A selective boys grammar school in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,368 pupils on roll.
Dr Challoner's Grammar School
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At a glance
Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham is a boys' grammar school to age 16 with a co-educational sixth form, educating about 1,368 students. Its reputation reaches back to the early seventeenth century, and the current school still leans on a concise motto - Excellence with Integrity - supported by the values of aspiration, kindness and resilience.
The academic offer is broad but also carefully shaped around character. In the sixth form, students can study three A levels with an EPQ or four A levels, with a BTEC Sport option also available. The Character Challenge gives sixth formers a structured mix of academic, co-curricular and personal development activities, including volunteering, lectures, team projects, sport and independent experiences beyond school.
Challoner's has the feel of a mature grammar-school campus: music, drama, sport, societies, student leadership and service sit alongside the Milton Library and sixth-form social and study spaces. The published outcomes are among the strongest in this group, with Outstanding Ofsted, +1.18 Progress 8, 96.7% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 57.8% AAB or better at A level.
Year 7 entry is through the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, with 180 places. The test has verbal, mathematical and non-verbal elements, and a standardised score of 121 or more qualifies a child for grammar-school consideration. Applications then run through Buckinghamshire Council and the school's published policy, including catchment-linked evidence through the supplementary information form where relevant.
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.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,368 pupils; 1,356 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 51.7% | White | 707 |
| Indian | 22.4% | Asian | 307 |
| Any other Asian background | 5.7% | Asian | 78 |
| White and Asian | 5.7% | Mixed | 78 |
| Any other White background | 4.2% | White | 57 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.5% | Mixed | 48 |
| Pakistani | 2.3% | Asian | 31 |
| Chinese | 1.4% | Asian | 19 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.9% | Other | 12 |
| Unclassified | 0.9% | Unclassified | 12 |
| White and Black African | 0.5% | Mixed | 7 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.3% | Mixed | 4 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 3 |
| African | 0.1% | Black | 2 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.1% | Asian | 2 |
| Any other Black background | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
Dr Challoner's Grammar School has 180 Year 7 places for 2027 entry. Applications are handled through Buckinghamshire Council, and catchment-linked applicants must complete the school's SIF.
March 2026 allocation reached all applicants in catchment and non-catchment sibling priority groups, and some distance-rule applicants to 10.011 miles.
Looked after and previously looked after boys
Qualified looked after and previously looked after boys are first in priority.
Pupil premium boys living in catchment
Qualified boys living in catchment and in receipt of pupil premium at the time of application are considered next.
Catchment siblings
Qualified boys with a sibling in Years 7 to 12 and living in catchment are ranked next.
Reserved catchment places for qualifying lower scores
Within the 180 places, up to 12 catchment places are reserved for pupil-premium or looked-after boys scoring at least 115, with up to six of those places available for scores of 110 to 114 if not otherwise filled.
Qualified sons of staff
Priority then applies to qualified sons of staff where the staff member meets the service-length or skill-shortage criteria.
Boys living in catchment by distance
Qualified boys living in catchment are ranked by straight-line distance from home to the main entrance on Chesham Road.
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test applies. It has two multiple-choice papers and age-standardised verbal, mathematical and non-verbal skill scores; 121 or more qualifies a child for grammar-school consideration.
Shared exam route
Dr Challoner's Grammar School uses the shared Buckinghamshire route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Buckinghamshire practice papersPaper 1
English, Verbal reasoning
Verbal skills paper
Verbal skills paper covering comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Maths, Non-verbal reasoning
Mathematical and non-verbal skills paper
Mathematical and non-verbal skills paper covering mathematics, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Verbal skills paper covering comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
Mathematical and non-verbal skills paper covering mathematics, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning.
Science
Secondary Transfer Test registration opens
1 May 2026, 10am for children not at state-funded Buckinghamshire primaries
PastSecondary Transfer Test registration closes
2 June 2026, 3pm deadline
PastTest invitations sent
7 August 2026
Practice test
8 September 2026
Secondary Transfer Test
10 September 2026
Transfer Test results released
9 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
31 October 2026
Submit the secondary school application to your home local authority.
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Read the Year 7 admissions page and policy
Start with the school's Year 7 admissions page and the 2027 admissions policy to check the catchment-linked rules.
Open Year 7 admissionsRegister for the Secondary Transfer Test
If your child is not automatically entered through a Buckinghamshire state-funded primary school, register through Buckinghamshire Council during the published test window.
Register for the testSubmit the school's SIF if needed
Families applying under the catchment-linked rules must complete the school's Supplementary Information Form by the published autumn deadline.
Check the SIF rulesSubmit the secondary application
List Dr Challoner's Grammar School on your home local authority secondary application by the national deadline.
Apply for a secondary placeLatest 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 | 77.9 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 77.5 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 77.5 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 73.9 | 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 (51.0 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | A- average (47.1 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A- average (46.9 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A- average (47.4 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 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 6 November 2019
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar boys' selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar boys' selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar boys' selective route
Same wider selective region with a comparable travel distance
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best boys grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
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.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Dr Challoner's Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the Year 7 admissions page and policy: Start with the school's Year 7 admissions page and the 2027 admissions policy to check the catchment-linked rules. 2. Register for the Secondary Transfer Test: If your child is not automatically entered through a Buckinghamshire state-funded primary school, register through Buckinghamshire Council during the published test window. 3. Submit the school's SIF if needed: Families applying under the catchment-linked rules must complete the school's Supplementary Information Form by the published autumn deadline. 4. Submit the secondary application: List Dr Challoner's Grammar School on your home local authority secondary application by the national deadline.
Secondary Transfer Test registration opens: 1 May 2026, 10am for children not at state-funded Buckinghamshire primaries. Secondary Transfer Test registration closes: 2 June 2026, 3pm deadline. Test invitations sent: 7 August 2026. Practice test: 8 September 2026. Secondary Transfer Test: 10 September 2026. Transfer Test results released: 9 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Dr Challoner's Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 6 November 2019.