How to Get into Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire still runs a full grammar school system for their 11 Plus. They have thirteen Grammar schools and 21 upper (non selective) schools.

The Buckinghamshire Grammar schools are:

1. Aylesbury Grammar School
2. Aylesbury High School
3. Beaconsfield High School
4. Burnham Grammar School
5. Chesham Grammar School
6. Dr Challoner’s Grammar School
7. Dr Challoner’s High School
8. John Hampden Grammar School
9. Royal Grammar School
10. Royal Latin Grammar School
11. Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
12. Sir William Borlase Grammar School
13. Wycombe High School

Each of the thirteen grammar schools in Buckinghamshire is its own Admission Authority. However, the purposes of Secondary Transfer Testing, the thirteen schools work together as The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS).

Passing the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools test

GL Assessment provide the Secondary Transfer Test for next September.

The test has three parts – verbal, mathematical and non-verbal problems. This gives your child the chance to show their skills in different ways – using words, numbers and pictures or diagrams.

The test does not have a pass mark. Instead there is a qualifying score for admission to grammar school. The qualifying score for Buckinghamshire grammar schools is a Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) of 121 or above. The STTS is calculated by age-standardising the three section scores and then adding them using the following weightings: verbal – 50%; mathematical – 25%; non-verbal – 25%. The total is the STTS.

All children in Buckinghamshire are entered unless they opt out of the exam. Practically speaking, around 80% of children take the test. Around 30% of these pass the test.

Choosing the Right Grammar School in Bucks

When it comes to choosing the right grammar school in Buckinghamshire, it’s important to think about the specific needs for both you and your child, as well as the location. Parents will often want to apply to more than one school (if eligible), to give their child the best chance of a place.

It’s a good idea to visit your chosen school first to get a feel for the environment. Most grammar schools in Bucks have open days in the late spring or early summer. You can usually find more information about open days on the school website.

Preparing for the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools test

People will have you believe that you cannot prepare or be tutored for this exam. This is not true and can be shown by the results from within Buckinghamshire. Some areas of Buckinghamshire have only 17% pass rates and others have 37% pass rates – the difference is in the preparation provided for the exam.

We have extensive experience of preparing for the GL assessments both generically and for the Buckinghamshire tests. Do not believe that preparation will not help. It is absolutely critical.

An 11 Plus tutor can be crucial in helping your child prepare and succeed in their assessment. Our specialised team will ensure your child gains confidence in their ability, and feels supported along the way. 

Children could benefit from our 11 Plus weekend classes, which offer a bespoke programme spanning the traditional teaching of core skills as well as the latest styles and nature of school entrance testing.

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