Buckinghamshire / Buckinghamshire 11+
Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, HP7 9QB
Dr Challoner's High School
1
A selective girls grammar school in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,358 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective girls grammar school in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,358 pupils on roll. Based in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, the school serves girls aged 11-18 and includes sixth-form study as part of the offer. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,358 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 roughly 11.3 applicants per place in the latest stored admissions picture. 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 1.11 and Attainment 8 at 78.2. 99.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 40.7% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 73% moving into higher education.
The wider offer currently includes Drama. 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 Dr Challoner's High 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.
State-funded Buckinghamshire primary pupils are registered automatically for the Secondary Transfer Test. Other families register through Buckinghamshire Council and then complete the school's SIF2 if they need Dr Challoner's High to confirm residency qualification.
Catchment residence must be established by 1 April 2026 for September 2027 entry. Dr Challoner's High reserves up to 12 lower-score places for eligible catchment pupil-premium or care-experienced girls, and otherwise uses straight-line distance to the main entrance on Cokes Lane to separate tied applicants.
Looked after, previously looked after, and internationally adopted looked after children
Looked after, previously looked after, internationally adopted, and internationally adopted previously looked after girls are prioritised first.
Pupil premium girls in catchment who already qualify
Girls in receipt of pupil premium or service pupil premium who qualify for grammar school and live in catchment by 1 April 2026 are ranked next.
Reserved catchment places for lower qualifying scores
Within the PAN of 180, up to 12 catchment places are reserved for pupil premium or care-experienced girls scoring at least 115, with up to six of those places extending to scores between 110 and 114 if they are not otherwise filled.
Daughters of staff
Priority then goes to daughters of staff who meet the school's employment-length or skill-shortage criteria.
Girls living in catchment
Girls living in the school catchment by 1 April 2026 are then ranked ahead of out-of-catchment applicants.
Sisters already at the school
Girls with a sister on roll when allocations are made are then considered.
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test is a shared GL Assessment process with one verbal-skills paper and one mathematical/non-verbal-skills paper.
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
About 60 minutes including introduction and examples, covering comprehension, technical English, and verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Maths, NVR
Mathematical and non-verbal skills paper
About 60 minutes including introduction and examples, covering mathematics plus non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
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
About 60 minutes including introduction and examples, covering comprehension, technical English, and verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
About 60 minutes including introduction and examples, covering mathematics plus non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
Science
Creative writing
Registration opens
1 May 2026
Registration closes
2 June 2026
Practice test
8 September 2026
Secondary Transfer Test
10 September 2026
Results released
9 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
31 October 2026
DCHS SIF2 opens
1 October 2026
DCHS SIF2 deadline
30 November 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Read the school admissions policy
Check the 2027 policy first for the qualifying score, catchment rules, and oversubscription order.
Open admissions processRegister for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
Children at state-funded Buckinghamshire primaries are registered automatically. All other applicants need to register by 3pm on 2 June 2026.
Open test registrationSit the practice test and transfer test
Buckinghamshire schedules the practice test for 8 September 2026 and the Secondary Transfer Test for 10 September 2026.
Open transfer-test timelineSubmit DCHS supplementary information if required
Families using the school's residency route need the DCHS SIF2, available from 1 October 2026 and due by the end of the school day on 30 November 2026.
Open school instructionsSubmit your secondary application
Name Dr Challoner's High on your home local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Open key datesLatest 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 | 81.2 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 78.5 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 78.2 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 79.1 | 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 (48.2 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (44.9 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B+ average (44.9 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A- average (45.7 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 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 22 November 2023
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar girls' selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar girls' selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar girls' selective route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions 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
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 Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing realistic shortlist options.
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 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 Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing realistic shortlist options.
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.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Dr Challoner's High School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the school admissions policy: Check the 2027 policy first for the qualifying score, catchment rules, and oversubscription order. 2. Register for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test: Children at state-funded Buckinghamshire primaries are registered automatically. All other applicants need to register by 3pm on 2 June 2026. 3. Sit the practice test and transfer test: Buckinghamshire schedules the practice test for 8 September 2026 and the Secondary Transfer Test for 10 September 2026. 4. Submit DCHS supplementary information if required: Families using the school's residency route need the DCHS SIF2, available from 1 October 2026 and due by the end of the school day on 30 November 2026. 5. Submit your secondary application: Name Dr Challoner's High on your home local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Registration opens: 1 May 2026. Registration closes: 2 June 2026. Practice test: 8 September 2026. Secondary Transfer Test: 10 September 2026. Results released: 9 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. DCHS SIF2 opens: 1 October 2026. DCHS SIF2 deadline: 30 November 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Dr Challoner's High School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 22 November 2023.