Slough 11+: the Slough Consortium test

If your child is in Year 5 now, they belong to the 2028-entry group, and one thing about their test will be different from this year's: who writes it. The consortium used GL AssessmentSource for Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Test providerSlough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Test providerCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: The Consortium 11+ entrance examination is provided by GL Assessment.View the official source for the test sat on Saturday 19 September 2026Source for Slough 2027 entry: Test dateSlough 2027 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: This will take place on Saturday 19th September 2026 for all candidates, whatever their home address or current primary school.View the official source. For the test in September 2027Source for Slough 2028 entry: Test dateSlough 2028 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: 11+ test provider for September 2028 entry (exam in September 2027)View the official source, it has contracted Quest AssessmentsSource for Slough Consortium 11+ (Quest Assessments, from the September 2027 test): Test providerSlough Consortium 11+ (Quest Assessments, from the September 2027 test): Test providerCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Herschel Grammar School.The source says: The Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools has contracted with Quest Assessments as the test provider for the 11+ examination to be held in September 2027.View the official source.

What stays the same. All the consortium schools will still use one shared test, so your child sits it once. The eligibility score stays at 111Source for Slough 2028 entry: Qualifying scoreSlough 2028 entry: Qualifying scoreCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: The eligibility score will continue to be set at 111 on a standardised scale.View the official source. The consortium holds its own contract with the new provider and says Slough scores will still not be shared with other schools. Each school will go on setting its own admission rules; their policies for 2028 entry are not published yet.

What we don't know yet. The registration window, the exact test day, results day, what each paper covers and whether the new provider will publish familiarisation material. We will add each detail here when the consortium publishes it.

What you can do now. There is nothing you must do this term. For this year's group, registration opened on Friday 1 May 2026, 10amSource for Slough 2027 entry: Registration opensSlough 2027 entry: Registration opensCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: 11+ Registration opens on-line ... Friday 1 May 2026 at 10:00amView the official source, during Year 5, so it is worth watching the school websites from the spring. Upton Court has also announced Open Mornings and Afternoons for Year 5 pupils and parents: June 2027Source for Upton Court Grammar School: Open daysUpton Court Grammar School: Open daysCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: We will hold Open Mornings & Afternoons in June and July 2027 for prospective students and parents to view the school in operation.View the official source. When the consortium's guide for 2028 entry appears, it will be the most reliable description of the new papers; our Quest Assessments page gives general background.

The consortium schools use a common test and run it the same way, so a child sits just one test however many of the schools you are considering. For 2027 entry it was set, marked and standardised by GL AssessmentSource for Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Test providerSlough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Test providerCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: The Consortium 11+ entrance examination is provided by GL Assessment.View the official source.

• Who sits it: children in Year 6Source for Slough 2027 entry: Year group at testSlough 2027 entry: Year group at testCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: The tests are intended to be administered in Year 6, sat on the main test date or as close to that date as possible, and within the academic year of the test.View the official source. For 2027 entry, that meant children born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016Source for Slough 2027 entry: Birth date rangeSlough 2027 entry: Birth date rangeCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: For September 2027 entry, the 11+ tests will be held at one of the Slough Grammar Schools in Autumn 2026, for children born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016.View the official source.
• Registration: parents register their child online in the window shown above. Late registrations are not accepted unless there are exceptional circumstancesSource for Slough 2027 entry: Late registrationSlough 2027 entry: Late registrationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Late applications will NOT be accepted unless there are exceptional circumstances.View the official source.
• Where: at one of the four grammar schools (morning or afternoon session)Source for Slough 2027 entry: Test venueSlough 2027 entry: Test venueCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: There will be four test centres in Slough, one at each of the four grammar schools.View the official source.
• Papers: 2Source for Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Paper countSlough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Paper countCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: The examination consists of two separate papers, each of approximately 60-65 minutes duration, containing a variety of questions which will test verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability.View the official source, on the same day. The consortium's guide describes the question types; we link it under Sources.
• Answers: a range of answer formats, recorded on a separate computer-marked answer sheetSource for Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Answer formatSlough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Answer formatCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Questions on both papers have a range of answer formats. Candidates indicate their answers on a separate answer sheet. This is marked by computer and must be filled in exactly as directed in the instructions.View the official source.
• Scoring: marked and standardised by GL Assessment against all Consortium candidates and by age; 100 is the middle of the rangeSource for Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): StandardisationSlough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): StandardisationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Papers are marked by GL Assessment, who then carry out a standardisation process.View the official source.
• If your child cannot attend: there is one alternative date for religious or medical reasons only; not for clashes with other testsSource for Slough 2027 entry: Alternative test ruleSlough 2027 entry: Alternative test ruleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: A single alternative test date will be available for applicants who cannot attend on Saturday 19th September 2026 for religious or medical reasons. However, there are no opportunities to take the test at a later date because of clashes.View the official source.
• Access arrangements: if your child has special educational needs, the consortium needed supporting evidence by Friday 12 June 2026, 3pmSource for Slough 2027 entry: Access arrangements deadlineSlough 2027 entry: Access arrangements deadlineCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: This must be sent to the Consortium as requested during the registration process and received no later than 3.00pm on Friday 12th June 2026.View the official source.

The rule is simple to state: a standardised score of 111 or above makes a child eligible for consideration (about the top 35%); not a guarantee of a placeSource for Slough: Qualifying ruleSlough: Qualifying ruleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (hosted by Upton Court Grammar School).The source says: A score of 111 or greater means that a pupil is eligible to be considered for a place in a grammar school if they were to apply.View the official source. What happens next is less simple. Does a higher score help? The consortium's answer is that it depends on the school: each school's oversubscription criteria may use rank order, distance or other criteriaSource for Slough: Score used for rankingSlough: Score used for rankingCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (hosted by Upton Court Grammar School).The source says: This may involve offering places in rank order, according to distance from the school, or some other criteria.View the official source. Each school is its own admission authority, so the formal offer of a place comes from the school, not from the consortium.

In practice, the score counts for more at some schools than others. Langley ranks eligible children by score within its priority areas. Upton Court fills a large block of places in score order. Herschel's 2026 offers went first by distance and then by score. St Bernard's places children in categories, where distance and score decided the last places in 2026.

Applications and eligible applicants, 2026 entry. The consortium's "Information on 2026 Allocations (as of 2 March 2026)Source for Slough 2026 entry: PublicationSlough 2026 entry: PublicationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (hosted by Upton Court Grammar School).The source says: The following information relates to the 11+ testing round in September 2025 and consequent entry to the [...] schools in September 2026. This information is as of 2 March 2026.View the official source" gives these figures, as at Monday 2 March 2026Source for Slough 2026 entry: Data dateSlough 2026 entry: Data dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (hosted by Upton Court Grammar School).The source says: This information is as of 2 March 2026. Further movement may take place in consequent allocation rounds following the compilation of this information.View the official source:

The same child can appear in more than one school's row, because families name several schools. The eligibility score was 111Source for slough-2026-qualifyingScore: Valueslough-2026-qualifyingScore: ValueCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (hosted by Upton Court Grammar School).The source says: This is the number of applicants who achieved an average standardised score of 111 or above in the Consortium 11+ test. These applicants were eligible for consideration for a place.View the official source for 2026 entry too. For more on how standardised scores work, see standardised scores explained.

Children eligible for the pupil premium (usually because they get, or recently got, free school meals) are treated differently at each school. We found no consortium-wide pupil premium form; each school sets its own evidence rules.

• Langley: pupil premium applicants come first within Priority Area 1 and Priority Area 3, and Priority Area 2 pupil-premium applicants have their own criterion ahead of staff children and other Area 2 applicantsSource for Langley Grammar School: Pp priority (2027)Langley Grammar School: Pp priority (2027)CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Langley Grammar School.The source says: If there are fewer places available than eligible applicants, places will be allocated firstly to those applicants who attract Pupil Premium funding at the closing date for submission of the Common Application Form [see note (g)], and then in rank order of performance in the entrance examination.View the official source.
• Upton Court: up to 20 places for children eligible for free school meals now or in the last six years; ranked by score then distance if more than 20Source for Upton Court Grammar School: Pp priority (2027)Upton Court Grammar School: Pp priority (2027)CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: Up to 20 places will be offered to applicants who are currently eligible, or have been eligible within the previous six years, for Free School Meals (Pupil Premium). If the number of applicants in this category is greater than 20, places will be offered in rank order according to 11+ score, and then distance from the school (see Tiebreaker below).View the official source. The policy describes the eligibility window in two different ways, so we are checking the exact wording with the school.
• Herschel: up to 10 further places for pupil-premium children living within 10 miles of the schoolSource for Herschel Grammar School: Pp priority (2027)Herschel Grammar School: Pp priority (2027)CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Herschel Grammar School.The source says: Up to a further 10 places will be offered to eligible applicants with a home address within 10 miles of the school who are eligible for the Pupil Premium at the closing date for submission of the Common Application FormView the official source.
• St Bernard's: any priority is set out in its own 2027 arrangements, which we could not check; ask the school directly.

In every case a child still needs the eligibility score. Our pupil premium and the 11+ guide explains the background.

This section is general information, not legal advice. Each step has strict deadlines, so check the school's and your council's own guidance.

There is no review of the score. The consortium's position is: no appeal against the score; appeal against a refusal to an independent panel per school; lodge within 20 school days of 1 MarchSource for Slough: RouteSlough: RouteCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: After you have received your school allocation on 1st March, you would have a maximum of 20 school days in which to lodge an appeal. Appeals are heard on behalf of each school separately by an independent appeals panel.View the official source.

Admission appeals. If a school refuses your child a place, you can appeal after National Offer Day (Monday 1 March 2027Source for Slough 2027 entry: National Offer DaySlough 2027 entry: National Offer DayCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Upton Court Grammar School.The source says: National allocation day 2027 – parents notified of Monday 1st March 2027View the official source). For 2027 entry, Slough Borough Council gives Friday 26 March 2027Source for Slough 2027 entry: Appeal deadlineSlough 2027 entry: Appeal deadlineCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Borough Council.The source says: 26 March 2027 | Deadline for submitting an appeal for a Year 7 placeView the official source as the deadline. Be ready for a wait: the consortium says it could be mid-June before an appeal outcome is knownSource for Slough: Outcome timingSlough: Outcome timingCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: You should note that if you do appeal, it could be mid-June before you know whether or not your appeal has been successfulView the official source.

Waiting lists. You do not always need to appeal to stay in the running. In Slough, eligible pupils not allocated are automatically on the waiting list for higher-preference schools; further rounds coordinated by Slough LA, first about 6-8 weeks after allocation day; only for pupils with the eligibility scoreSource for Slough: Waiting listSlough: Waiting listCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: These further rounds of offers are coordinated by Slough Local Authority, with the first round usually taking place around 6-8 weeks after the national allocation date.View the official source.

Appeals take time and energy, so it helps to name a realistic school you would be happy with as well. Our 11+ appeals guide and grammar school waiting lists guide go into more detail.