Super-selective and county grammar schools: what is the difference?

Where do the labels come from?

Neither term appears in the School Admissions Code. The Code recognises grammar schools as a single type: only designated grammar schools may select all their pupils by ability, and they can leave places emptySource for Which schools may select every pupil by abilityWhich schools may select every pupil by abilityCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Only designated grammar schools are permitted to select their entire ... intake on the basis of high academic ability . They do not have to fill all of their places if applicants have not reached the required standard.View the official source. Within that, each school chooses its own way of deciding who gets in, and selective schools must publish their entry requirements and selection processSource for What selective schools must publishWhat selective schools must publishCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: The admission authorities for all selective schools must publish the entry requirements for a selective place and the process for such selection in their admission arrangements.View the official source.

Parents, forums and the press often use "super-selective" informally for schools where competition is driven mainly by score, and "county" or "local" grammar for schools that mostly serve children nearby. The labels are used loosely and inconsistently, and different people apply them to different schools. ExamKind does not label any named school either way. Instead, this guide explains the two admission patterns so you can recognise them in any policy you read.

Pattern 1: places in rank order of score

In this pattern, the test result is used not just to decide who is eligible, but to put children in order. Places are then offered from the highest score downwards until they are filled. Common features:

• The score that is "enough" changes every year, because it depends on how many children apply and how they all perform.
• A catchment may be wide, or there may be none, so children can travel a long way. Some schools add a priority area or a distance limit.
• There may be more than one stage, with only the highest-ranked children going on to the next.

Some published examples show how ranking can work in practice:

• The Henrietta Barnett School tests in two roundsSource for School-set tests: HbsSchool-set tests: HbsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Henrietta Barnett School.The source says: Admission to The Henrietta Barnett School for Year 7 is by academic selection, with a First Round Entrance Test in Verbal, Non-Verbal reasoning and English, followed by a Second Round English and Mathematics test.View the official source: The top 300 Round One candidates are invited to Round Two; those ranked below 300 are not invited.Source for The Henrietta Barnett School 2027 entry: Stage2 selectionThe Henrietta Barnett School 2027 entry: Stage2 selectionCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Henrietta Barnett School.The source says: The top 300 candidates will be invited to sit Round Two of the Entrance Test on Tuesday 6th October. Unfortunately, candidates ranked below 300 will not be invited to sit the Round Two Test.View the official source
• At The Latymer School, the second stage works like this: Not a separate test: English papers (sat on the same day) are marked only for applicants ranked 1-700 on the combined age-standardised Verbal Reasoning + Mathematics score (1-900 for looked-after and Universal Credit/FSM applicants); ties can mean more than 700.Source for The Latymer School 2027 entry: Stage2 selectionThe Latymer School 2027 entry: Stage2 selectionCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Latymer School.The source says: Applicants ranked between 1 and 700 in the combined age-standardised score for Verbal Reasoning and Mathematics will have their English papers marked by school staff.View the official source
• Kendrick School combines a qualifying score with ranking. Its published method: Qualifying score set each year (to two decimal places); 5 points lower for looked-after / PP / SP candidates.Source for Kendrick School entrance test (GL Assessment): Pass mark methodKendrick School entrance test (GL Assessment): Pass mark methodCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Kendrick School.The source says: A qualifying score will be determined (to two decimal places) for candidates in categories 3-6 of the oversubscription criteria below.View the official source On scoring: raw scores age-standardised; ranking by the aggregate of both papersSource for Kendrick School entrance test (GL Assessment): StandardisationKendrick School entrance test (GL Assessment): StandardisationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Kendrick School.The source says: The raw scores will be age standardised and the ranking is determined by the aggregate of the age standardised scores of both papers.View the official source.

These examples show mechanisms, not a ranking or a label for the schools. Each policy has further rules, for example for children in care or pupil premium, which you need to read in full.

Pattern 2: reach the standard, then other rules apply

In this pattern, the test works more like a gate. Children who reach a set qualifying score are all treated as eligible. If there are more eligible children than places, the school uses its oversubscription criteria, such as catchment, distance or siblings, rather than score order. Common features:

• The qualifying score is known in advance, or set in a published way, so families can see what "passing" means.
• Where you live matters a lot, because distance or catchment often decides the last places.
• A high score above the standard usually brings no extra priority.

Buckinghamshire is a clear example. The qualifying score is 121Source for Buckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreBuckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: The qualifying score for Buckinghamshire grammar schools is a Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) of 121 or above.View the official source, and the area expects about 37%Source for Buckinghamshire: Children expected to reach the qualifying scoreBuckinghamshire: Children expected to reach the qualifying scoreCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: We expect that about 37% of children will get an STTS of 121 or more.View the official source of children tested to reach it. Asked whether the score itself is used to rank children for places, the Buckinghamshire information says: NoSource for Buckinghamshire: Score used for rankingBuckinghamshire: Score used for rankingCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: When applying their admission rules grammar schools do not use STTS scores to rank order children so children with higher scores are not at an advantage for entry to grammar school.View the official source. Each school's own admission rules then apply. Our Buckinghamshire pass marks page has more detail.

What do mixed systems look like?

Many areas sit between the two patterns. A few examples:

• Bexley: No catchment areas in Bexley; the selection test is open to all children regardless of where they live; places are allocated by each grammar school’s oversubscription criteria, mostly straight-line home-to-school distance.Source for Bexley 2027 entry: CatchmentBexley 2027 entry: CatchmentCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against London Borough of Bexley.The source says: We do not have catchment areas in BexleyView the official source But there is also a score element: The 180 highest total age-standardised scorers are placed in one of the highest priority groups for their preferred Bexley grammar school; other selective pupils are not guaranteed a place.Source for Bexley: Top180 priorityBexley: Top180 priorityCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against London Borough of Bexley.The source says: the top 180 children with the highest total age-standardised scores are placed in one of the highest priority groups for their preferred grammar schoolView the official source
• CSSE (Essex and Southend): the minimum standard is a score of 303Source for CSSE (Essex and Southend): Minimum scoreCSSE (Essex and Southend): Minimum scoreCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex).The source says: CSSE secondary school offers are not made to any child who has scored under a total standardised score of 303.View the official source. The rule for children below it: Below the pass mark: refused a place at a selective school and cannot join its selective waiting list.Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Minimum score ruleEssex and Southend (CSSE): Minimum score ruleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: If you use one of your preferences for a selective school and your child did not reach the pass mark you will be refused a place at the selective school. Children can only be on the waiting list for a selective place if they meet the pass mark.View the official source On how places are given: Selection-test score determines allocation at each selective school; application varies by school (e.g. SS0-SS9 priority area at the four grammars).Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Score used for rankingEssex and Southend (CSSE): Score used for rankingCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: The allocation of places at each of the schools is determined by the score in the selection test, but how this is applied will vary between the schoolsView the official source
• The Sutton SET: the first test is two multiple-choice papers (maths and English), no reasoning papersSource for Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): the test papersSutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): the test papersCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sutton SET Consortium (hosted on Nonsuch High School for Girls website).The source says: The test is made up of two papers; a multiple-choice Maths paper and a multiple-choiceView the official source, and there is a second-stage exam for children who pass the SETSource for Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Second stageSutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Second stageCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sutton SET Consortium (hosted on Nonsuch High School for Girls website).The source says: your son or daughter is eligible to sit the second stage Entrance Examinations, details of which will be sent to you by email.View the official source. Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School and Wilson’s School hold one shared second-stage test, and each school sets its own standardSource for Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Boys stage2Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Boys stage2CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sutton SET Consortium (hosted on Nonsuch High School for Girls website).The source says: A shared second stage test will be held by Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County ... Grammar School and Wilson’s SchoolView the official source. Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls hold a joint second-stage test, with the same standard for both schoolsSource for Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Girls stage2Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Girls stage2CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sutton SET Consortium (hosted on Nonsuch High School for Girls website).The source says: A joint second stage test will be held by Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High ... School for GirlsView the official source. Meanwhile, Greenshaw High School uses the SET to decide who can be considered for its ability places, and holds no second stageSource for Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): GreenshawSutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): GreenshawCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sutton SET Consortium (hosted on Nonsuch High School for Girls website).The source says: Greenshaw High School uses the outcome of the ... Selective Eligibility Test to determine those children who may be eligible to be consideredView the official source. Second-stage timing: second-stage results are emailed by the end of October, before the application deadline; passing does not mean a placeSource for Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Stage2 outcomeSutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET): Stage2 outcomeCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sutton SET Consortium (hosted on Nonsuch High School for Girls website).The source says: The outcome of the second stage entrance examinations will be emailed to parents/carers by ... the end of October (in advance of the deadline for completion of the CAF).View the official source.

So one area can contain schools using quite different rules, even with a shared first test.

How do the two patterns compare?

In both patterns, the Code says test scores cannot be adjusted for things like having a sibling at the schoolSource for Test scores are not adjusted for admission rulesTest scores are not adjusted for admission rulesCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Admission authorities must not adjust the score achieved by any child in a test to take account of oversubscription criteria, such as having a sibling at the school.View the official source. Priority groups sit alongside the score; they do not change it.

Does one pattern mean a harder test?

Not necessarily. The pattern changes what you are competing on, not the test paper itself. In a rank-order school, the challenge is often the number of high-scoring applicants. In a qualifying-standard school, a child may reach the standard comfortably and still depend on distance. Our guide to how hard the 11+ is looks at candidates and places by area.

Neither pattern is better or worse for children. They suit different families, depending on where you live, how far your child can travel and how you feel about competing on score alone.

How can you tell which pattern a school uses?

Read the school's determined admission policy for your child's entry year and look for:

1. Words like "rank order", "highest scores" or "in order of score" in the oversubscription criteria. These point to pattern 1.
2. Words like "qualifying score", "reached the required standard" or "deemed selective" followed by catchment or distance rules. These point to pattern 2.
3. A priority area or a distance limit, which can apply in either pattern.
4. Stage two or round two tests, and who is invited to sit them.
5. Past allocation data, where published: a last-offered score suggests ranking; a last-offered distance suggests distance rules.

Our guides to grammar school catchment areas and how grammar school admissions work explain the rules that apply in pattern 2.

What does this mean for your choices?

• For a rank-order school, a pass mark alone tells you little. Look at past cut-off scores, and remember they move each year.
• For a qualifying-standard school, check your distance or catchment honestly before you build hopes around a score.
• For any school, include a school on your application that your child is very likely to be offered. See how to rank your school preferences.

Related pages

• What is a grammar school?
• How to choose a grammar school
• Grammar school catchment areas explained
• How grammar school admissions work
• Standardised scores explained

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 9 October 2026: the School Admissions Code 2021 (Department for Education), The Henrietta Barnett School, The Latymer School, Kendrick School, Buckinghamshire Council and The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools, the London Borough of Bexley, CSSE and the Sutton SET schools.

ExamKind is independent, is not connected with any school or test provider, and takes no position on whether selection by ability is right or wrong. How we make our content.