Buckinghamshire 11 Plus
The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) is a consortium comprised of thirteen schools. All schools administer the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test. Buckinghamshire (Bucks) is one of the last remaining Counties where education is fully selective. There are 13 grammar schools and 21 upper schools in the County. Admission into Year 7 at all schools is managed centrally by Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC).
Approximately 30% of children qualify for a grammar school place each year, and around a further 5% are deemed qualified after a successful Review or Appeal against non-qualification. School places are allocated by distance from school gates with defined catchment areas that receive priority.
All the Buckinghamshire grammar schools are academies and therefore their own admissions authorities, but following their academy conversion, the thirteen schools were very keen to continue their long tradition of working together. They wanted to maintain a coordinated selection system using a common secondary transfer test to select pupils for entry into all Buckinghamshire grammar schools at 11+ each year, to avoid admissions and testing ‘free for all’ which would be to the detriment of children and families.
Forum posts on this region can be found here:
Recommended Practice Materials for Buckinghamshire
Book suggestions
Buckinghamshire Schools
Find out more about the schools in Buckinghamshire
For Entry in September 2024
Buckinghamshire School Allocation Profiles Page 2
Buckinghamshire 12+ and 13+ Tests Page 3
Buckinghamshire (Bucks) is one of the last remaining Counties where education is fully selective. There are 13 grammar schools and 21 upper schools in the County. Admission into Year 7 at all schools is managed centrally by Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC). There is also a Free School that opened in Winslow in September 2013, the Sir Thomas Fremantle Secondary School. The school’s admissions are also handled by BCC.
Buckinghamshire operates an “opt out” system for the 11+, whereby children at Bucks state primary schools are automatically entered for the test unless their parents actively withdraw them from taking it. Children at private schools within the county and those attending schools outside Buckinghamshire must actively apply to take the test.
Many private schools in the county and some large schools outside the county administer the Bucks 11 plus on behalf of Bucks CC. These are known as “Partner Schools”. The children receive the application form for the test and the CAF (school application form) via their school, the tests take place in the school and the results are provided via the school in exactly the same way as for children attending Bucks state schools.
Approximately 30% of children qualify for a grammar school place each year, and around a further 5% are deemed qualified after a successful Review or Appeal against non-qualification. School places are allocated by distance from school gates with defined catchment areas that receive priority.
Online registration for testing opens in early May each year and closes at the end of June. (See below for exact dates for the current round of admissions.)
If your child attends a primary school in Buckinghamshire; they will sit a Preparation Test at their school in order to become familiar with the Transfer Test; they are slightly shorter than the real test and take about 35 minutes each. Children attending other schools are invited to take the Preparation Test at one of the grammar schools.
To assess your chances of gaining a place at your preferred school you can view our summary of past Allocation Profiles (Distances).
Buckinghamshire is unusual in that it has retained the 12+ and 13+ tests for grammar school entry. Places are not reserved for candidates taking these tests, so availability depends on vacancies arising in each year group. The number of places available has declined significantly in recent years.
Important changes to Admissions 2019 onwards
For the September 2018 test (2019 admission) the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools reverted to using GL Assessment as the supplier for the test, following 5 years of testing by CEM University of Cambridge (formerly University of Durham)
Help to boost your child’s exam performance and confidence in preparation for the exams. Book our GL Assessment format papers tailored to the Buckinghamshire schools. BOOK HERE
Bucks 11 Plus Admissions Information for September 2024 entry
| CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS | Registration opens (TBC May 2023) Registration closes (TBC June 2023) Registration is required for all children attending Partner Schools and out of county schools). Children attending Bucks state schools do not need to register. Parents can notify their child’s headteacher if they do not wish their child to take the test Deadline is 31st October 2023 for the Common Application Form |
|---|---|
| 11+ TEST DATES | Secondary Transfer Test Date – September 2023 (TBC) Practice Test: – September 2023 – two practice test papers each lasting about 25-30 minutes containing questions that are similar to those they will encounter in the Secondary Transfer Test. |
| TEST TYPES | The Secondary Transfer Test will continue to comprise two test papers; both multiple choice. Each paper is 45 minutes long The first paper will include comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning questions. This will test your child’s understanding of the passage, vocabulary ability, as well as punctuation, spelling and grammar knowledge. The second paper will include non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and maths questions. Maths will include Year 6 topics which will not have been covered at as school. |
| TEST FORMAT | Multiple Choice |
| EXAMINERS | GL Assessment |
| TEST RESULTS | October 2023 (TBC) |
| LATEST DATE FOR MOVING INTO BUCKINGHAMSHIRE | 23rd June 2023 |
| PASS MARK | 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 will continue to be 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: English and Verbal – 50%; Mathematical – 25%; Non-verbal – 25%. The total is the STTS. The STTS is set at a level to ensure that all children who achieve the score will qualify for a place, there being no ranking applied. |
| STANDARDISED SCORE | Yes |
| ALLOCATIONS DAY | 1st March 2024 |
| LINKS | Buckinghamshire Admissions Information Free Familiarisation Materials The Secondary Transfer Test FAQs |
| RECOMMENDED MATERIALS | Maths Practice Materials English Practice Materials Verbal Practice Materials Non-Verbal Practice Materials |
More information and advice can also be found in the Buckinghamshire section of the 11+ Forum
Bucks 11 Plus General School Information
Open evening information for all Bucks schools, including grammar schools, is published on the Buckinghamshire County Council website each year. Dates for grammar school open days and evenings for 2023 entry are shown below. The information for 2024 admission will be updated as soon as it is released.
| SCHOOL | ADMISSIONS | GENDER | PLACES | OPEN EVENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aylesbury Grammar School Walton Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7RP 01296484545 office@ags.bucks.sch.uk | Admissions Policy 2023 | Boys | 186 in Year 7 | 5h, 17th, 20th October 2022 |
| Aylesbury High School Walton Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7SX 01296388222 office@ahs.bucks.sch.uk | Admissions Policy 2023 | Girls | 180 in Year 7 | Evening: 21st September 2022, 5:30-7:30pm Mornings: 29th September, 18th-20th October 2022, 9:15-10:30am |
| Beaconsfield High School Wattleton Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 1RR 01494673043 | Admissions Policy 2023 | Girls | 180 in Year 7 | Open morning: 19th October 2022 |
| Burnham Grammar School Hogfair Lane, Burnham, Slough, Buckinghamshire, SL1 7HG 01628604812 info@burnhamgrammar.org.uk | Admissions Policy 2023 | Mixed | 180 in Year 7 | Tours available to book |
| Chesham Grammar School White Hill, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1BA 01494782854 office@cheshamgrammar.org | Admissions Policy 2023 | Mixed | 180 in Year 7 | Slides from induction evening – 28th June 2022 |
| Dr. Challoners Grammar School Chesham Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5HA 01494787500 admin@challoners.com | Admissions Policy 2023 | Boys | 180 in Year 7 | 20th October 2022 26th January 2023 |
| Dr. Challoners High School Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont Buckinghamshire HP7 9QB 01494 763 296 office@challonershigh.com | Admissions Policy 2023 | Girls | 180 in Year 7 | Open mornings: 20th October 2022, 20th January, 20th April, 29th June 2023 |
| John Hampden Grammar School Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1SZ 01494529589 office@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk | Admissions Policy 2023 | Boys | 180 in Year 7 | Virtual open evening |
| The Royal Grammar School Amersham Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 6QT 01494524955 | Admissions Policy (Day Places) 2022 Admissions Policy (Boarding Places) 2023 | Boys | 182 day in Year 7 & 10 boarding | Virtual open event |
| Royal Latin School Chandos Road, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 1AX 01280813065 office@royallatin.org | Admissions Policy 2023 | Mixed | 174 in Year 7 | 20th, 26th, 27th September 2022 10th-11th, 17-18th October 2022 |
| Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School Oxford Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 8PE 01296424781 office@sirhenryfloyd.co.uk | Admissions Policy 2023 | Mixed | 180 in Year 7 | Open evening: 22nd September 2022 Open morning: 18-20th October 2022 |
| Sir William Borlase School West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR 01628816500 enquiries@swbgs.com | Admissions Policy 2023 | Mixed | 150 in Year 7 | 4th March 2023 |
| Wycombe High School Marlow Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1TB 01494523961 office@whs.bucks.sch.uk | Admissions Policy 2023 | Girls | 192 in Year 7 | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 21st September-12th October 2022 |
N.B. Chesham Grammar School was known as Chesham High School until September 2010.
Upper Schools in Buckinghamshire
All Buckinghamshire Upper Schools are co-educational.
- The Amersham School, Amersham
- The Aylesbury Vale Academy, Aylesbury, (formerly Quarrendon Upper School)
- The Beaconsfield School, Beaconsfield
- Buckingham School, Buckingham
- The Chalfonts Community College, Chalfont St. Peter
- Chiltern Hills Academy, Chesham
- Cottesloe School, Wing
- Cressex Community School, High Wycombe
- The Grange School, Aylesbury
- Great Marlow School, Marlow
- The Highcrest Academy, High Wycombe
- Holmer Green Senior School, Holmer Green
- John Colet School, Wendover
- The Mandeville School
- The Misbourne School, Great Missenden
- Princes Risborough School, Princes Risborough
- Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere
- St Michael’s Catholic School
- Waddesdon CofE School, Waddesdon
- The Bourne End Academy, Bourne End
N.B. The Aylesbury Vale Academy was previously known as the Quarrendon School. Chiltern Hills Academy was previously called Chesham Park Community College. The Highcrest Academy was previously known as Highcrest Community School. The Bourne End Academy also known as the Wye Valley School, Burnham E-ACT Academy was previously known as Burnham Upper School.
Buckinghamshire School Allocation Profiles Page 2
Buckinghamshire 12+ and 13+ Tests Page 3
Information on this page was believed to be correct at the time of writing, but we would not necessarily be aware of subsequent changes unless someone brings them to our attention.
Before acting on any information given here, please verify that it is up to date
