GrammarPrep

Slough Consortium 11+: the joint test for Berkshire's selective grammars

Slough's four grammar schools share one Selection Test — separate from Reading's super-selectives and from the Buckinghamshire system. Here's how preparation differs.

Slough Consortium Selection Test: key facts

Typical test date
Mid-September of Year 6, sat at one of the consortium schools
Papers
A single sitting covering English, Mathematics and Reasoning content
Duration
Typically around 2 hours including short breaks; check the consortium site for the current year
Subjects
English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Indicative qualifying threshold
The consortium publishes a qualifying standardised score after the test; each school then ranks qualifying applicants by its own oversubscription rules
Registration window
Registration runs through the Slough Consortium portal — typically opens in June and closes in early July of Year 5

Why Slough is different

Slough's selective system is best understood as one of several parallel selective systems in Berkshire rather than a single coordinated process. Four grammar schools — Herschel, Langley, Upton Court and St Bernard's — operate a shared Slough Consortium Selection Test, distinct from the tests sat at Reading School and Kendrick in Reading itself, and entirely separate from the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test in the county next door. Families often need to navigate two or three of these systems in parallel.

The Slough Consortium test format has evolved over the past several years — including changes in the exam provider commissioned for the papers — and so soft language is the only honest way to describe specifics. The headline points have stayed stable: a single sitting, four subjects covered (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning), held in mid-September of Year 6 at one of the consortium schools. Beyond that headline, always confirm the current year's format on the consortium's admissions site before settling preparation choices.

What is consistent is the competitive pressure. The Slough Consortium grammars admit from across south Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and west London, and distance is typically used as a tiebreaker for oversubscribed places. A qualifying score makes a child eligible; the offer line at the most popular consortium school sits well above that floor.

How the Slough Consortium Selection Test is structured

  • A single test sitting covering English, Mathematics and Reasoning content — held at one of the consortium schools, not the child's primary school.
  • Multiple-choice format with separate answer sheets; age-standardised scoring so younger children aren't disadvantaged.
  • The exam provider commissioned for the papers has changed in recent years — check the consortium website for the current year's format before purchasing practice materials.
  • The consortium publishes a qualifying standardised score after the test; meeting that score is the floor for grammar-school consideration but does not guarantee an offer.
  • Each consortium school then ranks qualifying applicants by its own oversubscription criteria (faith priority at St Bernard's, distance at most others).

Notable grammar schools in Slough

4 selective consortium grammar schools.

  • Herschel Grammar School (mixed)
  • Langley Grammar School (mixed)
  • Upton Court Grammar School (mixed)
  • St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School

How to prepare your child for the Slough 11+

Because the consortium has changed exam providers in recent years, anchor preparation to the four-subject content (English comprehension, Maths problem-solving, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning) rather than to a particular provider's question-style quirks. GL-style materials are a reasonable default — verify the current year's format before committing to a single provider's practice books.

Prepare in parallel with whichever neighbouring system your child is also applying to. Families on the Bucks/Slough boundary often sit both the Slough Consortium test and the Bucks 11+ — see our Buckinghamshire 11+ guide for that comparison. Families also targeting the Reading super-selectives should look at our Reading 11+ guide — those tests are stylistically different and require more depth.

Practise pacing under realistic time pressure from the summer of Year 5. The Slough sitting compresses multiple subjects into a single morning, and stamina matters as much as accuracy. A child who tires across the morning's papers and loses concentration in the final section will score below their genuine ability.

Frequently asked questions about the Slough 11+

Which schools use the Slough Consortium test?

Four schools: Herschel Grammar School, Langley Grammar School, Upton Court Grammar School, and St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School. They share a single Selection Test and a single qualifying score, then each applies its own oversubscription criteria. St Bernard's prioritises Catholic applicants per its faith admissions policy.

Is the Slough Consortium test the same as the Buckinghamshire 11+?

No. The Slough Consortium operates inside Berkshire and uses its own test sat at the consortium schools. Buckinghamshire uses the Bucks Secondary Transfer Test, sat at children's own primary schools and run by the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools consortium. Families on the borough boundary frequently apply to both.

How do I register for the Slough Consortium 11+?

Registration is via the Slough Consortium portal (linked from each grammar school's admissions page), typically opening in June and closing in early July of Year 5. You register once for all four consortium schools collectively, then list school preferences on the secondary application form (the Local Authority Common Application Form) by 31 October.

What exam board does the Slough Consortium use?

The exam provider has changed in recent years, so the most reliable answer is always 'check the consortium website for the current year'. Practise the underlying skill areas (English comprehension, Maths problem-solving, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning) rather than over-specialising on one provider's quirks before confirming the current year's format.

Can my child apply to both Slough Consortium and Reading grammars?

Yes — many families do. The tests are run separately (different dates, different formats, different registration processes), and Reading's super-selectives are not part of the Slough Consortium. Children sit each test on its own date in September. Preparation has to cover both formats, and the Reading super-selectives are materially more demanding — see our Reading 11+ guide for the differences.

Are the Slough grammars more or less competitive than Reading or Kendrick?

The Slough Consortium grammars are competitive but not super-selective in the same sense as Kendrick or Reading School. The effective offer-line at the most oversubscribed consortium schools (often Langley and Herschel) is meaningfully above the qualifying threshold but below the cut-off seen at Reading's super-selectives.

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