Buckinghamshire / Buckinghamshire 11+
White Hill, Chesham, HP5 1BA
Chesham Grammar School
1
A selective co-educational grammar school in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,326 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective co-educational grammar school in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,326 pupils on roll. Based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the school serves boys and girls aged 11-18 and includes sixth-form study as part of the offer. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,326 pupils on roll and 180 Year 7 places.
Admissions are central to understanding whether this school is the right fit and realistic shortlist option. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 180 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks moderate by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
Academically, the published picture is strong and easier to judge than reputation alone. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Outstanding. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.84 and Attainment 8 at 76.7. 100% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 43.3% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 69% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Library, Performing arts spaces. The wider offer currently includes Duke of Edinburgh, Sport. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. That mix of selective entry, published outcomes, and school life is what will matter most to families deciding whether Chesham Grammar School belongs on a serious shortlist.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Buckinghamshire Council manages the Secondary Transfer Test, coordinated applications, and appeals for Chesham Grammar School. Families at independent, out-of-county, or Partner Schools need to complete the published test-registration route.
A designated catchment area applies, with a dedicated map available. After the higher priority groups, remaining qualified applicants are ranked by straight-line distance to White Hill.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Qualified looked after children and previously looked after children are prioritised first.
Up to six catchment pupil premium qualifiers scoring 110-120
Up to six places are reserved for catchment children who receive Pupil Premium, score between 110 and 120 inclusive, and do not have a successful Selection Review.
Other catchment pupil premium qualifiers
Remaining qualified catchment children in receipt of Pupil Premium are considered next.
Siblings
Qualified siblings of pupils attending Chesham Grammar School at the time of admission are prioritised next.
Children of permanent staff
Qualified children of permanent staff who meet the school's published service criteria are considered next.
Other qualified catchment children
Qualified children living in the designated catchment area are ranked before out-of-catchment applicants.
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test applies. Buckinghamshire Council describes two multiple-choice papers: verbal skills and mathematical/non-verbal skills. The three age-standardised skill scores are weighted 50% verbal, 25% mathematical and 25% non-verbal; a score of 121 or more qualifies a child for grammar-school consideration but does not give higher priority above other qualified children.
This school uses the shared Buckinghamshire consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Buckinghamshire guidePaper 1
English, VR
Verbal skills paper
The first Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test paper assesses verbal skills, including English comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Maths, NVR
Mathematical and non-verbal skills paper
The second paper assesses mathematical, non-verbal and spatial skills.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
The first Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test paper assesses verbal skills, including English comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
The second paper assesses mathematical, non-verbal and spatial skills.
Science
Creative writing
Registration opens
1 May 2026
Registration closes
2 June 2026
Address cut-off for most Buckinghamshire grammar schools
1 September 2026
Practice test
8 September 2026
Secondary Transfer Test
10 September 2026
Results issued
9 October 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
Read the admissions policy and catchment map
Check the PAN of 186, the qualified-score rule, and the designated catchment area before making plans for testing and application.
Open admissions policyRegister for the Secondary Transfer Test if needed
Children at state-funded Buckinghamshire primary schools are entered automatically. Families at other schools must register between 1 May 2026 and 2 June 2026 at 3pm.
Open Buckinghamshire testing guidanceSit the practice test and the transfer test
Buckinghamshire has scheduled the practice test for 8 September 2026 and the Secondary Transfer Test for 10 September 2026, with results after 4pm on 9 October 2026.
Review key datesSubmit your secondary application
List Chesham Grammar School on your home local authority Common Application Form by 31 October 2026 if you want a school place.
Open admissions pageLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 78.1 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 76 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 76.7 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 74 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | A- average (45.5 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (43.8 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A- average (45.6 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A- average (46.3 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 98% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 13 March 2014
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire
Compare the best grammar schools in Buckinghamshire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Buckinghamshire sits within the Buckinghamshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
Explore grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the UK and narrow them by GCSE strength, county, and school type before you compare a realistic shortlist.
Best Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire
Compare the best grammar schools in Buckinghamshire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Buckinghamshire sits within the Buckinghamshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
Explore grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the UK and narrow them by GCSE strength, county, and school type before you compare a realistic shortlist.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Chesham Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the admissions policy and catchment map: Check the PAN of 186, the qualified-score rule, and the designated catchment area before making plans for testing and application. 2. Register for the Secondary Transfer Test if needed: Children at state-funded Buckinghamshire primary schools are entered automatically. Families at other schools must register between 1 May 2026 and 2 June 2026 at 3pm. 3. Sit the practice test and the transfer test: Buckinghamshire has scheduled the practice test for 8 September 2026 and the Secondary Transfer Test for 10 September 2026, with results after 4pm on 9 October 2026. 4. Submit your secondary application: List Chesham Grammar School on your home local authority Common Application Form by 31 October 2026 if you want a school place.
Registration opens: 1 May 2026. Registration closes: 2 June 2026. Address cut-off for most Buckinghamshire grammar schools: 1 September 2026. Practice test: 8 September 2026. Secondary Transfer Test: 10 September 2026. Results issued: 9 October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026
Chesham Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 13 March 2014.