Year 4: build strong foundations
Focus on times tables, mental arithmetic, reading for pleasure and a growing vocabulary. A short assessment shows where to concentrate.
Year 5: steady, structured preparation
Introduce Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, then gradually add timed practice. In spring and summer, visit open days and register for each school’s test. Every school has its own registration and deadline.
Summer before Year 6: practise under exam conditions
Mock tests help children get used to timing and pressure. Use the results to fix remaining gaps rather than adding more papers.
September to October of Year 6: tests and applications
- Most entrance tests take place in September, and some schools hold a second round in October
- List your chosen schools on the Harrow common application form by 31 October
- Include non-selective schools too, so you have a strong range of options
Real dates from the 2027-entry round
To show how this plays out in practice, here are the official dates families followed for September 2027 entry (checked 24 October 2026). Registration deadlines fell in spring and early summer of Year 5: South West Herts Consortium 5 June 2026, Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test 2 June 2026, The Latymer School 2 June 2026, St Michael’s Catholic Grammar 7 July 2026 and Queen Elizabeth’s School 8 July 2026. Tests then ran in September 2026 — Henrietta Barnett Round One 2–4 September, Latymer 3–5 September, St Michael’s 11 September, Queen Elizabeth’s 16–17 September — with Henrietta Barnett’s Round Two on 6 October 2026. Applications closed on 31 October 2026 and offers arrive on 1 March 2027. If your child is in Year 5 now, expect a very similar pattern for 2028 entry, and confirm each date on the school’s own website.
1 March: National Offer Day
Secondary school offers are announced. Always check each school’s current admissions policy, as dates and rules change each year.
See our 11 Plus preparation course at our Harrow centre and online.
Common questions
Is it too late to start in Year 6?
It is late but not impossible. Focus on exam technique and the most common question types, and book an assessment to prioritise.
Do I apply to grammar schools through Harrow Council?
You register for each school’s test directly, but your final school choices go on the Harrow common application form.
Not sure where your child stands?
Book a free assessment at our Harrow centre and we’ll suggest a clear 11 Plus plan.