October is 11+ results month. If your child sat a test in September or early October, you’ve probably either opened an email already or you’re refreshing your inbox every hour. Either way, it’s a nervy time for the whole family.

This post is for three groups of parents: those whose child has qualified, those still waiting on a second stage, and those whose result wasn’t what they hoped. If your child is in Year 4 or 5, there’s a section for you at the end too, because this is the best time of year to start thinking about next September.

What does the score actually mean?

Most 11+ results aren’t given as raw marks. They’re given as a standardised score, which compares your child with everyone else who sat the same test.

Many tests are also age-standardised. That means a child born in August isn’t judged against a child born the previous September, who has had almost a full extra year of learning. The scores are adjusted so younger children aren’t at a disadvantage. If your child is summer-born, this is genuinely good news.

Each grammar school or consortium sets its own qualifying score, so a number that passes for one school may not pass for another. Your results letter should tell you whether your child has met the standard for the schools you registered with. If it isn’t clear, contact the school or consortium directly rather than relying on parent forums.

If your child qualified

First of all, well done to them. That’s a real achievement, so take a moment to celebrate it.

Then comes the bit many parents don’t realise: qualifying is not the same as getting a place. Grammar schools are usually oversubscribed, so places go to qualifying children in order of the school’s admission rules. For many schools that means distance from home or a priority area. Tiffin School, for example, gives priority to boys living within 10km of the school.

So you still need to apply properly. Name the grammar school on your council application before midnight on Saturday 31 October 2026, and use all six choices, including non-selective schools you’d be happy with. Offers come out on Monday 1 March 2027.

Waiting on Tiffin Stage Two?

The Tiffin schools run a two-stage process. Stage One took place on 1 and 2 October, and children invited through sit Stage Two in November. The two scores are then combined to give a final result.

The key point is that you don’t need to wait for Stage Two before applying. Put Tiffin on your council application by 31 October as normal. Between now and November, keep practice calm and steady: short sessions, plenty of reading, and enough sleep matter more than cramming.

If the result wasn’t what you hoped

This is hard, for your child and for you. How you respond in the first day or two matters more than anything else.

Keep it simple. Tell your child you’re proud of how hard they worked, and that one test on one morning doesn’t decide who they are or how well they’ll do. Children take their cue from us, so if we treat it as a disappointment rather than a disaster, they usually will too.

Remember that the work wasn’t wasted. Months of 11+ practice build stronger reading, vocabulary, maths and problem-solving, which is exactly what helps a child settle well in Year 7. Plenty of children who missed out at 11 go on to excel at GCSE. Some schools also have appeal or review processes, so check the details if you believe something went wrong on the day.

Parents of Year 4 and 5: when should you start?

If your child will sit the 11+ next September, the best time to start is now, in the autumn of Year 5. That gives around a year of steady, unhurried preparation. If your child is in Year 4, there’s no need for test papers yet, but building strong foundations makes a huge difference later.

Here’s what we’d focus on:

• Reading every day. It’s the single biggest help for comprehension and vocabulary. Mix in some classic and non-fiction books, not just favourites.

• Secure times tables and arithmetic. Quick, accurate recall frees up thinking time for harder problems.

• Know which test your child will sit. Different schools test different things, such as English, maths, verbal reasoning or non-verbal reasoning. Check each school’s website before you buy any practice books.

• Practise under time pressure, gradually. Speed comes later. Accuracy and confidence come first.

• Protect their wellbeing. Short, regular sessions beat long weekend marathons, and a child who enjoys learning will always go further.

Finally, be honest with yourself about whether a grammar school is the right fit for your child. The best school is the one where they’ll thrive, not just the one with the highest ranking.

How we can help

At Feltham Tuition, we run small, friendly 11+ preparation classes on Sundays, alongside Maths, English and Science tuition from Key Stage 1 to GCSE. Our tutors are fully qualified and DBS checked, every student gets regular progress reports, and lessons start from £10 an hour.

Whether your child is just starting out in Year 4 or 5, or needs a confidence boost before moving up to Year 7, we’d love to help. Book a free assessment by calling 07508 660 216 or visiting felthamtuition.co.uk. You’ll find us at 53–55 High St, Feltham TW13 4AB.