Wirral Council has published an admissions timetable for children aiming to start secondary school in September 2028. Here are the dates and the actions parents should keep separate.

What has the council published?

For selective assessments for entry to non-Catholic grammar schools, Wirral Council lists:

  • 1 May 2027: online registration opens.
  • 31 May 2027: registration closes.
  • September 2027: grammar-school assessments are expected.
  • 21 October 2027: assessment results are due to be sent to parents.
  • 31 October 2027: secondary-school preference application deadline.
  • 1 March 2028: school place offers for online applicants are due by email, with paper applications handled by post.

These are the dates shown on the council’s published 2028 timeline as checked on 22 October 2026. Verify any updates before registering.

Which schools does this cover?

The council explicitly labels the May selective-assessment window for non-Catholic grammar schools. Check separately for Catholic grammar-school processes, tests, supplementary information and school-specific policies. Nearby authorities or consortia may follow different routes.

Test registration is not the school application

Registering for an assessment is not the same as listing a grammar school on the coordinated secondary-school application. Keep both confirmation records. Read each school’s determined 2028 admissions arrangements to understand academic selection, distance, catchment or other oversubscription criteria after the assessment.

What to do if the assessment score is borderline

First read the school’s actual 2028 score and priority rules. A reported score may indicate qualification without guaranteeing an offer. It helps to include realistic alternative schools in your genuine preference order. Your home council, not the practice provider, should be your source for application and allocation questions.

Plan practice around the dates

Use the months before autumn 2027 to strengthen reading, Maths, vocabulary and reasoning with short, focused practice, followed by review of mistakes. A calm approach is more helpful than assuming a particular older paper format will be used unchanged. Check the latest test specification from the admissions authority.