About Berkshire Grammar Schools
Berkshire’s best-known grammar schools are in Reading: Reading School (boys) and Kendrick School (girls), both highly selective. They are separate admissions authorities (not a consortium), so you register with each school individually and your child sits each school’s own test.
For September 2027 entry, Reading School tests in-catchment and boarding applicants in July 2026 and out-of-catchment day applicants in late September 2026; Kendrick School tests on 18 September 2026. Registration for both opens around 1 May 2026 (closing late June/early July). Results are released in mid-October.
After results, list the school(s) on your home authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October; offers are issued on National Offer Day (1 March). Both schools are heavily oversubscribed and apply catchment / priority-area criteria, so meeting the standard does not guarantee a place.
Berkshire Grammar Schools
Reading’s two grammar schools each run their own entrance test. Click a school for its detailed admission guide, test format, catchment and key dates:
Reading School (boys) and Kendrick School (girls) are separate admissions authorities and use different tests, so you must register with each separately. Both apply priority-area / catchment criteria, and scores are not shared with the Slough Consortium.
About the Reading 11+
Reading’s grammar schools use different tests and different providers. Reading School uses papers from Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE); Kendrick School uses GL Assessment. There is no shared Reading test, and no score-sharing with Slough.
Reading School (boys): a multi-paper test based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. In-catchment and boarding applicants sit in July; out-of-catchment day applicants sit in late September. The school publishes an ‘eligible standard’ rather than a fixed cut-off, and is heavily oversubscribed.
Kendrick School (girls): two one-hour multiple-choice papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, sat in mid-September. Scores are age-standardised and ranked; there is a designated priority area, and out-of-area candidates are very rarely offered places.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Berkshire Grammar Schools
Reading’s grammar schools run separate admissions: register with each school individually via its website (registration opens around 1 May 2026, closing late June/early July). Reading School tests in-catchment/boarding applicants in July and out-of-catchment day applicants in late September; Kendrick School tests on 18 September 2026. Results arrive in mid-October; you then list the school(s) on your home authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October, with offers on National Offer Day (1 March). Both schools apply priority-area / catchment criteria and are heavily oversubscribed, so meeting the standard does not guarantee a place. Scores are not shared with the Slough Consortium.
What the Tests Cover
Reading School uses a Key Stage 2-based, multi-paper FSCE test; Kendrick School uses two one-hour GL papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Practising realistic 11+ material across these areas is the most effective preparation.
Reading 11+ Practice Papers for Berkshire Grammar Schools
Berkshire Grammar Schools uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Reading 11+
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Berkshire Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Which grammar schools does this cover?
Reading's two grammar schools — Reading School (boys) and Kendrick School (girls), both highly selective.
Do they share one test?
No — they are separate admissions authorities and use different tests and providers, so you must register with each separately.
What is Reading School's test?
A multi-paper test based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum (Future Stories Community Enterprise). In-catchment/boarding applicants sit in July; out-of-catchment day applicants in late September.
What is Kendrick School's test?
Two one-hour GL Assessment multiple-choice papers covering English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, sat in mid-September; scores are age-standardised and ranked.
How do I register?
Register with each school individually via its website (registration opens around 1 May 2026), then submit your local authority Common Application Form by 31 October.
When are results?
Both schools release results in mid-October, before the 31 October application deadline.
Is there a catchment area?
Both schools apply priority-area / catchment criteria; Kendrick in particular very rarely offers places outside its designated area.
Are Reading and Slough scores shared?
No — there is no score-sharing between Kendrick and the Slough Consortium, so you would need to sit both tests.