Grammar Schools Move 11 Plus Exams to July to Save Summer Holidays

So far, eight grammar schools have confirmed a move from a September 11 plus exam to a July exam. Reading School in Berkshire already made this change, sitting its test in July 2026 for September 2027 entry. The seven Gloucestershire grammar schools will follow from 2027, sitting their test in July 2027 for September 2028 entry, which affects children currently in Year 4, not the current Year 5 or Year 6 cohort. This is not a nationwide change. Most major grammar school areas, including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Sutton, Bexley, Essex, Redbridge, Medway, Trafford and Birmingham, have not announced any move and continue to test in September as normal. 

You may have seen headlines saying grammar schools are moving their 11 plus exams to save the summer holidays. Here is a clear guide to exactly which schools are making this change, why, and which year groups are actually affected, so you are not left guessing or worrying unnecessarily. 

What's actually changing

For a long time, the 11 plus exam for most grammar schools has been sat in September, right at the start of Year 6, often just weeks after the summer holidays end. A small number of schools have now confirmed they are moving away from this pattern, shifting their test to July instead, before the summer break, rather than after it.

This change has understandably made headlines, since it affects exactly when families need to be ready, and it also comes alongside a switch to a different exam format for the schools involved. It is genuinely important to understand that this is currently a limited change affecting specific named schools, not a nationwide shift across every grammar school in England.

Full list of Grammar Schools that are moving to July

As things stand, two groups of schools have confirmed this change.

Reading School, Berkshire

Reading School has already made this change. It moved its main entrance test to July 2026 for children starting in September 2027, and now uses the FSCE exam format.

The Gloucestershire G7 Grammar Schools

All seven Gloucestershire grammar schools have confirmed they will move to a July test from 2027, for September 2028 entry, also switching to the FSCE format.

• Pate's Grammar School

• The Crypt School

• Sir Thomas Rich's School

• Ribston Hall High School

• Stroud High School

• Marling School

• High School for Girls

Important timing detail for Gloucestershire families. Children sitting the Gloucestershire 11 plus in September 2026, for September 2027 entry, are not affected by this change and will sit the existing GL Assessment format as normal. The July move and the new FSCE format apply from the following year's intake onwards. 

Why are Grammar Schools moving the 11 plus to July?

There are two main reasons behind this change, and they are closely linked.

• To reduce the "11+ summer": Under the old September timetable, families often spent the entire summer holiday before Year 6 immersed in revision and mock exams, right when children would otherwise be resting and recharging. Moving the test to July, before the summer break, means the exam is behind children before the holidays even begin.

• To adopt a broader style of assessment: Schools making this change are also switching to the FSCE exam format, which aims to test genuine reasoning, reading and judgement rather than heavily rehearsed, familiar question types.

What is the FSCE exam format?

FSCE, which stands for Future Stories Community Enterprise, is a newer 11 plus exam provider being adopted by a small but growing number of grammar schools, including several in Yorkshire as well as Reading School and the Gloucestershire consortium.

Rather than leaning heavily on practised, familiar question types, FSCE aims to assess whether a child can genuinely read, reason, interpret, compare and make sensible judgements. This does not mean preparation stops mattering, but it does mean the kind of preparation matters more than ever.

For a detailed breakdown of FSCE exam format, read our guide: FSCE 11 Plus: Dates, Schools, Format and How to Prepare

Which year groups are actually affected?

Reading School 

• First affected cohort: Children who sat the test in July 2026, for September 2027 entry 

• Not affected: Children who sat tests before this change 

Gloucestershire G7 

• First affected cohort: Children in Year 4 during 2025 to 2026, testing in July 2027 for September 2028 entry 

• Not affected: Children testing in September 2026 for September 2027 entry, who still sit the GL Assessment

Which Grammar Schools are not changing their exam date

It is just as important to be clear about what is not changing. As things stand, the following major grammar school areas have not announced any move to July and continue to test in September.

• Kent grammar schools (the Kent Test)

• Buckinghamshire grammar schools

• Sutton grammar schools

• Bexley grammar schools

• Essex and Southend grammar schools (CSSE)

• Redbridge grammar schools

• Medway grammar schools

• Trafford grammar schools, Greater Manchester

• The Birmingham and West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership

If your target school is not Reading School or one of the seven Gloucestershire schools listed above, the safest assumption is that its September testing pattern remains unchanged, though it is always worth confirming directly with the school.

What this means for your preparation timeline

For families targeting one of the eight affected schools, the practical impact is a shorter run up to the actual exam, since the test now falls before the summer holidays rather than after them. This makes starting preparation earlier and building it steadily rather than cramming, genuinely more important.

For every other family, targeting schools that have not announced any change, the usual September timetable and preparation pattern still applies.

How to prepare for whatever exam format your school decides

1. Confirm your target school's exact exam date directly

Do not rely on general articles, including this one, for the final word. Check the school's own admissions page, especially from September 2026 onwards for Gloucestershire families.

2. Build broad reasoning and comprehension skills early

This genuinely helps whether your child sits a traditional GL Assessment style test or a broader format like FSCE.

3. Avoid last minute cramming regardless of exam date

Steady, well-structured preparation over time consistently produces better results than an intense short burst right before any exam.

Our free 11+ practice papers and 11+ past papers help build the core reasoning, English and maths skills that matter, whichever exam format and date your target school ultimately uses.

How Pass 11 Plus Grammar helps students preparing for the FSCE exam format

With some schools changing both their exam date and format, many families feel more confident with experienced, up to date guidance alongside them.

1. Build a proper, structured plan

Our 11 plus tuition programmes focus on genuine, lasting skills, which matter whether your child sits a July or a September exam.

2. Get experienced, up to date guidance

Our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham keep track of changes like this across the country, so families preparing for any format feel properly supported.

3. Build up to realistic exam conditions

Our 11 plus mocks recreate genuine timing and pressure, whatever month your target school's exam actually falls in.

Our 11 plus intensive summer course offers focused, structured practice, useful for families whose school has moved its test earlier in the year.

Final thoughts

The move by Reading School and the Gloucestershire grammar schools to shift their 11 plus exam from September to July, alongside a new FSCE format, is a genuinely significant change for the families it affects, and it is easy to see why it has made headlines about saving the summer holidays. It is just as important, though, to be clear that this remains a limited change so far, affecting eight named schools, not a shift happening across grammar schools generally.

If your family is targeting one of these schools, the earlier date and broader exam style are well worth planning around now. If you are targeting a different school or consortium, the established September pattern still applies, and the most reliable way to stay informed either way is to check directly with your target school as new details are confirmed.