11+ registration season: what parents should do first as entry windows open

27 September 2026 · The ElevenReady Team

With no new school-specific admissions change to report today, the most useful update for families is the practical one: 11+ registration season is beginning, and the earliest jobs matter most. Registration windows, school-specific rules and test arrangements can all vary, so parents are usually best served by checking details now rather than waiting until the summer.

Start with the schools on your real shortlist

The first priority is to confirm which schools you may actually apply for and which test each one uses. Some schools run their own arrangements, while others sit within a shared test or consortium system. That can affect how many registrations you need to complete and when you need to do them.

If you are building a shortlist, check each school’s admissions information carefully and keep a simple record of:

when registration opens and closes
whether the school uses its own test or a shared test route
any supplementary forms or additional steps required
the test month and any later stages
whether there are separate rules for catchment, priority areas or other admissions criteria

Do the admin early

A surprising number of problems in 11+ season are administrative rather than academic. Parents should make sure names, dates of birth, addresses and contact details are consistent across registrations and school records. If a school requires supporting documents, it is sensible to gather them well before the closing date.

It is also worth saving copies of confirmations and noting key dates in one place. Where several schools are involved, that can prevent confusion later on.

Keep preparation steady, not frantic

Once registrations are in hand, preparation is usually best kept calm and structured. The aim at this stage is not to cram, but to make sure your child is becoming familiar with the style, timing and breadth of the test route they are likely to sit.

Parents do not need to solve everything at once. A sensible order is:

confirm the schools and registration steps
check the test type for each school
build a realistic practice routine
review progress over the summer rather than constantly changing course

For families starting now, the key message is simple: treat registration as part of the 11+ process, not a separate paperwork task. Getting the dates and requirements straight early can make the months ahead much calmer.