John Hampden Grammar School 11 plus: 2024 entry guide

Are you considering John Hampden Grammar School for your son? We've collated all the information you need to know about 2024 entry to Year 7. Keep reading to learn about key dates, the admissions process, and how to prepare for the Buckinghamshire 11 plus exam.

About John Hampden Grammar School

John Hampden Grammar School (JHGS) is a selective boys’ school near Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The school provides a challenging academic education and encourages boys to build character, spirit and resilience in order to carve out their own paths in the future.

JHGS is committed to providing its students with a forward-thinking education, where technology is embraced to support and promote learning and personal development. Improvements are always being made to teaching and learning facilities, with recent developments including a new Design Technology studio and workshops, new science labs, and a £3.5 million Innovation Hub incorporating IT suits and learning spaces.

Boys at John Hampden Grammar School achieve excellent exam results, helping them to succeed at the best universities in the UK and overseas, and secure places on competitive apprenticeships through strong links with local and global companies. An extensive extracurricular programme helps students develop plenty of new skills and talents; music and debating are particularly popular, with a range of clubs and societies including the Pratchett Debating Society, Young Magistrates and Politicon.

• Address: John Hampden Grammar School, Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1SZ

• Local authority: Buckinghamshire Council

• School type: boys' grammar

• Headteacher: Tracey Hartley

• Number of pupils: 1,100+

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 144

• A level results: 70.8% A*–B

• GCSE results: 71.3% 9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01494 529589

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Open evening: 11th July 2023

• 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 John Hampden Grammar School

1. Secondary Transfer Test registration

John Hampden 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 John Hampden 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.

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 John Hampden Grammar School on your common application form.

Before listing John Hampden 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 John Hampden 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 John Hampden 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 John Hampden Grammar School below.

John Hampden Grammar School admission criteria

There are 180 places available in Year 7 at John Hampden Grammar School. 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, John Hampden Grammar School will apply oversubscription criteria in this order:

1. Looked after boys and previously looked after boys

2. 12 places are ring-fenced for boys who are looked after/previously looked after/in receipt of pupil premium or the service premium, who live in the catchment area and who have scored a mark of 113–120 in the Secondary Transfer Test

3. Other boys who are eligible for the pupil premium or service premium, who have achieved the qualifying mark of 121 or more and who live in the catchment area

4. Brothers of siblings currently attending John Hampden Grammar School

5. Boys who have exceptional medical or social needs which can only be met by the school

6. Sons of staff employed by the school

7. Boys living within Priority Area A

8. Boys living within Priority Area B

9. All other boys are offered places according to distance order, with boys living closest to the school given priority

John Hampden Grammar School catchment area

John Hampden Grammar School operates a catchment area to prioritise eligible children living close to the school. This is made up of two distinct sections – Priority Areas A and B – which are referred to as the 'catchment area' when combined together.

• Priority Area A: this includes the main areas of High Wycombe, Stokenchurch, Marlow, Beaconsfield, and Gerrards Cross

• Priority Area B: this includes the main areas of Maidenhead, Taplow, Stoke Poges, Iver Heath, and parts of Burnham

A map is available to view here.

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