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Area guide · entry in September 2027

The 11+ in Slough

Slough's four grammar schools share one 11+ test and one published eligibility line: a standardised score of 111, which the Consortium says puts a child in the top 35% of those sitting it. Above that line, each school fills its places by its own rules — catchment, priority areas, score order or faith — so the same score can mean a likely place at one school and none at another.

On this page
  1. Entry in September 2028: what is published so far
  2. The calendar
  3. Four schools, one test
  4. What is in the papers
  5. 111 is an eligibility line, not an offer
  6. Applying, and how places are allocated
  7. Things that catch families out

Slough at a glance

  • The 11+ One Consortium test for all four grammar schools, sat on Saturday 19 September 2026.
  • The line: 111 A standardised score of 111 or above makes your child eligible. Results by the week beginning 19 October 2026.
  • Apply by 31 October 2026 Registering for the test is not applying. Name the schools on your home council's form.
  • How places are decided 111 is not an offer. Each school ranks eligible children by its own criteria. Offers on 1 March 2027.

What the test covers

Two multiple-choice papers set by GL Assessment, covering a combination of verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics. From the September 2027 test the provider changes to Quest Assessments.

For children in Year 5 now · starting secondary school in September 2028

Entry in September 2028: what is published so far

The Consortium has confirmed that the test sat in September 2027 will be set by Quest Assessments instead of GL Assessment, and that the eligibility score stays at 111. No registration or test dates have been published yet.

Date What happens
September 2027 Slough Consortium 11+ examination, set by Quest Assessments Only the month is published so far.
  • New provider: Quest Assessments. The schools say the structure and format will be similar to before — two papers covering a combination of verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics — with all marking and standardisation done by Quest.
  • The eligibility score stays at 111 on a standardised scale, still meaning the top 35% of the children who sit the test.
  • Scores will not be shared with any other schools.
  • Langley Grammar School says it will hold open mornings and afternoons in June and July 2027, aimed mainly at parents of children in Year 5 now.

Only what has been published. From: St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School — Year 7 Admissions 2028 Entry; Langley Grammar School — Admission to Year 7, September 2028; Herschel Grammar School — Year 7 Admissions 2028; Upton Court Grammar School — Year 7 Entry September 2028; Langley Grammar School — Admission to Year 7, September 2027 (open events).

The calendar

Every date for entry in September 2027, from the published arrangements. Dates that have passed are in grey.

Date What happens
Friday 1 May 2026 at 10am 11+ registration opened
Friday 5 June 2026 at 10am 11+ registration closed Late registrations are not accepted unless there are exceptional circumstances.
3pm on Friday 12 June 2026 Deadline for evidence supporting extra time or other access arrangements
1 September 2026 Online secondary applications open (Slough residents)
Saturday 19 September 2026 Slough Consortium 11+ examination Sat at one of the four grammar schools, in a morning or afternoon session.
By the week beginning 19 October 2026 Results available to parents Only through the Consortium's Exams+/Applicaa portal, using the login created at registration.
Saturday 31 October 2026 Secondary school application deadline St Bernard's supplementary form, and Upton Court's free school meals evidence, are due the same day.
Monday 1 March 2027 National offer day Formal offers from the grammar schools follow as soon as possible afterwards.
14 March 2027 Deadline to accept or decline the place offered (Slough residents)
26 March 2027 Deadline for submitting a Year 7 appeal (Slough residents)

Four schools, one test

The Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools runs one shared 11+ examination, with the same papers and the same eligibility rule, for:

  • Herschel Grammar School — 150 places in Year 7
  • Langley Grammar School — 180 places
  • St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School — 150 places
  • Upton Court Grammar School — 165 places
  • A child sits one test, whichever and however many of the four schools you later apply to. Registration is free and was made once, online, through the Consortium's portal. Slough Borough Council's own page says the 11+ is entirely independent of the council.

What is in the papers

For the test sat in September 2026 the provider is GL Assessment, which marks and standardises the papers itself.

Papers
Two, each about 60 to 65 minutes, with a short break. The Consortium's question summary says one paper covers maths and non-verbal reasoning and the other verbal skills.
Content
A combination of verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics. The Consortium does not publish the weighting of each element, the number of questions or the total marks.
Format
Paper-based and all multiple choice, answered on a separate sheet that is marked by computer. Answers written only in the question booklet cannot be transferred afterwards.
Result
One standardised score across both papers, age-standardised so that summer-born children are not disadvantaged. Raw scores and a breakdown by paper are not given.

The part most families need

111 is an eligibility line, not an offer

All four schools use the same rule: a standardised score of 111 or above makes a child eligible for consideration for a place. The scale is fixed so that 35% of the children who sit the test score 111 or more.

A score of 111 or above is not an offer and does not guarantee a place. When a school has more eligible applicants than places, its own oversubscription criteria decide, and these differ a great deal:

  • Herschel: after looked-after children, pupils living within 4 miles of the school, nearest first; then up to 10 places for Pupil Premium children within 10 miles; then children of staff; then the rest in order of score.
  • Langley: priority areas. Up to 120 places for eligible children living in its Priority Area 1, with Pupil Premium children first and then in score order. Next come Pupil Premium children in Priority Area 2, children of staff, the rest of Priority Area 2 in score order, then Priority Area 3, and finally everyone else in score order.
  • Upton Court: after looked-after children, up to 20 places for children eligible for free school meals now or in the last six years, then children of staff and children at its two feeder schools (Foxborough Primary and Trevelyan Middle). Places in score order follow, up to 120 in total including those already offered, and the rest go by distance.
  • St Bernard's is a Catholic school and ranks children using its own oversubscription criteria and a supplementary form, which tells the school the child's faith.
  • A child who scores below 111 is not placed on any Slough grammar school's waiting list.

Applying, and how places are allocated

You apply on your home local authority's common application form by Saturday 31 October 2026, naming each school you want considered — whether it is in Slough or elsewhere. Slough residents can name six schools. Families living elsewhere apply through their own council, which passes the application to Slough.

Schools do not see where you placed them. The Consortium is explicit that there is no such thing as tactical ordering: list schools in your genuine order of preference, and if you want a grammar place, put the grammar schools above non-selective ones. A child who qualifies for both is given whichever is higher on the form.

  • St Bernard's needs its supplementary form back by 31 October 2026, as well as the council application.
  • Upton Court asks families applying under its free school meals priority to send a letter from the primary school by 31 October 2026.
  • Your home council tells you the result on 1 March 2027. The grammar schools are their own admission authorities and make the formal offer afterwards, and you must accept with both the council and the school.
  • Children eligible for a higher-preference school go on its waiting list automatically. Further offers, run by Slough council, usually start about six to eight weeks after offer day.

Things that catch families out

  • The score cannot be appealed or re-marked. You can appeal only against a school's decision not to offer a place. If you believe the score did not reflect your child's ability, you must name at least one grammar school on the form — without an application there is no refusal to appeal.
  • After offer day there are 20 school days to lodge an appeal; Slough council gives 26 March 2027 for its residents. The Consortium warns it can be mid-June before an appeal is decided.
  • There is no late test for clashes with other schools' 11+ dates, and the session cannot be changed. A single alternative date exists only for religious or medical reasons.
  • The Consortium's scores are not shared with any other school. Reading's grammar schools, and others around London, run their own tests.
  • The address on the form must be your permanent address on 31 October 2026, and individual schools may have further rules on what counts as permanent.

Sources

12 official pages, checked 4 October 2026

Admissions rules are set again every year, so check the council's own pages before you rely on a date, and tell us if you find something out of date.

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School

Langley Grammar School

Herschel Grammar School

Upton Court Grammar School

Slough Consortium

Slough Borough Council

All areas Practise for the Slough test