Warwickshire 11+ exam: the complete guide for 2026

Warwickshire 11+ exam candidates sit the CEM format across five selective grammar schools spread from Rugby to Stratford-upon-Avon. The county borders Birmingham to the north-west, so many West Midlands families consider both areas — one round of CEM preparation covers both, but two separate registrations and two separate exam sittings are required. This guide covers how the Warwickshire 11+ works, all five schools, registration for 2026, geography, and the dual-area strategy with Birmingham.

Warwickshire grammar schools at a glance

What makes Warwickshire distinctive

Warwickshire is a county of contrasts when it comes to grammar school admissions. The five schools are spread across a large geographic area — from Rugby in the north-east to Stratford-upon-Avon in the south — meaning catchment dynamics and distance thresholds vary significantly between schools. A family living in Warwick town has easy access to two schools; a family in Rugby has effective access to one. Understanding which schools are realistic targets from your specific address is the essential first step.

The county’s proximity to Birmingham creates a particular dynamic for families on the north-western fringes of Warwickshire — in Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, and the Coventry commuter belt. These families often consider both Birmingham and Warwickshire grammar schools simultaneously, and because both areas use CEM, a single preparation approach covers both. This makes the Warwickshire–Birmingham corridor one of the most strategically interesting areas for 11+ families in England.

Warwickshire also differs from Birmingham in competitive intensity. While the county’s grammar schools are highly regarded and genuinely competitive, they do not carry the same extreme oversubscription pressure as the King Edward VI Foundation schools. Last-offered distances at Warwickshire schools are generally wider than at Camp Hill or Handsworth — making them more accessible for families living slightly further away.

How the Warwickshire 11+ exam works

The Warwickshire 11+ uses the CEM format — the same exam provider as Birmingham, Trafford, and Wirral. Children sit two mixed papers on the same day in September (on a different date from the Birmingham sitting). Unlike Trafford, Warwickshire includes NVR in Paper 2.

Paper 1 — English and Verbal Reasoning

A blended paper that moves between reading comprehension, vocabulary questions, and verbal reasoning sections within a single sitting. Comprehension passages are typically 400–700 words of high-quality fiction or literary non-fiction. VR sections draw on word relationships, analogies, cloze passages, and vocabulary questions. The exact mix varies year to year.

Paper 2 — Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning

A blended paper covering the full maths syllabus — arithmetic, fractions, percentages, ratio, geometry, algebra, and word problems — alongside NVR sections featuring sequences, matrices, and spatial reasoning. Both subjects appear within the same paper in alternating timed sections.

The critical CEM-specific exam technique applies in Warwickshire exactly as it does in Birmingham: each section within a paper has its own strict time limit, and children cannot return to previous sections once time is called. This discipline must be practised explicitly before exam day.

Warwickshire 11+ registration: dates and process for 2026

Registration for the Warwickshire consortium is time-sensitive — typically a four-to-six-week window in May–June of Year 6. If you are also applying to Birmingham, register for both consortia as soon as each portal opens.

Warwickshire grammar schools: the complete list

Use the filters to browse by area or school type. Always confirm admissions policies and last-offered distances on each school’s website.

Understanding Warwickshire’s geography: which school is right for your area

The geographic spread of Warwickshire’s five grammar schools is one of the most important factors in building your shortlist. Unlike Kent or Buckinghamshire — where a single registration gives meaningful access to a broad range of schools — Warwickshire’s schools are anchored to specific towns.

How Warwickshire allocates grammar school places

Passing the Warwickshire 11+ makes your child eligible for grammar school consideration. When more children qualify than there are places — which is almost always the case at Warwick School, Rugby High, and Lawrence Sheriff — each school applies its own oversubscription criteria.

1. Looked-after and previously looked-after children — highest priority by law.
2. Children with an EHCP naming the school — must be admitted if they have passed.
3. Siblings of current pupils — meaningful advantage at all five schools.
4. Distance from home to school — primary tiebreaker among remaining qualifying children, measured as a straight line from home to school gate.

Unlike Kent, Warwickshire has no borderline review process. The score is determined, a qualifying threshold is applied, and those above it are eligible. Oversubscription criteria then determine who receives an offer.

What the distance data tells you

Distance thresholds in Warwickshire are generally wider than at the most oversubscribed Birmingham Foundation schools — making Warwickshire schools more accessible for families living slightly further away. Alcester Grammar in particular has historically had wider last-offered distances than the town-centre schools.

At Warwick School and Rugby High School, competition among qualifying children is intense and last-offered distances have been shrinking in recent years. Check admissions data for each target school from the previous three years before finalising your shortlist.

Preparing for the Warwickshire 11+: CEM strategy

The preparation approach for Warwickshire is identical to Birmingham in its foundations — CEM format, vocabulary and genuine reading ability, and switching between subjects under timed section pressure.

Reading and vocabulary: the biggest differentiators

For CEM exams — Warwickshire included — the children who perform best in the English and VR combined paper have the widest vocabulary and strongest reading stamina. These skills develop over years. Daily reading from Year 4 or 5 provides a genuine advantage over intensive preparation starting in Year 6 alone.

Vocabulary building should be active — a notebook for unfamiliar words, word family exploration, and deliberate use of new vocabulary — not passive absorption alone. See the 11+ English guide for comprehension and vocabulary strategies.

Mathematics and NVR: same syllabus as Birmingham

The Maths and NVR paper covers the same subject areas as Birmingham. All standard 11+ maths topics apply. NVR sections most commonly feature sequences, matrices, and analogies. Mental arithmetic fluency is critical because section time limits leave no room for lengthy written calculations. Unlike Trafford, Warwickshire tests NVR — see the Trafford 11+ guide if also considering north-west schools (maths-only Paper 2, no NVR). See the 11+ Maths guide and 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning guide.

The CEM switching skill

Practising with CEM-format mixed papers — not just subject-specific workbooks — is the only reliable way to build switching skills. Aim for at least six full two-paper CEM mock sittings before the exam. See the GL vs CEM guide and 11+ Verbal Reasoning guide for subject-specific techniques.

Applying to both Warwickshire and Birmingham: the dual-area strategy

For families in the West Midlands corridor — Coventry, Kenilworth, Solihull, south Birmingham — applying to both Warwickshire and Birmingham grammar schools is a common and sensible strategy. Both areas use CEM, meaning one round of preparation covers both.

• Two separate registrations — the Warwickshire and Birmingham consortia are entirely independent. Set calendar reminders for both as soon as dates are published.
• Two separate exam days — Birmingham and Warwickshire exams fall on different days in September. Check both dates as soon as registration is confirmed.
• Two separate CAF considerations — submit through your home local authority and list schools from both areas in preference order. Out-of-county preferences are forwarded between authorities.
• Shortlist carefully — include genuinely accessible schools from both areas. A family in Warwick applying to Camp Hill as first preference must understand Camp Hill’s last-offered distance has been very short in recent years.

For full details on the Birmingham consortium, exam format, and schools, see the Birmingham 11+ guide.

Warwickshire vs other grammar school areas

Appeals: what to do if results are not what you hoped

If your child receives a not-suitable result from the Warwickshire consortium, you have the right of appeal. Success depends on specific grounds — procedural error, evidence of disadvantage on exam day, or substantive evidence from the primary school that the result significantly underrepresents the child’s genuine ability.

Warwickshire has no borderline review process. Appeals must be submitted within the window specified in your results notification — typically four to six weeks after results are released. Even a successful appeal does not guarantee a place at an oversubscribed school if distance tiebreakers still favour other qualifying children.

Further preparation resources

• GL vs CEM guide — understanding the CEM format in depth
• Birmingham 11+ guide — dual-area applications and eight-school consortium
• 11+ English guide — comprehension and vocabulary for CEM
• 11+ Verbal Reasoning guide — question types and techniques
• 11+ Maths guide — every topic with worked examples
• 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning guide — sequences, matrices and spatial reasoning
• 11+ preparation strategy — CEM-specific study planning
• 11+ timeline and registration — key dates for 2026
• Trafford 11+ guide — CEM without NVR; north-west England