THE 11-plus exams could be brought forward two months so parents can pick their favourite schools after children have sat the tests.

Currently, parents are made to choose before their children sit the exams at the end of November, but this could be changed to fit in with the Government’s new school admissions code.

Essex County Council says it will abide by the new code, but there are concerns the change could see pupils having to sit the exam before the end of the previous school year.

Eight schools in Southend, two in Chelmsford and two in Colchester hold the exams.

The change could also avoid problems when pupils fail the exam, but have only selected grammar school places, and are left trying to find another school.