Passing an entrance test and receiving a place are two different steps. When more eligible children apply than a grammar school can admit, the school uses its published rules to decide who gets an offer.

Qualification comes first

Some schools set an academic qualifying standard. Others rank applicants by test score, sometimes within priority groups. A qualifying score is not always the score of the last child offered a place. Read the school's arrangements for the year your child would start Year 7.

What does “oversubscription” mean?

It means there are more applicants than places. Possible priorities include living in a defined area, meeting a specified pupil-premium condition, having a sibling at the school, or distance from home. Not every school uses these criteria, and the order matters.

England's School Admissions Code sets the rules, including priority for looked-after and previously looked-after children. Grammar schools have specific provisions about academic selection. Do not assume a priority category removes the need to qualify. Children with an education, health and care plan naming a school follow a separate statutory process.

A simple example

Imagine a school requires a qualifying result, then gives priority to eligible children living in its catchment, with distance used within that group. A child just outside the catchment might have a higher score but lower priority. At a school using score order, the outcome could be different. This example is made up; use the actual policy for your chosen school.

Check the small details

  • Catchment: use the official map or address checker.
  • Home address: check the date and evidence rules, including rules for a move.
  • Siblings: check the definition and which school years count.
  • Priority funding groups: check the precise eligibility and evidence required.
  • Tie-breaks: find out how equal scores or distances are resolved.

Apply in your genuine preference order

In England's coordinated process, schools apply their admission criteria and the local authority offers the highest preference available to you. Follow your council's application guidance and include realistic options. Registering for a test is not the same as applying for a school place.

Why last year's offers are only a guide

Applicant numbers, scores and addresses change. A previous distance or score cut-off cannot promise this year's result. Waiting-list positions can also move when applicants join or their priority changes. Ask the admission authority to explain the current rules rather than relying on playground rumours.

Planning for September 2028 entry?

For 2028, school admission authorities publish the determined policies in 2027. See our 2028 admission checklist, catchment and address guide, and how school preference order works. The Buckinghamshire and Wirral timelines include already-published local milestones.