Warwickshire 11 Plus Registration 2026: Key Dates and How to Apply

If you want your child to sit the Warwickshire 11+ test, you need to register them first. The form is simple, and one registration covers every grammar school across the wider West Midlands partnership. This guide explains Warwickshire 11 plus registration 2026 in plain words, walks you through how to do it, and shows you how to help your child get ready.

What is the Warwickshire 11 plus?

The Warwickshire 11+ is the test that grammar schools in Warwickshire use to decide who gets a Year 7 place. Children sit the test in September of Year 6, and if they reach the qualifying score, they can apply for a place at a Warwickshire grammar school.

Here is the helpful part. Warwickshire is part of a bigger group called the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. That means one test and one registration covers grammar schools across Warwickshire, Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Shropshire. Your child only sits the exam once, even if you want to apply to schools in different counties.

• 6 - Grammar schools in Warwickshire

• 710 - Year 7 places each year

• 3,500+ - Warwickshire children take the test

The test is provided by GL Assessment, which is one of the biggest exam boards for grammar school entry in the country. It has been in use across Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands partnership since 2023. It looks for children working in the top ability range of their year group, so it is designed to be challenging.

Warwickshire 11 plus registration 2026: all the key dates

This round of testing is for children currently in Year 5, who hope to start secondary school in September 2027. Put these dates somewhere you can see them. The registration window is just under two months long, which feels generous, but the time really does fly.

The most important date is 30 June 2026. Warwickshire County Council does not accept late registrations. If you miss this deadline, your child will not be able to sit the 11+ that year. We always tell families to register in the first week of May, so it is done and off the to-do list.

The exact test date in September is confirmed nearer the time, along with whether your child is in a morning or afternoon session. Always check your account and the official Warwickshire County Council website close to September for the most up to date details.

Who can register for the 2026 Warwickshire 11+?

Your child can register for the 2026 Warwickshire 11+ if they are in Year 5 now and were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. They will sit the test in September 2026 and, if they qualify, can start Year 7 at a grammar school in September 2027.

Warwickshire uses an opt-in system, which means parents must register their child themselves. Primary schools do not do it for you. This is true whether you live in Warwickshire or somewhere else, and whether you are applying to schools in Warwickshire, Birmingham or anywhere else in the West Midlands partnership.

Here is a simple checklist to help you decide if it is the right step for your family:

• Your child is currently in Year 5 and in the right age group.

• You want to apply to at least one Warwickshire (or wider West Midlands) grammar school.

• Your child is working at or above the expected level for their age.

• Your child is comfortable with timed tests, or willing to practise them.

• You are happy with the location of the grammar schools, mainly in Rugby, Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester.

Not sure if your child is ready? A great way to find out is to book one of our 11 plus mock exams. They will sit a paper under real test conditions, and you will get a clear breakdown showing exactly where they are strong and what to work on.

How to register for the Warwickshire 11+ test, step by step

Registering is quick, free and done online through Warwickshire County Council's Parent Portal. You can use the same account later for the Common Application Form (CAF). Here is exactly how it works.

• Visit the Parent Portal on 7 May 2026 - Go to warwickshire.gov.uk/elevenplusregistration from Thursday 7 May 2026 onwards. This takes you to the official Warwickshire County Council Parent Portal. Always use the official council website so your details stay safe.

• Create or log in to your account - If you have used the portal before, simply log in. If not, create a new account using an email address you check often. This is where your child's confirmation email and results will be sent.

• Add your child's details - Enter your child's full name, date of birth, home address and current primary school. Double-check that everything is spelled correctly before you move on.

• Complete the online 11+ registration form - The 11+ form will appear under your child's details on your account. Fill it in carefully. If you have more than one child applying, you can register each one through the same account.

• Add any special arrangements (if needed) - If your child has special educational needs, a medical condition, or anything else that might affect them on test day, complete the specific testing arrangements form. Email it to elevenplus@warwickshire.gov.uk with any supporting evidence. A panel of trained professionals reviews each case.

• Submit before 30 June 2026 and save your confirmation - Send the form before Tuesday 30 June 2026. You should get an automatic confirmation email. If you do not, check your junk folder and contact the council's admissions team straight away. Save the email and mark September 2026 in your diary. Your child is now officially registered.

Understanding the test format

The Warwickshire 11+ uses the West Midlands Grammar Schools' Entrance Test, written by GL Assessment. Here is what your child will face on test day.

• Two papers, each around 60 minutes long, sat on the same day.

• All multiple choice. Your child marks answers on a separate answer sheet, which is then scanned and marked electronically.

• Each paper is split into smaller, individually timed sections.

• Four subjects covered: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning (sometimes called Spatial Reasoning).

• Standardised scoring means raw scores are adjusted for your child's age, so summer-born children are not at a disadvantage.

The four subjects are not weighted equally. This is one of the most important things to understand about Warwickshire 11+ preparation.

• English (25%) - Part of the 50% English and VR weighting

• Verbal Reasoning (25%) - Part of the 50% English and VR weighting

• Maths (~25%) - Half of the remaining Maths and NVR weight

• Non-Verbal Reasoning (25%) - Half of the remaining Maths and NVR weight

Put simply, English and Verbal Reasoning together carry the same weight as Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning combined. That is why a strong vocabulary and reading habit can make a big difference in this test. There is no single national pass mark, because each school sets its own qualifying score. In Warwickshire, these typically fall between 208 and 232, depending on how popular the school is.

Warwickshire grammar schools at a glance

Warwickshire has six grammar schools, five fully selective and one bilateral (meaning it has both selective and non-selective places). They are spread across Rugby, Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester.

• King Edward VI School

• Stratford-upon-Avon (boys)

• Stratford Girls' Grammar School

• Stratford-upon-Avon (girls)

• Alcester Grammar School

• Alcester (co-ed)

• Lawrence Sheriff School

• Rugby (boys)

• Rugby High School

• Rugby (girls)

• Ashlawn School

• Rugby (bilateral)

Some schools are more competitive than others. Stratford Girls' Grammar, for example, has historically had around seven applicants for every place. King Edward VI School in Stratford has one of the highest qualifying scores in the partnership at around 232. The Rugby-area schools are slightly less competitive, with qualifying scores closer to 211. Whichever school you have in mind, strong preparation gives your child the best chance.

Free support for Pupil Premium families

One brilliant thing Warwickshire County Council does is offer free 11+ familiarisation support to Pupil Premium families. The council works in partnership with Atom Learning, an online Key Stage 2 and 11+ preparation platform.

If your child has been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years, they can get free access to Atom Home. This includes practice questions, learning resources and practice papers, all built around the kind of questions your child will see in the 11+.

To sign up, visit the council's Atom Learning Pupil Premium page and fill in the short form. Your child's primary school will verify the Pupil Premium status, and access is then granted. If you are not sure whether your child is eligible, your school office can confirm in minutes.

Important things to know before you register

A few simple facts can save you a lot of stress later. Here is what every Warwickshire parent should understand before registration day.

• One test covers many schools. Sitting the Warwickshire 11+ means your child can be considered by every grammar school in the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership.

• You must opt in. Registration is not automatic. Parents register themselves through the Parent Portal.

• Registration is free. There is no fee to register or sit the test.

• The test is GL Assessment. Make sure your child practises the right format, not CEM-style papers from older books.

• Each school sets its own qualifying score. Hitting the minimum is the first hurdle, but popular schools need much higher scores.

• The CAF is a separate step. You still need to submit the Common Application Form to your home local authority by 31 October 2026. Registering for the 11+ does not apply your child for a school place.

• Late registrations are not accepted. Once 30 June 2026 passes, your child cannot sit the 11+ that year.

 How we help your child get ready for the Warwickshire 11+

Registering is the easy bit. The real work is making sure your child walks into the 11+ feeling calm, sharp and well prepared. We have helped families across the Midlands earn grammar school places for over 30 years. Here is how we help Warwickshire children.

1. Online and In-Person tuition mapped to the West Midlands test

The Warwickshire 11+ has its own balance: English and Verbal Reasoning carry as much weight as Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning combined. Generic 11+ workbooks rarely match this. Tuition built around the wrong balance leaves marks on the table.

Our 11 plus tuition programmes are mapped to the exact GL Assessment format used across Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands. Your child practises real, properly weighted questions from day one, so every lesson moves them closer to their target score.

2. Specialist tutors who know the GL Assessment 11+

The GL Assessment papers used in Warwickshire have their own style and timing. Knowing how to manage the smaller, individually timed sections is half the battle. The other half is knowing the question types and the traps inside them.

Our 11 plus tutors are specialists in the GL Assessment 11+. They know what each section is really testing, the time pressure children often underestimate, and the techniques that turn near-misses into clear passes.

3. Free practice papers for daily habits

The children who do best in the Warwickshire 11+ almost always practise a little every day, rather than cramming at the end. Twenty to thirty minutes a day builds the speed and confidence the GL Assessment papers reward.

Our free 11 plus practice papers give your child the daily reps they need between lessons. Used little and often, they sharpen timing and accuracy without ever feeling like too much.

4. An intensive summer course before the test

The Warwickshire 11+ falls in September, just weeks after the summer holidays end. That makes the summer the single most important window for a final push. It is the last big stretch of focused time before the real thing.

Our 11 plus intensive summer course revises every topic, sharpens exam technique and runs timed practice in real West Midlands format. Children finish the summer feeling ready, not rusty. If you only do one big thing before the test, make it this.

5. Mock exams that feel like the real day

Beat the nerves before they ever start

For many children, the hardest part of the 11+ is not the questions themselves. It is the silent room, the timer and the pressure of an unfamiliar test centre. The best way to handle that pressure is to practise it first.

Our 11 plus mock exams copy the real Warwickshire 11+ conditions, right down to the timing and the answer-sheet format. Your child gets used to test day in a safe setting, and you get a detailed report showing exactly which areas to focus on next. By September, the room feels familiar instead of frightening.

When should you start preparing?

With over 3,500 Warwickshire children sitting the 11+ each year for around 710 places, earlier is better. A calm, steady build-up across Year 5 makes a much bigger difference than a panicked rush in the summer. Here is a simple timeline that works for most families.

• Year 4: Build strong foundations in English and maths. Read widely, write often. Introduce reasoning gently. No pressure.

• Year 5 (autumn to spring): Begin regular 11 plus tuition covering all four subjects in GL Assessment style. Add short daily practice.

• Spring 2026: Start timed practice and book a first mock exam to see where your child stands.

• May 2026: Register through the Parent Portal as soon as it opens on 7 May. Get it done in week one.

• Summer 2026: Join our 11 plus intensive summer course for a focused final push before September.

• September 2026: Test day. Your child walks in calm, prepared and confident.

Started a bit late? Do not panic. Plenty of families begin in the spring of Year 5 and still do brilliantly. When time is short, the trick is to focus only on the areas that move the needle most, and that is exactly what our tutors are trained to do.

Final thoughts

Warwickshire 11 plus registration is one of the simplest in the country, because one form covers six grammar schools in Warwickshire and many more across the West Midlands partnership. But the deadline is strict, and missing it costs your child the whole year. The moment registration opens on 7 May 2026, get it done. That single step opens the door to every grammar school in the partnership.

After that, preparation is everything. Steady practice, the right expert support, and a calm, confident child on test day are what turn a registration into a real grammar school place.

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we have been helping families across the Midlands earn grammar school places for over 30 years. From one-to-one tuition and specialist GL Assessment tutors to free practice papers, realistic mock exams and our focused summer intensive course, we give your child everything they need to walk into the Warwickshire 11+ ready to do their best. Whatever stage you are at, we are here to help.