Best Warwickshire Grammar Schools 2026/27

Warwickshire has five fully selective grammar schools in total. On this page we focus on four: King Edward VI School, Stratford and Alcester Grammar School (both co-educational), Lawrence Sheriff School (boys, in Rugby) and Rugby High School (girls, in Rugby). All four admit pupils through the same Warwickshire 11+ test.

Yes. King Edward VI Stratford, Lawrence Sheriff, Rugby High and Alcester all use the single Warwickshire 11+ test, coordinated by Warwickshire County Council - your child sits one test, not separate Rugby and Stratford papers. It is part of a shared West Midlands test (also used in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Shropshire), set by GL Assessment. The exam covers English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths across two multiple-choice papers of about 60 minutes each.

There is no single fixed pass mark. Raw marks are standardised (to remove any age advantage) and weighted into a total score, and each school then sets its own qualifying or cut-off score against that year's applicants, so the threshold changes annually. In recent years the most competitive scores have been at King Edward VI Stratford, with Alcester also high, followed by Lawrence Sheriff and Rugby High; treat any quoted figure as approximate and confirm with each school's admissions arrangements.

For September 2027 entry, registration opens on 7 May 2026 and closes at 4pm on Monday 30 June 2026 via the Warwickshire Parent Portal. The 11+ test is sat on 12 and 13 September 2026, and results are published on the Parent Portal on 16 October 2026. Note that registering for the test is separate from applying for a school place - the secondary-school application deadline is 31 October 2026, submitted through your home local authority, with offers on 1 March 2027.

Eligibility to sit the Warwickshire 11+ is based only on your child's date of birth - you do not have to live in Warwickshire to take the test. However, once children have qualified, places at oversubscribed schools are allocated using each school's own oversubscription criteria, which typically give priority to looked-after children and then often use distance from the school as a tie-breaker. Because catchment and distance rules differ between King Edward VI Stratford, Lawrence Sheriff, Rugby High and Alcester, always check the individual school's admissions policy.

Of the four schools covered here, two are co-educational: King Edward VI School, Stratford and Alcester Grammar School. Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby is a boys' grammar, and Rugby High School is a girls' grammar. So families in the Rugby area choosing a single-sex school have Lawrence Sheriff for boys and Rugby High for girls, while Stratford and Alcester offer mixed alternatives.

It depends on what you are looking for and where you live. Rugby High School is the standout girls' grammar in the county, while King Edward VI School, Stratford and Lawrence Sheriff School are both rated Ofsted Outstanding and Alcester Grammar School also has a strong reputation, with King Edward VI Stratford and Alcester usually the most competitive on qualifying score. The right choice comes down to your child's gender preference, your location relative to Rugby, Stratford or Alcester, and each school's ethos and results.

Yes. King Edward VI School (Stratford), Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby High School and Alcester Grammar School all have sixth forms offering A-levels. Entry to the sixth form is separate from the 11+ and is based on GCSE grades, so it is also an option for students joining at 16; check each school's sixth-form entry requirements directly, as subject-specific grade thresholds vary.

Because all four schools use the same GL Assessment test, your child can prepare for one consistent format covering English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths. Build core skills early, then use timed practice to get comfortable with the multiple-choice papers and ~60-minute sections. Prep4All's GL-style practice papers are designed for the Warwickshire 11+, helping your child rehearse the exact question types, work to time and build confidence ahead of the September test.