A selective co-educational grammar school in Slough, Berkshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,056 pupils on roll.
Herschel Grammar School
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At a glance
Herschel Grammar School is a co-educational selective school serving Slough and the surrounding area, with about 1,056 pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is part of The Schelwood Trust and presents itself as a warm, vibrant grammar built around high academic standards, mutual trust and the development of each pupil.
Its values are unusually simple and memorable: responsibility, success and care. They sit behind a curriculum that reaches across art and design, computing, drama, economics, languages, science, politics, EPQ and sixth-form study. The wider school life includes a library, house system, eco work, school council, wellbeing support, careers, magistrates mock trials, podcasts and themed weeks such as Culture Week and Empathy Week.
Year 7 admission is through the Slough Consortium 11+ assessment, with GL papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics. The published admission number is 150 and the qualifying standard is 111; after priority groups, most places are linked to eligible applicants within four miles of the school, with remaining places ranked by score.
Herschel's current outcome record is strong: Ofsted Outstanding in 2024, a positive Progress 8 score, very high GCSE English and maths outcomes and a substantial A level AAB measure. Its co-ed intake and four-mile rule make it a particularly local Slough grammar, not just a score-ranked option.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Slough and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Slough and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Slough and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,056 pupils; 1,024 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 47.9% | Asian | 506 |
| Pakistani | 20.4% | Asian | 215 |
| Any other Asian background | 9.1% | Asian | 96 |
| Any other mixed background | 8% | Mixed | 84 |
| Any other ethnic group | 3.5% | Other | 37 |
| Unclassified | 3% | Unclassified | 32 |
| African | 2.4% | Black | 25 |
| White and Asian | 2.2% | Mixed | 23 |
| Any other White background | 1% | White | 11 |
| Bangladeshi | 1% | Asian | 11 |
| White British | 0.9% | White | 10 |
| Chinese | 0.3% | Asian | 3 |
| Any other Black background | 0.2% | Black | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
For 2027 entry, Herschel uses a qualifying standard of 111. After priority groups, most places go to eligible applicants living within 4 miles of the school, with the remaining places allocated by score rank.
Priority is built around the permanent home address: the main catchment tranche covers homes within 4 miles of the school, and an additional pupil premium priority applies within 10 miles.
Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted first.
Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard.
Children living within 4 miles of the school, nearest first.
Distance is measured in a straight line from the permanent home address to the main gate.
Up to 10 pupil premium applicants within 10 miles who meet the published rules.
Children of permanent staff employed by the school for at least two years.
Remaining places are allocated in rank order of entrance-test performance.
Tied scores are separated by proximity to the school and then by random allocation if needed.
Admissions policy
Admissions arrangements for September 2027 entry
2027 entry
Allocation profile
11+ for 2025 entry statistics summary
2025 entry
2025
116
Initial offer score
The Slough Consortium 11+ uses GL Assessment papers covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics. The eligibility score remains 111 on a standardised scale.
Shared exam route
Herschel Grammar School uses the shared Slough 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 Slough practice papersPaper 1
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, Maths, English
Herschel 11+ assessment
The published familiarisation materials cover English, mathematics, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal 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
The published familiarisation materials cover English, mathematics, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
The published familiarisation materials cover English, mathematics, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.
Science
Registration opens
1 May 2026
PastRegistration closes
5 June 2026
PastEntrance test
19 September 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
Results window
October 2026
Offer day
1 March 2027
Read the admissions arrangements
Check the 2027 policy for the 150-place intake, the 4-mile priority rule, and the qualifying standard.
Open admissions policyRegister for the entrance test
Register during the published May to June window so your child can sit the September 2026 test for 2027 entry.
Open admissions pagePrepare priority evidence
Have permanent home-address evidence ready and follow the pupil premium or staff-priority rules if they apply.
Review evidence rulesName Herschel on your CAF
Registering for the test does not count as a school application, so the school must still be listed on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026.
Check application stepsLatest 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 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 76.2 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 75.4 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 75.8 | 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 | B average (41.1 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B average (39.4 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (39.0 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (41.7 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 | 98% | 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 May 2024
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Slough area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Slough area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Slough area and similar co-ed selective route
Nearby South East option with 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
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Grammar Schools in Slough
Compare 4 Slough grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Slough route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
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.
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 comparing schools by route and journey.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Herschel Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the admissions arrangements: Check the 2027 policy for the 150-place intake, the 4-mile priority rule, and the qualifying standard. 2. Register for the entrance test: Register during the published May to June window so your child can sit the September 2026 test for 2027 entry. 3. Prepare priority evidence: Have permanent home-address evidence ready and follow the pupil premium or staff-priority rules if they apply. 4. Name Herschel on your CAF: Registering for the test does not count as a school application, so the school must still be listed on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026.
Registration opens: 1 May 2026. Registration closes: 5 June 2026. Entrance test: 19 September 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. Results window: October 2026. Offer day: 1 March 2027
Herschel Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 22 May 2024.