meeting this criterion. Parents must be able to demonstrate that they meet the relevant Free School Meals or Pupil Premium eligibility requirements at the specified point in the application process.
After the higher-priority categories have been considered, the remaining places up to the school’s admission number of 150 are allocated in rank order of performance in the 11+ examination. Where applicants achieve the same score, proximity to the school is used to determine priority.
This means applicants outside the four-mile catchment area can still be considered for a place, but their position depends on the applicable admissions criteria and examination ranking.
How Do You Check If Your Address Is in Catchment?
Parents should consult the school’s official admissions policy and catchment map rather than rely on postcode alone.
The school measures distance from the front door of the child’s home to the main entrance gate. It also has specific requirements for confirming the applicant’s permanent home address.
For September 2027 entry, the policy states that the address used for admissions must be the child’s permanent home, where they live with the parent for the majority of their time. Applicants must be living at the address stated on their Common Application Form by 31 October 2026 and must have lived continuously at that address since 1 May 2026.
The school may check the authenticity of the address. Parents should inform the school if their address changes between 11+ registration and the application deadline.
How to Apply to Herschel Grammar School
Applying to Herschel Grammar School involves two separate stages: registering for the Slough Consortium 11+ examination and submitting a secondary school application through the family’s home local authority.
Registering for the examination does not automatically apply for a school place. Parents must still include Herschel Grammar School on their Common Application Form if they want their child to be considered.
Step 1: Register for the Slough Consortium 11+
Parents must register their child through the Slough Consortium’s online portal during the published registration window.
For September 2027 entry, registration opened on 1 May 2026 and closed at 10am on 5 June 2026. The registration window has now closed.
Children only need to register once, even if their parents are considering more than one of the four Consortium grammar schools.
Step 2: Sit the 11+ Examination
The 2027 entry examination took place on Saturday 19 September 2026 at one of the Consortium’s examination centres.
Children sat two papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics. The test provider marked and standardised the papers before results were released.
Step 3: Review the 11+ Result
Results for September 2027 entry were released from 4pm on 15 October 2026.
A standardised score of 111 or above makes a child eligible for consideration. Parents should review the result and the admissions policy before deciding which schools to include on their application.
Step 4: Submit the Common Application Form
Parents must apply through their home local authority and list Herschel Grammar School as one of their preferences.
For September 2027 entry, the national deadline is 31 October 2026. The school does not currently require a separate supplementary information form for this entry year.
Parents should list schools in their genuine order of preference and include suitable alternatives. Listing a school higher on the form does not improve a child’s examination score or change the school’s published oversubscription criteria.
Step 5: Receive the School Offer
National offer day for September 2027 entry is 1 March 2027.
The home local authority will notify parents of the school place allocated. Where a child qualifies for more than one school, the coordinated admissions process will offer the highest-ranked school on the Common Application Form for which a place is available.
If a child is eligible but does not receive an offer from Herschel, parents can review the waiting-list and appeal arrangements.
Herschel Grammar School Results
Herschel Grammar School has a strong academic profile, with its latest published results showing high proportions of pupils achieving top GCSE grades and strong A-level outcomes.
When comparing schools, parents should look at more than one headline figure. GCSE results, A-level performance, curriculum choices, pastoral support and the wider school environment can all help build a clearer picture of what a school offers.
Herschel Grammar School GCSE Results 2026
Herschel Grammar School reported strong GCSE results for its 2026 cohort.
According to the school’s published results:
- 50% of all GCSE grades were awarded at grades 8–9.
- Nearly 75% of GCSE grades were awarded at grades 7–9.
The school described the
