Banding arrangements for Year 7 entry

In Tower Hamlets, we use banding at secondary transfer to help to ensure that all secondary schools have a balanced mix of pupils of different abilities.

All children are placed into one of four ability groups (Bands A–D) based on a test taken in Year 6.

• Band D = highest ability

• Band A = lowest ability

If a school is oversubscribed, all secondary schools (except for Bishop Challoner and Canary Wharf College) will take an equal number of pupils from each quartile, ensuring that children from all abilities have equality of access. 

The cognitive ability test (CAT4) Banding assessment

Every child who applies for a Year 7 place in a Tower Hamlets school must sit the cognitive ability test (CAT4) Banding assessment. The online test is delivered by GL assessment and assesses a pupil’s reasoning ability in four areas (Verbal, Non- verbal, Spatial and Quantitative).

Registering for the CATS4 test

If your child is not attending a Tower Hamlets primary school, you will need to register your child for the CATS4.

My child attends a Tower Hamlets primary school or academy

1. Does my child need to take the test? Yes.

2. When will my child take the test? September 2026.

3. Where will my child take the test? At their school.

4. What happens next? The school will make the arrangements for the CAT4 Banding Assessment.

My child attends a school outside Tower Hamlets, attends an independent school, is home educated, or missed the test in their primary school (or any other reason)

1. Does my child need to take the test? Yes.

2. When will my child take the test? November 2026.

3. Where will my child take the test? Secondary school 'Test Centre'.

4. Do I need to register for the test? Yes.

5. How do I register? Parent should register the child for the CAT4 Banding Assessment by completing the banding registration form and returning to the Admissions Service. 

6. When do I need to register? Before 31 October 2026.

7. What happens next? Once you have registered, the Admissions Service will contact you by email and provide the details for your child to sit the CAT4. 

The CATS4 Banding Assessment Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does the test take? The test made up of eight sections, split across three ‘parts.’  Each ‘part’ takes approximately 45 minutes. 

2. How is it taken? It is taken on either an iPad, PC or laptop.

3. Are results available before the application closing date (31 October 2026)? No. Parents will not be provided with an assessment score at any stage during the transfer to secondary school process. Results are not published.

4. How does this apply to children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)? Children with an EHCP (complex needs) receive a nominal Band A outcome and are placed in the Band A group.

5. What happens to children who miss the assessment? Their applications may be considered after the children who have taken the banding test. Late applications for exceptional reasons are placed in the Band B group. Assessment refusers receive an ‘Untested’ outcome and are placed in the Untested group.

Key points parents should know

• Most secondary schools use banding
• All children must take the test (unless exceptional circumstances apply)
• There are no alternative assessment dates; it is your responsibility to make sure your child takes the assessment on your allocated date.
• Failure to take the test may disadvantage your application

Contact us

For information on how to contact the School Admissions Service, please visit Contact school admissions.