Slough / Slough 11+
Northampton Avenue, Slough, SL1 3BW
Herschel Grammar School
1
A selective co-educational grammar school in Slough, Berkshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,056 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective co-educational grammar school in Slough, Berkshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,056 pupils on roll. Based in Slough, Berkshire, 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 1,056 pupils on roll and 150 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 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high 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 0.76 and Attainment 8 at 75.4. 99.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 39.9% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 70% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Library. 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 Herschel Grammar School belongs on a serious shortlist.
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.
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.
This school uses the shared Slough consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Slough guidePaper 1
VR, NVR, 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 and Creative writing are 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
Creative writing
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
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 | 99% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 22 May 2024
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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
Best Grammar Schools in Slough
Compare the best grammar schools in Slough for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Slough sits within the Slough 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 Slough
Compare the best grammar schools in Slough for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Slough sits within the Slough 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
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.