Thinking about a Grammar School in Slough for Your Child?
If you’re exploring grammar school options in Slough, this guide brings together everything you need to know about Slough Consortium admissions for 2025–2026, from key dates to exam format and preparation tips. Book Now at ElevenPlus Euphoria
Key Points at a Glance
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The Slough Consortium consists of four grammar schools in Slough, Berkshire.
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All four schools use a single shared entrance exam, commonly known as the Slough 11+.
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The exam assesses English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning across two papers.
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A minimum standardised score of 111 is required to be eligible for consideration.
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Starting preparation early and using a little-and-often approach gives children the best chance of success.
What Is the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools?
The Slough Consortium is a partnership of four selective grammar schools within the Slough local authority. They operate a common 11+ entrance test, meaning children only need to sit one exam to apply to any of the consortium schools.
All four schools are co-educational:
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Herschel Grammar School
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Langley Grammar School
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St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School
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Upton Court Grammar School
What Is the Slough Consortium 11+ Exam?
The Slough Consortium 11+ is an academic selection test designed to identify pupils performing at a higher level within their year group. Grammar schools typically look for children working comfortably within the top quarter of their cohort.
How Is the Slough 11+ Scored?
After the exam, answer sheets are marked using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR). Each correct answer earns one mark.
Raw scores are then age-standardised to ensure fairness across the cohort. This process accounts for:
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Overall test performance
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The child’s age relative to others (month and year of birth)
Parents receive results in mid-October.
Exam Structure and Subjects Tested
The Slough Consortium 11+ consists of two GL Assessment papers, both taken on the same day with a short break in between.
Each paper lasts approximately one hour, including instructions and practice questions.
Paper 1: Verbal Skills
This paper assesses:
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English comprehension – understanding and analysing written passages
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Technical English – grammar, punctuation, and spelling (KS2 level)
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Verbal reasoning – logic-based questions using words, letters, and numbers
Paper 2: Non-Verbal Skills
This paper covers:
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Non-verbal reasoning – problem-solving using shapes, diagrams, and visual patterns
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Mathematics – KS2 topics including number, algebra, measures, shape, space, and data handling
What Is the Pass Mark?
A total standardised score of 111 is required to be considered eligible for a Slough grammar school. This typically places a child within the top 35% of candidates.
However, meeting the qualifying score does not guarantee a place, as grammar schools are often oversubscribed.
