Does living in a school's catchment area guarantee a place?

No. A catchment area gives your child priority, not a guarantee. When a school receives more applications than it has places, it ranks every applicant against its published oversubscription criteria. If higher-priority children, such as those in care and those with a sibling already at the school, fill most of the places, the school can become full before it reaches all of the catchment. In popular areas, families inside catchment are sometimes turned away while the distance cut-off shrinks.

How is distance to school measured for catchment?

Most councils in England measure the straight-line distance, often called as the crow flies, from your home to the school, usually from a fixed point at your address to a fixed point at the school such as the main gate. Some authorities use the shortest safe walking route along roads and paths instead. The method is set out in each school's admissions policy, so check the exact wording rather than assuming, because the two methods can put the same home on different sides of the line.

What is the last distance offered, and where do I find it?

The last distance offered is how far from the school the furthest child to receive a place lived in a given year, measured under the school's own distance rule. It is the closest thing to a real catchment line, because it shows where places actually ran out. You can usually find it in the local authority's admissions booklet or composite prospectus, often listed alongside how many applications and places there were. Compare several recent years rather than one, because the figure moves.

Can I rent a property to get into a school catchment area?

You can apply from an address where your child genuinely lives, but renting purely to gain a place while keeping another home available to move back into is treated as a fraudulent application. Councils check council tax records, tenancy agreements and electoral roll details, and many will not accept short tenancies. If they find the address was not your child's genuine home, they can withdraw the offer even after your child has started, so the address on the form must be the one where the family actually lives.

Do catchment areas change every year?

A school's defined catchment boundary may stay the same for years, but the effective distance at which places run out can change every year. This depends on how many siblings apply, how many higher-priority children there are, and how many families move into the area. A school with a floating area sets its boundary by demand each year rather than by a fixed line, so always look at recent last-distance data instead of relying on an old map or what happened to a neighbour.

What can I do if I live outside a school's catchment?

Living outside catchment does not stop you naming the school on your form, and some places do go to children outside the usual area when demand is lower than expected. List the school in your genuine order of preference, add realistic schools and at least one near-certain option as a safety net, and if you are refused you can join the waiting list and appeal. Checking each school's last distance offered before you apply tells you how realistic an outside-catchment application really is.

The 11-Plus Explained: What It Is and How It Works

The 11-plus is a selective entrance exam sat by children in Year 6 to win a place at a grammar school in England. It is not part of the normal state admissions process and it is entirely optional, but in the areas that still use it, the result decides whether your child is offered a grammar school place. This guide explains where the 11-plus applies, what the test covers, when it is taken and how registration works.

What the 11-plus is

The 11-plus is an academic selection test. Grammar schools are state secondary schools that select pupils by ability, and the 11-plus is how they do it. Not every area has them. England has around 163 grammar schools concentrated in places such as Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Trafford, parts of London and a handful of other counties, alongside some standalone grammars elsewhere. If you live somewhere without grammar schools, the 11-plus will not affect your child's admission, and you can read our school admissions guide instead.

What the test covers

Most 11-plus tests assess up to four areas: English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. English covers comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Maths follows the primary curriculum but often at a stretch, under time pressure. Verbal reasoning tests problem solving with words, codes and logic, while non-verbal reasoning uses shapes, patterns and sequences. Most regions now use tests set by GL Assessment, though the exact mix of subjects and the format vary by area, so always check what your target schools use.

When it is taken and how to register

Children sit the 11-plus at the start of Year 6, usually in September, the same autumn they apply for secondary school. Crucially, you must register your child for the test in advance, typically between May and the start of July before they sit it. That registration is separate from the main secondary school application, which closes on 31 October. Miss the 11-plus registration deadline and your child cannot sit the test that year, so it is one of the most important dates to note early.

Pass marks and outcomes

There is no single national pass mark. Each area sets a qualifying score, and scores are age-standardised so younger children in the year group are not disadvantaged. In heavily oversubscribed areas, qualifying is only the first step: a place then depends on the school's oversubscription criteria, such as distance or catchment. Results usually arrive in October, before the 31 October application deadline, so you can rank schools accordingly. If your child narrowly misses out, you can still list a grammar school and, in some cases, appeal.

How to prepare

Familiarity matters as much as ability. Children benefit from practising the specific question types and working to time, since the format is unlike normal school tests. Start gently in Year 4 or 5 with short, regular sessions rather than cramming, keep it low-pressure, and use official practice materials from the test provider your area uses. Tutoring is common but not essential; consistent home practice and reading widely go a long way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 11-plus exam?

It is a selective entrance test sat in Year 6 that grammar schools in England use to decide who is offered a place. It typically assesses English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

Do all schools use the 11-plus?

No. Only grammar schools use it, and they exist in some areas of England, such as Kent, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire. In areas without grammar schools the 11-plus does not apply.

When do children sit the 11-plus?

Usually in September at the start of Year 6. You must register in advance, often between May and early July, which is separate from the main secondary application that closes on 31 October.

What is a pass mark for the 11-plus?

There is no national pass mark. Each area sets its own qualifying score and standardises marks for age. In oversubscribed areas, qualifying does not guarantee a place, which then depends on the school's admission criteria.

Do you need a tutor for the 11-plus?

Not necessarily. Many children prepare successfully with regular home practice using official materials, wide reading and timed question practice. Tutoring can help but is not a requirement.