11+ open day planner

Most grammar schools hold open days and open evenings in the summer term and in September and early October, often before or around the 11+ test, so many families visit while their child is in Year 5 or at the start of Year 6. Each school sets its own dates, so check the school's website. This planner lists the dates we've checked against each school's own website.

Often, yes. Many popular grammar schools ask families to book a time slot for tours and open evenings, and places can go quickly. Where a school asks for booking we show a 'Book a place' button that goes to the school's own booking page.

Some grammar schools ask for their own short form as well as your council application, for example to confirm you want your child to sit their test or to check a priority such as faith or a sibling. It goes to the school and has its own deadline. Not every school needs one: each school card says whether it does, or that it isn't confirmed yet.

In England there are two separate steps. First you register for the 11+ test, usually in the spring or summer of Year 5. Then you apply for secondary school places through your own local council (where you live), usually by 31 October of Year 6, listing grammar and non-grammar schools in order of preference. Offers are sent on National Offer Day, 1 March. In Northern Ireland, children sit a transfer test and families apply through the Education Authority, on different dates.

Open events and how-to-apply details are taken from each school's own website and checked by our team before they appear. Test dates are shown only once we've checked them against the test organiser's official page. If something isn't confirmed yet we say so and link to the school, so always check important dates with the school, test organiser or council.