About Herschel Grammar School
Herschel Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Slough, admitting 180 pupils per year. It is part of the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (with Langley Grammar, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar and Upton Court Grammar). All four share the same GL Assessment 11+ exam. Qualifying score: 111+. Named after the famous astronomer William Herschel who lived near Slough.
Herschel Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Herschel Grammar School
Herschel Grammar School is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 180 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Bucks test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Thursday 11 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Herschel Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (180 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Herschel Grammar School
Herschel Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Herschel Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Slough, admitting 180 pupils per year. It is part of the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (with Langley Grammar, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar and Upton Court Grammar). All four share the same GL Assessment 11+ exam. Qualifying score: 111+. Named after the famous astronomer William Herschel who lived near Slough.
- ✓Register for the Slough Consortium 11+ via any consortium school website — registration opens May 2026, closes June 2026.
- ✓Sit two one-hour GL Assessment multiple-choice papers in September 2026.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying score of 111 or above.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children within Herschel Grammar's priority catchment area who achieve the qualifying score.
- ✓Children outside the priority area, ranked by score then distance.
- ✓Apply via your LA CAF by 31st October, naming Herschel Grammar School.
Herschel Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 180 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Herschel Grammar School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Herschel Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Bucks 11+ portal |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Thursday 11 September 2026 (Familiarisation: 7 Sept; Main test: Verbal + Non-Verbal + Maths) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Herschel Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Bucks) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Herschel Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Thursday 11 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Herschel Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Herschel Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Herschel Grammar School
Herschel Grammar School selects through the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ (GL Assessment), shared across the Slough grammar schools — two one-hour, computer-marked multiple-choice papers, age-standardised, with a qualifying standardised score of 111.
- English & verbal reasoning: comprehension, vocabulary and verbal logic.
- Mathematics & non-verbal reasoning: Key Stage 2 numeracy plus shapes, patterns and sequences.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Herschel Grammar School
Herschel Grammar School 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 Herschel Grammar School 11+ Exam
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.
Academic Performance at Herschel Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Herschel is one of the top-performing state schools in the region, achieving excellent results at GCSE and A-Level — in a recent year around 74% of GCSE grades were 9–7 (with a record 46% at grades 8–9), and roughly 69% of A-Level grades were A*–B (around 41% A*–A) — with strong progression to leading universities.
- GCSE: around 74% of grades at 9–7 in a recent year.
- Sixth form: strong A-Level outcomes with a broad subject offer.
- Specialism: particular strengths in science, maths, computing and technology.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Herschel Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the Slough grammar schools — so a child sits it once. It is two one-hour multiple-choice papers covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning; papers are computer-marked and age-standardised, with a qualifying standardised score of 111 (broadly the top 35% of the cohort) needed to be eligible across Slough.
The school operates a 4-mile catchment (measured in a straight line). After children with an EHCP naming the school, priority runs through qualified children within the catchment by proximity, a number of places within 10 miles for Pupil Premium pupils, then staff children, with remaining places by test score and ties decided by distance. There are 150 Year 7 places; families register with the Slough Consortium and name Herschel on the Common Application Form. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Herschel Grammar School is a selective co-educational grammar for ages 11–18 on Northampton Avenue in Slough, Berkshire (SL1 3BW). An academy since 2012, it specialises in science, mathematics, computing and technology, and is known for a warm, vibrant atmosphere built on mutual trust and high academic standards.
The school offers a broad curriculum enriched by an extensive extracurricular programme, from sport and performing arts to science and coding clubs, with a strong emphasis on confidence, independence and leadership. For the full list of clubs and teams, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Herschel Grammar School
How do I apply to Herschel Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Herschel Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026), then list Herschel Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Herschel Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Herschel Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Thursday 11 September 2026 (Familiarisation: 7 Sept; Main test: Verbal + Non-Verbal + Maths). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Herschel Grammar School?
Herschel Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 180 places.
How many Year 7 places does Herschel Grammar School have?
Herschel Grammar School admits 180 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Herschel Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Herschel Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Herschel Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Herschel Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Herschel Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Herschel Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Herschel Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.