11 Plus Grammar School Consortiums Explained: Complete Guide
If you've researched grammar school admissions, you've probably come across the term grammar school consortium. While it might sound complicated, a consortium is simply a group of schools that work together during the 11 Plus admissions process.
In this guide, we'll explain how grammar school consortiums work, which areas they cover and what parents should know before registering for the 11 Plus.
What is a grammar school consortium?
A grammar school consortium is a group of selective schools that use the same entrance assessment as part of their admissions process.
Rather than every school running a separate examination, participating schools agree to share a common test. This makes the admissions process simpler for families applying to multiple grammar schools within the same area.
Although consortium schools share an entrance exam, each school still has its own admissions policy. For example, schools may prioritise applicants based on catchment area, looked-after status, sibling attendance or distance from the school.
As a result, passing a consortium entrance exam does not automatically guarantee a place at every participating grammar school.
Why do grammar school consortiums exist?
Grammar school consortiums aim to make the admissions process fairer and more straightforward for both schools and families.
Benefits include:
Children often only need to sit one entrance exam.
Schools can use a consistent assessment across the area.
Parents can apply to multiple participating schools using the same result.
Testing is usually organised on the same timetable.
This reduces the pressure on children compared with sitting several different entrance exams.
Grammar School Consortiums at a Glance
With different grammar school admissions systems operating across England and Northern Ireland, it can be difficult to know which entrance exam your child needs to take.
The table below summarises some of the main grammar school consortiums, the areas they cover and the assessments they use.
Always check the latest admissions guidance from your chosen school or local authority, as consortium membership and testing arrangements can change.
How do grammar school consortiums work?
Although every consortium has its own admissions arrangements, the overall process is usually very similar.
Registering for the entrance exam
Parents normally register their child directly with the consortium or the local authority during Year 6.
Registration usually opens during the summer term before the exam takes place in the autumn. Missing the registration deadline may mean your child cannot sit the assessment, so it's important to check dates well in advance.
Sitting the assessment
Children usually sit one examination that every participating grammar school can use. Depending on the consortium, the assessment may include:
English
Maths
The exact format varies between consortiums, so it's always worth checking the current admissions guidance.
Receiving results
Results are generally released before parents submit their secondary school preferences. Depending on the consortium, families may receive:
Standardised scores
Qualifying scores
Rankings
Confirmation that the required standard has been met
Even if your child achieves the qualifying standard, school places are still allocated according to each school's admissions policy.
Grammar school consortiums explained
Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools
Buckinghamshire operates one of the largest grammar school systems in England. Children sit the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, which is used by grammar schools across the county. The assessment is designed to determine whether pupils are suitable for grammar school education rather than simply ranking applicants.
Bexley Schools
Grammar schools within the London Borough of Bexley use the Bexley Selection Test. Children who achieve the required standard are eligible to apply for places at Bexley grammar schools, although individual schools may apply additional admissions criteria when allocating places.
Kent Grammar Schools
The Kent Grammar School Consortium uses the Kent Test, one of the UK's most recognisable 11 Plus assessments. The assessment typically includes English, maths, and reasoning, although the exact format can vary between admissions years.
Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools
The Slough Consortium enables families to apply to participating grammar schools using a shared entrance assessment, reducing the need for multiple examinations.
South West Hertfordshire Schools Consortium
Several partially selective and grammar schools participate in the South West Hertfordshire Schools Consortium. Children sit shared academic assessments used across participating schools.
Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium
Participating grammar schools across Gloucestershire share a common entrance examination, allowing applicants to use one assessment when applying to multiple schools.
Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools
Grammar schools across Lincolnshire use a shared assessment as part of the selective admissions process. The qualifying standard is determined each year according to the consortium's admissions arrangements.
Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE)
The CSSE assessment is used by participating grammar schools throughout Essex and is one of the best-known selective school entrance exams in the country.
Trafford Grammar Schools
Grammar schools within Trafford share a common entrance examination, allowing children to apply to multiple participating schools using one assessment.
Wirral Consortium
The Wirral Consortium operates a shared admissions test for participating grammar schools across the Wirral, helping simplify the application process for families.
West Midlands Grammar School Partnership
The West Midlands Grammar School Partnership includes grammar schools across Birmingham and surrounding areas. Participating schools use one shared entrance examination for admissions.
Schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG)
The Schools' Entrance Assessment Group organises the transfer test used by many grammar schools throughout Northern Ireland. Although often compared with England's 11 Plus, the SEAG Transfer Test forms part of Northern Ireland's own admissions system.
Dorset Grammar School Consortium
Participating grammar schools in Dorset use a shared entrance examination for selective admissions.
Torbay Consortium
Selective schools within Torbay use a common entrance assessment accepted by participating grammar schools.
Do all grammar schools belong to a consortium?
No. While many grammar schools belong to a consortium, others operate independently and run their own entrance examinations. Independent schools also often use separate admissions assessments that are not linked to grammar school consortiums.
Before registering, always check your preferred school's admissions information to confirm which entrance test your child needs to sit.
How should children prepare for a consortium entrance exam?
Although assessments differ between consortiums, many test similar academic skills. Children may benefit from developing:
Strong maths skills
Reading comprehension
English grammar and vocabulary
Problem solving
Time management
Exam confidence
The most effective preparation focuses on building secure subject knowledge and reasoning skills rather than memorising specific questions.
FAQs
What is a grammar school consortium?
A grammar school consortium is a group of schools that share the same entrance examination during the admissions process.
Do consortium schools all use the same exam?
Usually, yes. Children normally sit one assessment that is accepted by all participating schools, although each school still has its own admissions criteria.
Can one 11 Plus result be used for multiple grammar schools?
Yes. One of the main advantages of consortiums is that families can often apply to several schools using the same entrance exam result.
Are all grammar schools part of a consortium?
No. Some grammar schools run their own admissions tests independently.
How do I know which consortium my chosen school belongs to?
Your chosen school's admissions page or your local authority's admissions guidance will explain which consortium, if any, the school belongs to and which entrance assessment applicants must take.
How Explore Learning can help
Preparing for the 11 Plus is about more than practising exam papers. Children need strong foundations in maths, English and reasoning, alongside the confidence to apply these skills under exam conditions.
At Explore Learning, our personalised 11 Plus tuition helps children build these core skills while tailoring learning to their individual strengths and areas for development. Our experienced tutors identify knowledge gaps, support exam confidence and adapt tuition to each child's goals.
Whether your child is preparing for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, the Kent Test, the CSSE assessment, the SEAG Transfer Test or another consortium entrance exam, we focus on developing the skills that support success across a wide range of grammar school admissions tests.
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