The 11+ in numbers
How many grammar schools there actually are, how many places they offer, and how competitive it really gets — compiled from published admissions figures rather than guesswork.
164
state grammar schools in England
2026–27 admissions year, across 36 local authorities
~176,000
pupils currently at a grammar school
down from a peak of around 1,300 schools in the mid-1960s
Top 25%
the ability band the 11+ is designed to identify
roughly the top quarter of each year group nationally
~1 in 5
children who sit the 11+ secure a place
national average — varies hugely by area, see below
How competitive is each area?
Candidates per place, by local authority or consortium test. A figure of 3.5 means roughly 3–4 children sat the test for every place on offer.
~6,000 applications for 891 places
4,977 children for ~1,200 places, 2023
3,906 children for ~1,093 places, 2023
12,238 children for ~3,500 places, 2024
16,446 children for ~5,000 places, 2024
~3,130 children for ~1,050 places, 2024
~2,250 children for ~1,063 places, 2024
~2,209 children for ~1,500 places, 2023
The most competitive individual schools
A handful of high-profile grammar schools see far more applications per place than their local average — these are among the most competitive in the country.
3,121 applications for 104 places, 2024
~3,800 applications for 180 places, 2024
3,285 applications for 192 places, 2024
~1,600 applications for 128 places, 2024
1,500+ applications each for 180 places each, 2023
~975 applications for 150 places (multi-year average)
747 applications for 128 places, 2024
What this means for a typical family
Even in a "less competitive" area averaging 1.5–3 candidates per place, the 11+ is still selecting roughly the top quarter to top half of children who sit it — and at the most sought-after individual schools, 20–30 children compete for every place. That gap between areas is exactly why generic advice ("just do lots of papers") falls short: how much practice is actually needed depends heavily on where you live and which schools you're applying to.
Figures are compiled from published admissions data and local authority consortium reports, mostly 2023–2024 (Buckinghamshire and Kent are 2024; others range 2016–2024 where more recent figures weren't published). Treat ratios as indicative rather than exact — "applicants" and "candidates sitting the test" aren't always the same measure, and boards and intakes change year to year. Always check a specific school or local authority's own current admissions page before relying on a figure here.