When choosing a selective school for Year 7 entry, many parents opt for Grammar schools, which are academically-oriented and selective state-run schools that are a popular choice for secondary education. These are a great foundation to prepare students for applying to Russell Group universities and preparing for adult life and have been rising in popularity for over a decade.

In total there are currently 164 Grammar Schools in England, that are a mixture of grammar schools ranging from all girls school (perfect for female students), all boys school, mixed sixth form, catholic faith school, and all of which have a good school’s OFSTED rating.

Here is the ultimate guide to picking the best grammar schools for your child, whether you are located anywhere between south east London and Yorkshire and are looking for the perfect co educational sixth form for your young adult.

What is a grammar school?

A grammar school is a secondary school in the UK that admits pupils based on their academic ability. Essentially, this means that pupils will sit an entrance exam when they are in Year 6 and the pupils with the highest scores will be eligible for a place at the school from Year 7 onwards.

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.

Entry Requirements/Criteria

11 Plus /Entrance Exam

Your child is required to pass a selective eligibility test in the guise of entrance examinations (known as the 11 Plus) that test Mathematics, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning in order to qualify for admission into a grammar school for their sixth form college.

 Catchment Area

Certain boroughs or a specific set of postcodes are given admission priority. This is known as a catchment area and you can find this information on your local authority websites.  Sometimes it is worth moving to a catchment area that has the best grammar school. 

Relationship to the School

A large number of Grammar Schools have a Sibling Policy in action when assessing applications. This gives priority to candidates who already have an older brother or sister attending the school. In some cases, places are also given to pupils whose parents or close relatives work at the school. 

Sometimes religion, aptitude or special circumstances are taken into consideration in addition to the above 3 factors.

What are the advantages of grammar schools?

Academic excellence

Due to the entry requirements being academically-selective, grammar schools usually only take on the highest-achieving children per year group. As these pupils tend to be of a more equal level of ability they can be challenged further in the classroom to prepare them for academic success . In comparison, non-selective schools, such as comprehensive schools, may have more mixed-ability classes which can slow down the pace of teaching.

Stimulating environment

Many grammar school want their pupils to work hard and gain academic confidence in a co-educational sixth form to achieve good results, which also benefits the school’s success. They have an unashamedly academic curriculum that creates a stimulating environment where working hard and achieving success is celebrated, and pupils are less likely to be bullied for wanting to excel.

Social mobility

Due to grammar schools being fee- free, brighter children from lower-income families have a better chance of receiving a ‘good education’ in a co educational school and being exposed to an inspiring curriculum and access to performing and visual arts. This is a great way to develop young people.

Considerations

When you are in the process of choosing your prospective schools, whether they are London based grammar schools in the Hampstead garden suburb or part of the Kent education committee, make sure you attend the opens days and check that you are fully registered to apply.

The county of Kent has the most grammar schools in the country with over 30 to choose from. There are no state grammar schools in Wales or Scotland, but some do remain in Northern Ireland.

Which are the current top 10 Grammar Schools in the UK?

In 2021, The Sunday Times Parent Power‘s Best Schools League Table revealed that the top 10 state high performing specialist schools in the country, based on that year’s exam results, are all grammar schools, with 5 of the best grammar schools in London.

Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (London Borough of Barnet)

The Henrietta Barnett School(London Borough of Barnet)

Wilson’s School, Wallington (London Borough of Sutton)

Tiffin Girls’ School (London Borough of Kingston upon Thames)

St Olave’s Grammar School (London Borough of Bromley)

Pate’s Grammar School (Gloucestershire)

Reading School (Berkshire)

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (Greater Manchester)

Colchester Royal Grammar School (Essex)

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys (Birmingham)

Grammar school consortiums by region

A consortium is a group of two or more grammar schools who work together on the application process. Schools in a consortium use the same 11 plus test, exam dates and exam provider. The aim is to reduce the number of tests your child must sit to be considered for any of the grammar schools in an area.

Here is a list of consortiums of other grammar schools with excellent status by region.

East of England

Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE)

King Edward VI Grammar School

Colchester County High School for Girls

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Southend High School for Girls

Southend High School for Boys

Westcliff High School for Girls

Westcliff High School for Boys

St Bernard’s High School

St Thomas More High School

Shoeburyness High School

South West Hertfordshire Grammar Schools Consortium

Croxley Danes School

Parmiter’s School

Queens’ School

Rickmansworth School

St Clement Danes School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Bishop’s Stortford High School

Chancellor’s School

Dame Alice Owen’s School

Goffs Academy

Hertfordshire and Essex High School

Hockerill Anglo-European College

John Warner School

London

Barnet Grammar Schools

The Henrietta Barnett School

Queen Elizabeth’s School

St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School

Bexley Grammar Schools

Beths Grammar School

Bexley Grammar School

Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School

Townley Grammar School

Bromley Grammar Schools

Newstead Wood School

St Olave’s Grammar School

Kingston upon Thames Grammar Schools

Tiffin School

The Tiffin Girls’ School

Redbridge Grammar Schools

Ilford County High School (boys)

Woodford County High School (girls)

Sutton Grammar Schools

Greenshaw High School

Nonsuch High School

Sutton Grammar School

Wallington County Grammar School

Wallington High School

Wilson’s School

Midlands

Birmingham Grammar Schools Consortium

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School for Boys

King Edward VI Aston School

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

King Edward VI Five Ways School

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls

Lincolnshire Grammar Schools Consortium

Boston Grammar School

Boston High School for Girls

Bourne Grammar School

Carre’s Grammar School

Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School

Kesteven and Sleaford High School

King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth

King Edward VI Academy, Spilsby

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Alford

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle

Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough

Skegness Grammar School

Spalding Grammar School

Spalding High School

The King’s School Grantham

Shropshire, Walsall, and Wolverhampton Grammar Schools Consortium

Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar School

Newport Girls’ High School

Queen Mary’s Grammar School

Queen Mary’s High School

Wolverhampton Girls’ High School

Warwickshire Grammar Schools Consortium

Alcester Grammar School

King Edward VI School

Lawrence Sheriff School

Rugby High School

Stratford Girls’ Grammar School

North West

Lancashire

Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School (girls)

Lancaster Royal Grammar School (boys, co-ed sixth form)

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School (co-educational)

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (co-educational)

Find the complete guide to Lancashire Grammar Schools 11 plus here.

Cumbria:

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith

Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

Sale Grammar School

Stretford Grammar School

Urmston Grammar School

Saint Ambrose College

Loreto Grammar School

Wirral Grammar Schools (including Liverpool):

Calday Grange Grammar School

West Kirby Grammar School

Wirral Grammar School for Girls

Wirral Grammar School for Boys

The Liverpool Blue Coat School

St Anselm’s College

Upton Hall School

South East

Berkshire Grammar Schools Consortium

Herschel Grammar School

Kendrick School

Langley Grammar School

Reading Girls’ School – bilateral

Reading School

St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School

Upton Court Grammar School

Slough Grammar Schools Consortium

Langley Grammar School

Herschel Grammar School

St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School

Upton Court Grammar School

Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools Consortium

Aylesbury Grammar School

Aylesbury High School

Beaconsfield High School

Burnham Grammar School

Chesham Grammar School

Dr Challoner’s Grammar School

Dr Challoner’s High School

John Hampden Grammar School

Royal Grammar School

Royal Latin School

Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School

Wycombe High School

Surrey Grammar Schools

Greenshaw High School

Nonsuch High School

Sutton Grammar School

Wallington County Grammar School

Wallington High School

Wilson’s School

Tiffin School

The Tiffin Girls’ School

Medway Grammar Schools Consortium

Chatham Grammar School

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Holcombe Grammar School

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Rochester Grammar School

Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School

South West

Dorset Grammar Schools Consortium

Bournemouth School (Boys)

Bournemouth School for Girls

Parkstone Grammar School (Girls)

Poole Grammar School (Boys)

Budmouth Academy

Poole High School

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium

Pate’s Grammar School

Ribston Hall High School for Girls

Sir Thomas Rich’s School

The Crypt School

Marling School

Stroud High School

Denmark Road High School

Wiltshire Grammar Schools

Bishop’s Wordsworth’s School (boys)

South Wilts Grammar School (girls)

Calderdale:

Crossley Heath Grammar School

The North Halifax Grammar School

Kirklees:

Heckmondwike Grammar School

North Yorkshire:

Ermysted’s Grammar School

Ripon Grammar School

Skipton High School for Girls

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