Three decisions, made for different reasons
Has the academic standard been met?
The test or assessment process establishes eligibility for the relevant school or stage.
Which school place is available?
Published school priorities, available places and your CAF order determine the coordinated offer.
Between these sits the school’s ranking of applicants. Where too many eligible children apply, the school uses its oversubscription criteria. A result letter does not usually tell you the full final allocation position.
A worked example
Imagine a child who qualifies for Grammar A and Grammar B. A is first on the CAF, B second and Local School C third.
If A cannot offer under its priority rules but B can, the council can offer B. If both grammars can offer, it normally offers A. If neither can offer and C can, it offers C.
The child’s test result has not changed across these scenarios. What changes is availability under each school’s policy. The example is fictional; use the actual rules when assessing your own preferences.
Read result letters for the precise stage
“Invited to Stage Two”, “deemed selective”, “qualified” and “ranked” do not necessarily describe the same status. Check whether the assessment is complete and which schools accept it.
A score may also be used differently after qualification. Some schools use it mainly as an academic threshold; others use it in ordering applicants. Read score versus rank for the distinction.
What changes after results day?
You can now compare school choices using the official outcome rather than a predicted result. Check the current policies, identify your child’s priority category and complete the school application on time.
Historical cut-offs can give context but cannot confirm the current outcome before the relevant allocation. Keep schools you would accept and can realistically access on the CAF.
On National Offer Day, read the actual offer and refusal information. That is when waiting-list and admission-appeal decisions become relevant. The offer-day guide explains how to keep the available place secure while pursuing a preferred school.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Still wondering?
Does an invitation to a second-stage test count as qualification?
It confirms progress to that stage. Read the wording carefully: the school may still require another assessment before deciding final academic eligibility.
Can a school be able to offer but not appear in our offer letter?
Yes. If a higher CAF preference can also offer, the council normally offers that higher choice instead. You do not receive every place for which the child could have been considered.
Is the qualifying score always the last-offered score?
No. The qualifying threshold is an academic requirement. A last-offered score is a historical allocation outcome, often specific to a category and date.
Official sources
Checked 28 Sept 2026