Buckinghamshire is one of the last fully selective counties in England, with 13 free state grammar schools and no in-between. That makes it a destination for families across the country, but it also makes the system unusually simple in one way and unusually competitive in another: every grammar uses the same test and the same pass mark, so where you live often matters more than the exact score. Below are all 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools, ranked on results, reputation and inspection. For each one you will find who it is for, how entry works, and why it earns its place. We never run a school down, and the "best" school is always the one that fits your child.
- All 13 Bucks grammars share one test, the Bucks Secondary Transfer Test (STT): verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning.
- The qualifying score is 121 for every school, so the real difference is the catchment, not the pass mark.
- On results, RGS High Wycombe leads on A-level and Dr Challoner's High on GCSE, with Dr Challoner's Grammar and Wycombe High close behind.
- Watch one quirk: RGS is rated "Good", not Outstanding, despite being the top academic school, a reminder that one grade is not the whole story.
How we ranked them
There is no single official ranking of Buckinghamshire's grammars, so we used a transparent blend of three things: the most recent published exam results (2024 and 2025 GCSE and A-level grades where schools have shared them), reputation and selectivity, and the latest inspection outcome. Because the academic top four are very close, we weighed GCSE and A-level together and used reputation and inspection as the tie-breaker.
Two honest caveats. First, every school here is genuinely good, so the order separates strong from strong, and any would be a fine choice. Second, since September 2024 Ofsted no longer gives state schools a single overall grade, so where we say "Outstanding" or "Good" we mean the rating from each school's last graded inspection. Treat the detail as a 2025/2026 snapshot and always confirm the latest on each school's own website. Pip is not affiliated with any school or exam board.
How 11+ entry in Buckinghamshire works
Buckinghamshire keeps things simple at the test stage and competitive at the place stage. Every one of the 13 grammars admits through a single test, the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT), set by GL Assessment and run centrally by The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools consortium. It covers verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning, with no separate English paper, sat in September of Year 6, and one sitting counts for all 13 schools at once.
Here is the part that matters most. The qualifying score is 121 for every Bucks grammar, the same mark everywhere, and around 37 percent of children reach it. Qualifying does not guarantee a place. After the 121 threshold, each school applies its own catchment and distance criteria, so the difference between an easier and a harder Bucks grammar to get into is the catchment competition, not the pass mark. A child can also qualify late through a Selection Review. Our full Bucks Transfer Test guide walks through the format, the timeline and the review route, and the Bucks catchment pages show each school's area.
Verbal reasoning leans on vocabulary
Verbal reasoning carries real weight in the Bucks STT, and a wide vocabulary is the quiet advantage behind it. Pip's free vocabulary flashcards turn the words pupils are expected to know in Years 4 to 6 into a quick, gamified daily habit, with kid-friendly meanings, example sentences and a tap-to-hear guide for each word.
Try the vocabulary flashcards 🚀
1The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free (co-ed sixth form, day & boarding) · High Wycombe
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 60% of A-levels at A*/A and ~86% at A*-B (2025), with strong progress; rated Good at its last graded inspection (2025)
RGS is the most prestigious and selective grammar in Buckinghamshire, with the strongest A-level profile in the county and the only boarding provision among the 13, which lets boys apply from further afield. It became co-educational in the sixth form from September 2025. Note that its last graded Ofsted was Good rather than Outstanding, a useful reminder that a single inspection grade does not capture a school's full record.
2Dr Challoner's Grammar School
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free (co-ed sixth form) · Amersham
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 64% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and ~64% of A-levels at A*/A (2025); rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection (2019)
Dr Challoner's is an elite boys' grammar in Amersham and a perennial top-three academic force in the county, pairing 64% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 with one of the strongest A-level profiles in Bucks. Its large co-educational sixth form has a formidable Oxbridge and Russell Group record.
3Wycombe High School
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · High Wycombe
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 72% of GCSEs at grade 7-9 (2025); rated Outstanding (2024), held since 2012
Wycombe High is the leading girls' grammar in Buckinghamshire, rated Outstanding since 2012 and celebrating 125 years in 2026. Around 72% of its GCSE grades were 7-9 in 2025, and with some 1,360 girls it pairs strong STEM with a large, popular intake.
4Dr Challoner's High School
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · Little Chalfont
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedA record ~83% of GCSEs at grade 7-9 and ~57% of A-levels at A*/A (2025); rated Outstanding (2023)
Sister school to Dr Challoner's Grammar, DCHS posted the highest raw GCSE attainment of any Bucks grammar in 2025, with around 83% of grades at 7-9. Outstanding at its 2023 inspection, it has a very strong sixth form and high progression to medicine and Oxbridge, so competition for its Little Chalfont catchment is intense.
5Aylesbury Grammar School
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free · Aylesbury
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 67% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 (2025); rated Outstanding across all categories (2022)
Founded in 1598, Aylesbury Grammar is the leading boys' grammar in the north of the county and one of its oldest schools. Rated Outstanding across all categories in 2022, it has a strong music, CCF and sporting tradition and partners closely with Aylesbury High.
6Beaconsfield High School
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · Beaconsfield
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 71% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and ~50% of A-levels at A*/A (2025); rated Outstanding
Known locally as "Becky High", Beaconsfield is a smaller, high-performing girls' grammar in the affluent south of the county, consistently in the national top decile with around 71% of GCSEs at 9-7. Its desirable south-Bucks location makes its catchment tight, so proximity matters as much as the score.
7Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
- Who it's forCo-educational grammar, free · Marlow
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 71% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and ~50% of A-levels at A*/A (2024); rated Outstanding
Founded in 1624 on a historic riverside site in Marlow, Sir William Borlase's is one of the most sought-after co-educational grammars in Buckinghamshire, rated Outstanding and nationally known for rowing. It has admitted girls since 1987 and combines strong results with a rich co-curricular life.
8Chesham Grammar School
- Who it's forCo-educational grammar, free · Chesham
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedOver two-thirds of GCSEs at grade 7-9 and ~60% of A-levels at A*/A (2025); rated Outstanding (2025)
Chesham is a popular co-educational grammar rated Outstanding in 2025, with particularly strong A-level value-added (around 60% A*/A) and a warm, "happy and welcoming" reputation that families often single out. It is a strong option for those who want co-education near the Chiltern villages.
9Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
- Who it's forCo-educational grammar, free · Aylesbury
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 66% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 (2025); rated Outstanding at its recent inspection
Sir Henry Floyd is the co-educational grammar in Aylesbury, alongside the single-sex Aylesbury Grammar and Aylesbury High. A large school of around 1,350, it has a strong pastoral and inclusive reputation and a broad sixth form, making it a popular co-ed choice in the north of the county.
10John Hampden Grammar School
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free · High Wycombe
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 62% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 and ~43% of A-levels at A*/A (2025); rated Outstanding (2022)
John Hampden is a well-established boys' grammar of around 1,150 on Marlow Hill in High Wycombe, named after the Civil War MP. Outstanding at its 2022 inspection, it has strong music and sport alongside dependable academic results, sitting alongside RGS as a boys' option in the town.
11Aylesbury High School
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · Aylesbury
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 71% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 (2025); rated Outstanding (2023)
Aylesbury High is the only girls' grammar in the north of the county, partner to Aylesbury Grammar, with around 1,300 girls. Outstanding at its 2023 inspection, it pairs strong GCSE results with a broad enrichment and sixth-form offer, and is the natural girls' choice for north-Bucks families.
12The Royal Latin School
- Who it's forCo-educational grammar, free · Buckingham
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 59% of A-levels at A*/A (2025, its strongest year) with strong progress; rated Good (2022), Outstanding for sixth form and behaviour
The Royal Latin School in Buckingham is the oldest school in the county, tracing back to 1423, and serves a large rural catchment in the north. Its 2025 A-levels were its strongest ever, at around 59% A*/A, and although its last overall inspection was Good, it was rated Outstanding for its sixth form, behaviour and personal development. Its wide rural area often makes distance less binding than in the dense south.
13Burnham Grammar School
- Who it's forCo-educational grammar, free · Burnham
- Entrance examBucks STT: verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- AdmissionsScore 121 to qualify, then catchment and distance
- Results & OfstedAround 56% of GCSEs at grade 9-7 (2025); rated Good (2022)
Burnham is a smaller co-educational grammar in the south-east corner of the county near Slough and Maidenhead. Rated Good in 2022 and oversubscribed, it is the most accessible Bucks grammar on raw attainment, though its location means the distance criterion is still competitive. It rounds out a county where every grammar is a genuinely strong, fully selective school.
Because all 13 use the same Bucks STT and the same 121 qualifying score, the smart move is to build the verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning the test rewards, then choose schools on catchment and fit. Pip covers it all with unlimited, exam-style questions - Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning - and it helps to understand how the Bucks Transfer Test works and how to choose which schools to apply to.
One free app for every Bucks grammar on this list
The Bucks STT tests verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning, and the pass mark is the same at all 13. Pip turns it into five calm minutes a day - adaptive, exam-style, and genuinely free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best grammar school in Buckinghamshire?+
By results and reputation, The Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe leads on A-level, with Dr Challoner's Grammar, Wycombe High and Dr Challoner's High (which has the highest GCSE attainment in the county) close behind. The "best" school, though, is the one that fits your child, so weigh single-sex or co-ed, location and catchment too.
How do you get into a Buckinghamshire grammar school?+
All 13 Buckinghamshire grammars admit through one test, the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT), set by GL Assessment and covering verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning. It is sat in September of Year 6, and a single sitting counts for every school. A standardised score of 121 qualifies, then each school applies catchment and distance to allocate places. Our Bucks Transfer Test guide has the full timeline.
Do all Buckinghamshire grammar schools have the same pass mark?+
Yes. The qualifying score is 121 for all 13 Buckinghamshire grammars, the same mark everywhere. Qualifying does not guarantee a place, though. The real difference between an easier and a harder Bucks grammar to get into is the catchment competition, not the pass mark, because places are then decided by home-to-school distance.
Which Buckinghamshire grammar school is the most selective?+
On raw attainment, Dr Challoner's High, The Royal Grammar School High Wycombe and Dr Challoner's Grammar admit the strongest cohorts, so in practice a score well above the 121 qualifying mark plus a tight catchment is needed. Burnham Grammar and The Royal Latin School, which serves a large rural area, tend to be the most accessible on distance.
Are Buckinghamshire grammar schools free?+
Yes. All 13 are state-funded and free to attend; only admission is selective, by the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test. Many families pay privately for tutoring or practice, but the school place itself costs nothing, unlike a fee-paying independent school.
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