The short answer
A grammar school is a free state secondary school in England (or Northern Ireland) that chooses its pupils by academic ability, usually through an entrance test called the 11+. Grammar schools follow the same admissions code as other state schools, but they can set a required standard and leave places empty if not enough children reach it. They exist only in some parts of England, and new ones cannot be created.
What to do next
Step 1: See whether there are grammar schools near you
Grammar schools are only in some parts of England.
Find grammar schoolsStep 2: Check how places are given in your area
Find the test, the dates and the admission rules.
Find your 11+ areaStep 3: Apply through your home council
By31 OctoberSchool place applications close (common application form, CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says:
You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.
View the official sourceName your schools on the Common Application Form ()Opens a short explanationCAFCommon Application FormThe form you use to apply for a secondary school place. You send it to your own council, even for schools in another area, and you list the schools you want in order of preference. In England it closes on 31 October..
How is a grammar school different from other state schools?
GOV.UK describes grammar schools as state schools that select pupils by academic ability, using a testWhat a grammar school isChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: grammar schools, which can be run by the local authority, a foundation body or an academy trust - they select their pupils based on academic ability and there is a test to get in
View the official source. The key differences from non-selective schools are:
- Entry by ability. only designated grammar schools may select all their pupils by ability, and they can leave places emptyWhich schools may select every pupil by abilityChecked 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. - A published standard. selective schools must publish their entry requirements and selection processWhat selective schools must publishChecked 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. - No new selection. new selection by ability must not be introducedNo new grammar schools can openChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says:
introduce any new selection by ability ;
View the official source. That is why grammar schools exist only in some areas.
Like other state schools, they are free to attend, are inspected, and are part of your council's normal application process.
Are grammar schools the same as independent schools?
No. Grammar schools are state schools and charge no fees. Independent (private) schools are fee-charging schools that do not have to follow the national curriculumWhat a private (independent) school isChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: Private schools (also known as ‘independent schools’) charge fees to attend instead of being funded by the government. Pupils do not have to follow the national curriculum.
View the official source. Some independent schools still have "grammar" in their name for historical reasons, so check whether a school is state-funded.
What is a partially selective school?
Partially selective schools are a different kind of school: they select some of their pupils by ability, and must not exceed the lowest proportion they have selected since 1997/98Partially selective schoolsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Partially selective schools select a proportion of their intake by ability.
View the official source. You'll find these in some areas without, or alongside, grammar schools.
How do children get a place?
Usually in two steps:
- The test. Your child sits the school's or area's 11+ and reaches the required standard, or ranks highly enough.
- The admission rules. If more children pass than there are places, the school uses its published rules, which may include children in care, pupil premium, catchment, distance, siblings or score order. On children in care, for example, at grammar schools that set a pass mark, looked-after and previously looked-after children who reach the standard get priorityChildren in care and grammar school placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says:
Where admission arrangements are not based solely on highest scores in a selection test, the admission authority must give priority in its oversubscription criteria to all looked after children and previously looked after children who meet the pre-set standards of the ability test.
View the official source.
You apply through your home council: you apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council areaWho you apply throughChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You apply through your local council even if you’re applying for schools in another council area or you’ve just moved to England.
View the official source. See how grammar school admissions work.
What are "super-selective" and "county" grammar schools?
These are informal labels. "Super-selective" usually describes schools that offer places mainly by score, often attracting applicants from a wide area. "County" grammars often admit children who reach a pass mark and then use catchment or distance. See super-selective and county grammar schools.
Related pages
- What age is the 11+, and which year do children sit it?
- What is the 11+?
- Is the 11+ worth it?
- How to choose a grammar school
- Find your 11+ area
- South West Herts 11+: a test for partially selective schools
Sources
Facts on this page come from GOV.UK (types of school; school admissions) and the School Admissions Code 2021, archived on 9 October 2026.
ExamKind is independent and takes no position on whether selection by ability is right or wrong. How we make our content.
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What a grammar school is | state schools that select pupils by academic ability, using a test | Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked |
| Which schools may select every pupil by ability | only designated grammar schools may select all their pupils by ability, and they can leave places empty | Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked |
| What selective schools must publish | selective schools must publish their entry requirements and selection process | Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked |
| No new grammar schools can open | new selection by ability must not be introduced | Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked |
| What a private (independent) school is | fee-charging schools that do not have to follow the national curriculum | Source: GOV.UK, checked |
| Partially selective schools | they select some of their pupils by ability, and must not exceed the lowest proportion they have selected since 1997/98 | Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked |
| Children in care and grammar school places | at grammar schools that set a pass mark, looked-after and previously looked-after children who reach the standard get priority | Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked |
| Who you apply through | you apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council area | Source: GOV.UK, checked |
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