First establish whether score decides the offer
Some grammar schools use a qualifying score and then allocate mainly through other criteria. Buckinghamshire, for example, does not give extra priority for a higher score once a child is qualified. A final offered distance may be more informative there than an imagined score cut-off.
Other schools rank scores within priority groups. An in-area score, an out-of-area score and a pupil-premium category may describe different allocation outcomes. One number can conceal those differences.
Four labels every historical figure needs
- Entry year: which September intake does it describe?
- Category: which group of applicants was considered?
- Round: is it National Offer Day, a later reallocation or the final September position?
- Measure: is it a qualifying score, last-offered score, rank or distance?
Also check whether the policy and published admission number have changed since that year. Even correctly reported older data may describe arrangements that no longer apply.
A useful enquiry to send to the admissions team
Ask: “For September [year] entry, what was the last-offered score or distance in [the category named in your policy] on National Offer Day, and did it change in later rounds?”
This is more answerable than asking what score your child “needs to get in”. A school cannot know every future preference and competing application in advance.
If the information is not published, keep the uncertainty visible in your planning. Do not fill the gap using an unsourced figure from a parent discussion or treat a small informal sample as the whole cohort.
Use the information to compare options
Look across several comparable years where official figures exist. Notice variation, but avoid turning a historical range into a guaranteed safe score. A child can qualify and still miss a particular school under its rules.
List schools in your genuine preference order and keep realistic alternatives. Being above last year’s published score is not a reason to leave acceptable schools off the CAF.
For the result itself, read standardised scores and score versus rank. For the eventual decision, read qualification versus an offer.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Still wondering?
Is the pass mark the same as the cut-off?
Not necessarily. A pass mark establishes academic qualification. A last-offered score records an allocation outcome at a particular school, often within a category and round.
Why can a later offer have a lower score?
Places can become available as applicants accept other schools or leave a waiting list. The relevant allocation criteria still apply; a later figure needs to be labelled with its date and category.
Can I ask the school for historical allocations?
Yes. Ask for specific official information, such as the last offered score or distance for your category and the allocation date. The school or council may already publish it.
Official sources
Checked 28 Sept 2026