A selective girls grammar school in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,358 pupils on roll.
Dr Challoner's High School
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At a glance
Dr Challoner's High School is a selective girls' grammar school in Little Chalfont, near Amersham, with a roll of about 1,358 including sixth formers. It is one of the best-known Buckinghamshire grammars, but the school is careful to describe success as more than examination performance: the curriculum is meant to be broad, challenging and full of opportunity, with girls able to choose subjects that suit both ambition and interest.
The main-school curriculum keeps breadth visible through modern languages, sciences, humanities, creative arts, design and technology, philosophy, religion and ethics, PSHE and PE. In the sixth form, most students take three A levels plus an EPQ, with some taking Further Mathematics or a fourth A level. The sixth-form programme also includes weekly PSHE, co-curricular activity, PE, volunteering or work experience, co-curricular studies, alumni-led Connections events and tailored Oxbridge and medical support.
School life has a recognisable Challoner's shape: house events, music, sport, drama, clubs, leadership and a sixth-form culture built around independence and confidence. The site record also points to a sports hall, performance spaces, art and design areas and a sixth-form centre, giving the school the infrastructure for both academic and creative work.
For Year 7 entry, the published admission number is 180. Girls sit the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, made up of a verbal-skills paper and a mathematical/non-verbal-skills paper. Once qualified, places are shaped by the school's catchment, pupil-premium, care-experienced, staff-child, sibling, medical/social and distance rules; the latest applications record lists 658 applications and 188 offers. Recent official benchmarks show Ofsted Outstanding, Progress 8 of +1.11, 99.5% grade 5+ in English and maths and 40.7% AAB or better at A level.
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 1,358 pupils; 1,299 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 32.5% | Asian | 441 |
| White British | 30.6% | White | 415 |
| Any other Asian background | 12.2% | Asian | 165 |
| Unclassified | 4.3% | Unclassified | 59 |
| White and Asian | 4.2% | Mixed | 57 |
| Any other White background | 4.1% | White | 55 |
| Pakistani | 3.7% | Asian | 50 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.2% | Mixed | 44 |
| Chinese | 1.3% | Asian | 18 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1% | Other | 13 |
| African | 0.8% | Black | 11 |
| Irish | 0.6% | White | 8 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.4% | Asian | 6 |
| White and Black African | 0.4% | Mixed | 5 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.4% | Mixed | 5 |
| Any other Black background | 0.3% | Black | 4 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 2 |
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.
March 2026 allocation reached all applicants through catchment rules and some non-catchment sibling applicants to 3.387 miles; this is rule-scoped rather than a general open-distance cutoff.
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.
Shared exam route
Dr Challoner's High 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
About 60 minutes including introduction and examples, covering comprehension, technical English, and verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Maths, Non-verbal reasoning
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 is 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
Registration opens
1 May 2026, 10am for children not at state-funded Buckinghamshire primaries
PastRegistration closes
2 June 2026, 3pm deadline
PastPractice 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, By the end of the school day
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 | 100% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 100% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 22 November 2023
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
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
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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 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Buckinghamshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
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 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 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, 10am for children not at state-funded Buckinghamshire primaries. Registration closes: 2 June 2026, 3pm deadline. 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, By the end of the school day. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Dr Challoner's High School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 22 November 2023.