Start with your child
Before thinking about forms, talk to your child. Whatever the score, they have worked hard and sat a demanding test. Praise the effort, keep the conversation low-key, and remember that an 11+ result is one step in a long education, not a verdict on ability.
Don't miss the secondary school application
In England, applications for a Year 7 place are made through your home local authority, even if the schools you want are in a neighbouring area. The national closing date is usually 31 October. Check your local authority's website for the exact date and how to apply.
Apply on time, even if you are still deciding between schools. Late applications are usually considered only after on-time ones, which can make it harder to get a place at a popular school.
Ranking your preferences
- List schools in your genuine order of preference. Your local authority's guidance explains how preferences are handled, so read it before you decide.
- If you want a grammar school place, it usually needs to be listed on the form as well as your child reaching the required standard. Check each school's admissions policy.
- Include at least one realistic option you would be happy with, such as a local school where your child meets the admissions criteria.
- Independent schools usually make their own offers separately, so check each school's timetable for offers and acceptances.
If your child passed
Congratulations. Selective schools move at a quick pace from the start of Year 7, so keep reading, arithmetic and writing ticking over through Year 6. Steady habits now make the step up in September far easier.
If the result wasn't what you hoped
It is normal to feel disappointed, and it helps to keep perspective. The skills your child built for the 11+, from vocabulary and reasoning to problem-solving, are exactly the skills that help in secondary school. Nothing has been wasted.
Keep building those skills through Year 6 and into Year 7. Our KS3 course supports Years 7 to 9 in English, Maths and Science, bridging the gap between primary school and GCSE, at our Cheadle, Longsight and Didsbury centres or online.
