Sibling priority — having an older sibling already at the school — is a significant tiebreaker in many grammar admissions, but the rules vary by school and county.
The short answer
In most county grammar areas, sibling priority applies after the qualifying score is met. A child who scores below the qualifying threshold does not get in on sibling priority alone.
The longer answer
Where applicable, sibling priority typically applies before distance in the tiebreaker order. Two qualifying candidates at the same distance — the one with a sibling already at the school is admitted first.
Some grammar schools (notably in Trafford and several London boroughs) explicitly state sibling priority alongside distance; others give it only as a "consideration" rather than a hard tiebreaker.
What experienced parents do
For families with younger siblings, this means the first child's placement sets a meaningful precedent for the second child's admissions. Prioritise the strongest target school for the elder child.
What to avoid
Read the specific school's admissions PDF carefully. The wording around sibling priority changes between years; what applied for an elder sibling may not apply for the younger.
Practical next step
Sibling priority does not transfer between schools in a consortium. Having an elder sibling at one Trafford grammar gives sibling priority only at that specific school, not across the consortium. A small, deliberate action this week is worth more than a grand plan for the year ahead.