If you’re considering a selective state grammar school in Buckinghamshire for your child’s education, you have plenty of options with 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools to choose from. There are high-performing grammar schools, too – nine are among the top 100 state secondary schools in the UK.
Keep reading to find out more about the best grammar schools in Buckinghamshire and how to help your child prepare for the 11 plus exam.
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What are grammar schools?
A grammar school is a secondary school in the UK that admits pupils based on their academic ability. All children applying for a place at a grammar school will need to sit an entrance exam in Year 6 – the pupils with the highest scores are then eligible for a place in Year 7.
You do not need to pay school fees if your child attends a grammar school. Grammar schools are funded by the state (government) and are the only state-funded secondary schools in England that can select their pupils based on their academic ability.
Children applying for a grammar school in Buckinghamshire take an 11 plus exam known as the Secondary Transfer Test. Most of the grammar schools in the area use the same test, which is set by The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools consortium (TBGS).
The 5 best grammar schools in Buckinghamshire
1. Dr Challoner’s Grammar School
©character-education.org
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School was founded in the 17th century. It provides a grammar school education in Amersham for boys aged 11–18 and girls aged 16–18. It is consistently listed among the best Buckinghamshire grammar schools; beyond exam results, the school boasts a ‘School of Character’ kitemark and it was recently named the best sporting state school in the country.
Town: Amersham
Local council: Buckinghamshire County Council
Gender: boys 11–16, mixed sixth form
Number of pupils: 1,365
GCSE results (2022): 77.1% A*/A/9/8/7
A level results (2022): 93.6% A*–B
National rank for state secondary schools: 23
How to apply to Dr Challoner’s Grammar School
2. Dr Challoner's High School
©wikipedia.org
Dr Challoner’s High School is a prominent selective grammar school for girls, located in Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire and surrounded by outstanding natural beauty. From this ‘OFSTED Outstanding’ learning community, almost all students choose to attend university and most go to world-class institutions including Oxford and Cambridge.
Town: Little Chalfont
Local council: Buckinghamshire County Council
Gender: girls 11–18
Number of pupils: 1,290
GCSE results (2022): 84.6% A*/A/9/8/7
A level results (2022): 87.7% A*–B
National rank for state secondary schools: 28
How to apply to Dr Challoner’s High School
3. Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
©tes.com
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School is a 400-year-old coeducational grammar school in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. It is ranked outstanding by Ofsted and is well-known for its national achievements in rowing and hockey.
Town: Marlow
Local council: Buckinghamshire County Council
Gender: mixed
Number of pupils: 1,165
GCSE results (2022): 79% A*/A/9/8/7
A level results (2022): 88% A*–B
National rank for state secondary schools: 38
How to apply to Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
4. Wycombe High School
©aba-design.co.uk
Wycombe High School was founded in 1901 as the first state girls’ grammar school in Buckinghamshire. Ofsted praised the school’s quality of teaching, the exemplary behaviour of students and the high quality of pastoral care.
Town: High Wycombe
Local council: Buckinghamshire County Council
Gender: girls 11–18
Number of pupils: 1,320
GCSE results (2022): 82.1% A*/A/9/8/7
A level results (2022): 85.6% A*–B
National rank for state secondary schools: 42
How to apply to Wycombe High School
5. Beaconsfield High School
©beaconsfieldhigh.bucks.sch.uk
Beaconsfield High School is a girls’ grammar school in the market town of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Beaconsfield High School is one of only 45 schools in the country that has been recognised as an Exceptional School.
Town: Beaconsfield
Local council: Buckinghamshire County Council
Gender: girls
Number of pupils: 1,272
GCSE results (2022): 80.4% A*/A/9/8/7
A level results (2022): 85.4% A*–B
National rank for state secondary schools: 48
How many grammar schools are there in Buckinghamshire?
There are thirteen grammar schools in Buckinghamshire:
How to get into a grammar school in Buckinghamshire
If you would like your child to be considered for a place in Year 7 at a Buckinghamshire grammar school, they will need to pass the Secondary Transfer Test. This is an 11 plus test administered by a consortium called The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS).
Children take the test in September while they’re in Year 6. They take two papers which assess a combination of verbal, mathematical, and non-verbal skills.
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Buckinghamshire 11 plus practice papers
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