Dr Challoner's Grammar School 11 plus guide

About Dr Challoner's Grammar School

Dr Challoner's Grammar School is a selective state school for boys aged 11 to 18 with a mixed sixth form in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. It has a well-established reputation dating back to the early 17th century and is widely recognised as one of the leading state grammar schools in the country, and the highest-performing state school in Buckinghamshire.

Students at Dr Challoner's Grammar School are encouraged to become kind, caring, comfortable and open-minded young adults. They learn in an environment full of energy, life and vigour from the best teachers in the area. Beyond the classroom, students get involved in a wide range of co-curricular opportunities, including sports – for which the school is well-known – music, drama, house competitions, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, student leadership, and much more.

Dr Challoner's Grammar School is rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted and has an impressive collection of accolades, including the gold award in the Mind Workplace Wellbeing Awards, the ACE 'School of Character' kitemark and the 'best sporting state school in the country' according to the School Sport magazine.

• Address: Dr Challoner’s Grammar School, Chesham Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5HA

• Local authority: Buckinghamshire Council

• School type: boys' grammar with mixed sixth form

• Headteacher: David Atkinson

• Number of pupils: 1,300+

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 23

• A level results: 93.6% A*–B

• GCSE results: 77.1% 9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01494 787500

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Open evening: Thursday 23rd March and Thursday 6th July 2023. Book online

• Exam registration opens (out-of-county applications): 5th May 2023

• Exam registration closes (out-of-county applications): 16th June 2023

• Exam date: 14th September 2023

• Exam type: Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test

• Common application form (CAF) deadline: 31st October 2023

• National school offer day: 1st March 2024

How to apply to Dr Challoner's Grammar School

1. Secondary Transfer Test registration

Dr Challoner's Grammar School is a member of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS). This consortium administers the 11 plus exam (Secondary Transfer Test) for all 13 grammar schools in the county.

Buckinghamshire’s 11 plus registration process is unique as they operate an ‘opt-out’ system. If your child attends a Buckinghamshire primary school, they will automatically be registered to take the test. If your child's primary school is not in Buckinghamshire and you would like to apply for a place at Dr Challoner's Grammar School, you will need to register for the Secondary Transfer Test separately. Registration will be open on the Buckinghamshire Council website between 5th May 2023 and 16th June 2023.

If you would like your son to be considered under Dr Challoner's Grammar School catchment area criteria, you will need to complete a separate Supplementary Information Form (SIF).

2. Apply for a school place

You will receive your child's results in the Secondary Transfer Test on 13th October 2023. If your child has achieved the pass mark in the exam, they will be eligible for a place at the school. You will then be able to name Dr Challoner's Grammar School on your common application form.

Before listing Dr Challoner's Grammar School as a preference on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible. Passing the Secondary Transfer Test will not be a guarantee of a place as more children reach the qualifying standard each year than there are places available.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2023. The form must be completed for your home local authority – i.e. if you live in Buckinghamshire you will need to complete the form on the Buckinghamshire Council website. If you live in a different local authority, make sure to apply through the relevant website for that council.

What is the pass mark for Dr Challoner's Grammar School?

Your son's test papers in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test will be marked and weighted. The English and verbal reasoning test will have a weighting of 50% applied, while the non-verbal reasoning and maths sections will be weighted at 25% each. The total of all scores will then be age-standardised to avoid any potential disadvantage for younger children. This overall mark will be your child's Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS).

The qualifying score in the Secondary Transfer Test is 121. If your son achieves a score of 121 or higher, he will be eligible for entry to Dr Challoner's Grammar School.

Unlike other grammar schools in the country, children in Buckinghamshire are not ranked in order of their scores. Grammar school entry is entirely dependent on whether or not the child has scored 121, and whether they meet the individual school's admission criteria. We've included the admission criteria for Dr Challoner's Grammar School below.

Dr Challoner's Grammar School admission criteria

There are 180 places available in Year 7 at Dr Challoner's Grammar School. Each year, around 500 qualified children list the school as one of their choices on their common application form, and 200 qualified applicants list the school as their first choice. This means that the school is consistently oversubscribed, and not all children who achieve the pass mark will be offered a place.

Children who achieve a standardised score of 121 or higher and who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school will be allocated places before the admission criteria are applied. When the number of children who meet the pass mark exceeds the number of places available, Dr Challoner's will apply oversubscription criteria in this order:

1. Boys who are looked after children or previously looked after children

2. Boys living in the catchment area of the school and who are in receipt of pupil premium

3. Siblings of students currently at Dr Challoner's Grammar School and who live in the catchment area

4. Up to 12 places within the 180 places available will be allocated to boys living in the catchment area, who are in receipt of pupil premium or are looked after/previously looked after children, and who have achieved a standardised score of at least 115

5. Sons of staff at Dr Challoner's Grammar School

6. Boys living in the catchment area, prioritised by closeness to the school

7. Siblings of students currently at Dr Challoner's Grammar School who live outside the catchment area

8. All other places are then offered in distance order

Dr Challoner's Grammar School catchment area

Dr Challoner's Grammar School operates a catchment area to prioritise eligible children living close to the school. This includes the areas of Amersham, Chesham, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont Common, Gerrards Cross, Great Missenden and Prestwood.

A map is available on the school website.

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