What the schools share
A consortium may coordinate registration, test papers, venues, marking, result reporting and parent guidance. Sharing an assessment can reduce the number of examinations a child needs to take when several participating schools are possible choices.
CSSE means the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex. Its current guide lists ten participating schools, including schools with selective places as well as grammar schools. The guide explains which examination is shared and how to register.
Other shared routes are organised differently. Kent’s county test is administered by the council; “consortium” should not be used to imply that every shared test has the same structure.
What remains specific to the school
Even when a result is shared, each school’s policy tells you:
- the academic requirements for consideration;
- the number of places and any categories within them;
- catchment, distance, sibling or other priority rules;
- whether further testing or a supplementary form is required;
- how ties and waiting lists are handled.
The order of those rules matters. Two children with the same test result may have different allocation priority at different schools.
Registration and application are still separate
The shared registration enters your child for the test. The CAF names the schools you want. List individual schools, not the consortium, and submit through your home council.
A chosen test centre is not normally a declaration that the school is your first preference. Read the route’s instructions about venue allocation and any score-sharing choices rather than using the venue field to communicate your CAF order.
How to find the right group
Start with the consortium and test-route directory. For each school you are considering, match its current admissions policy to the relevant organiser. Check the entry year on both documents.
If two websites use similar names, verify the actual participating schools and registration link. In particular, “SET” can refer to different selective eligibility tests; the Sutton route must not be confused with another school’s own assessment.
Save one short record per route: organiser, registration deadline, covered schools, test stages and result date. That makes it clear whether another school means another preference, another form or another examination.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Still wondering?
Is every shared test run by a consortium?
No. Some shared systems are run by councils, while others are organised by schools or a consortium. Use the official name and contact details for your route.
Does a consortium allocate my child’s school?
Its role depends on the arrangement, but test registration is not normally the school application. The home council coordinates ordinary Year 7 offers using school decisions and your CAF order.
Do all consortium schools have the same pass mark?
Not necessarily. The group may share an assessment while individual schools set different eligibility or oversubscription arrangements. Read each school’s policy.
Official sources
Checked 28 Sept 2026