A selective co-educational grammar school in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,322 pupils on roll.
Royal Latin School
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At a glance
The Royal Latin School is a co-educational selective grammar school in Buckingham, educating students from 11 to 18. Founded in 1423, it is the oldest school in Buckinghamshire and has been part of the town's educational life for more than six centuries. The school now has about 1,322 pupils on roll, including a large sixth form.
Its academic identity is tied to the school's LATIN approach: learning, aspiration, teamwork, integrity and nurture. The school describes this as a teaching and learning philosophy rather than a slogan, aiming to develop academic habits, wellbeing, moral judgement and readiness for life beyond school. That sits alongside a broad grammar-school curriculum, sixth-form study and strong published outcomes.
The campus story is unusually specific. The 600 Campaign has already delivered the Discovery Centre, a 12-laboratory science and technology facility, and the ek robotics Sports Campus, with a floodlit 3G pitch, VIVA fitness suite, Mind & Body Zone and sports lab. A further phase is planned around drama, music and art, so facilities development is a live part of the school story rather than just historical background.
Year 7 admission is through Buckinghamshire's Secondary Transfer Test, with 180 places at the school. The GL Assessment test has two multiple-choice papers, weighted 50% verbal skills, 25% mathematical skills and 25% non-verbal skills; a standardised score of 121 or above qualifies a child for grammar-school consideration, but higher scores do not create extra priority under Buckinghamshire rules. Published measures show Ofsted Good, +0.59 Progress 8, 98.9% grade 5+ in English and maths and 52.1% 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 1,322 pupils; 1,288 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 47.3% | White | 625 |
| Indian | 19% | Asian | 251 |
| Any other White background | 6% | White | 79 |
| Any other Asian background | 5.2% | Asian | 69 |
| African | 5.1% | Black | 68 |
| Chinese | 3% | Asian | 40 |
| Any other mixed background | 2.7% | Mixed | 36 |
| Unclassified | 2.6% | Unclassified | 34 |
| White and Asian | 2.5% | Mixed | 33 |
| Any other Black background | 2% | Black | 26 |
| Pakistani | 1.8% | Asian | 24 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.7% | Other | 22 |
| White and Black African | 0.5% | Mixed | 7 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.2% | Mixed | 3 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.2% | Asian | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.2% | Black | 2 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 1 |
Qualified catchment residents receive priority within the oversubscription rules, with straight-line distance used where places or ties need to be ordered.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Qualified children in care and previously in care are prioritised first.
Pupil Premium in catchment
Qualified Pupil Premium applicants living in the catchment area are prioritised after looked-after priority.
Reserved Pupil Premium and care places below 121
Up to 12 places may be offered to looked-after or previously looked-after children, or catchment Pupil Premium applicants, with Secondary Transfer Test scores of 115 to 120.
Children of staff
Qualified children of eligible Royal Latin staff are considered after the reserved-place rule.
Catchment area
Qualified applicants living in catchment continuously since 1 September in the offer year receive catchment priority.
Siblings
Qualified applicants with a sibling expected to be on roll at Royal Latin on the admission date are prioritised after catchment applicants.
The Secondary Transfer Test has two multiple-choice GL Assessment papers. The standardised score is weighted 50% verbal skills, 25% mathematical skills and 25% non-verbal skills; 121 or above qualifies.
Shared exam route
Royal Latin 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
One GL Assessment paper covers comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Maths, Non-verbal reasoning
Mathematical and non-verbal skills paper
The second GL Assessment paper covers 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
One GL Assessment paper covers comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
The second GL Assessment paper covers mathematics, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning.
Science
Secondary Transfer Test registration opens
1 May 2026, 10am
PastSecondary Transfer Test registration closes
2 June 2026, 3pm
PastPractice test
8 September 2026
Secondary Transfer Test
10 September 2026
Secondary Transfer Test results
9 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Check the 2027 admissions policy
Review the PAN, catchment rules and oversubscription order before registration opens.
Read policyRegister for the Secondary Transfer Test
Out-of-county and non-partner-school families register with Buckinghamshire Council by 3pm on 2 June 2026.
View registration datesSit the practice test and transfer test
The practice test is on 8 September 2026 and the Secondary Transfer Test is on 10 September 2026.
View test timetableSubmit the secondary application
List the school by the 31 October 2026 secondary application deadline after results are issued.
View application timelineLatest 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 | 78.8 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 73.8 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 73.1 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 73.5 | 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 (47.3 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (42.9 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B+ average (44.1 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 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 16 November 2022
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective 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
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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 Grammar Schools in the UK
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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 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
Royal Latin School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Check the 2027 admissions policy: Review the PAN, catchment rules and oversubscription order before registration opens. 2. Register for the Secondary Transfer Test: Out-of-county and non-partner-school families register with Buckinghamshire Council by 3pm on 2 June 2026. 3. Sit the practice test and transfer test: The practice test is on 8 September 2026 and the Secondary Transfer Test is on 10 September 2026. 4. Submit the secondary application: List the school by the 31 October 2026 secondary application deadline after results are issued.
Secondary Transfer Test registration opens: 1 May 2026, 10am. Secondary Transfer Test registration closes: 2 June 2026, 3pm. Practice test: 8 September 2026. Secondary Transfer Test: 10 September 2026. Secondary Transfer Test results: 9 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Royal Latin School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 16 November 2022.