“What are the Best Grammar Schools in London?”
Trying to determine the best Grammar School in London for your child is not easy. It’s often only when parents first start to think about possible ‘next’ schools for their child, that they discover the range of options they might have to choose from.
I say might, because, depending upon where a family lives, there are three main types of school to consider:
- State non-selective
- State selective Grammar Schools
- Independent schools
(In this post we’ll be discussing Grammar Schools that are local to London. Independent schools are discussed in more depth here and here.)
Grammar Schools
Until the mid-1970s there were many hundreds of Grammar Schools scattered around all of England. Attempts, however, by the party in power of the time (thanks, Labour) to ‘equalise’ education led to many being closed or turned into private schools.
Any subsequent discussions subsequent governments about expanding existing or building new Grammar Schools have always been shouted down by the opposition, so it appears the prevailing situation won’t be changing anytime soon.
The net result of those closures has meant that out of the 163 Grammar Schools in England, only 19 remain to service all of the area surrounding London.
Whilst many state non-selective schools provide a good or outstanding education, many parents prefer to have more control over the senior or secondary school their child attends.
If you’re a parent who falls into that category, your main options are Grammar Schools or Independent schools
With the ever-increasing cost of living in London, it’s natural that families would look toward state-funded Grammar Schools, as opposed to having to pay for their children’s education at a private, independent school.
Independent school fees – bursaries and scholarships
It’s worth mentioning, however, that all Independent Schools offer means-tested bursaries, along with scholarships. Bursaries can help to reduce school fees by a sizeable amount, one-hundred per cent reductions are not unheard of from the larger schools.
Scholarships are also available for the top candidates, which usually result in a fee reduction, too.
Grammar Schools, however, are 100% fully funded by the state and therefore if your child does secure a place your main costs will be limited to the usual ones, such as uniforms, trips, school meals, etc.
Mindful of the financial situation many families find themselves in at present, all schools, whether state or private, are doing their best to provide flexibility around costs, and so most Grammar Schools with have arrangements where unused or part-used school uniforms can be traded, or where support can be provided to cover the cost of school trips.
So if you’re currently feeling squeezed by the financial crisis, don’t let that put you off getting your child started on their eleven-plus preparation – once they’ve ‘got into’ your desired school, they’ll do their utmost to help you wherever possible.
Let’s take a look at the top Grammar Schools for your child where entrance is based upon 11 plus test success.
For simplicity, I’ve ignored such details as catchment areas and grouped them into these main headings.
- Best Grammar Schools in Barnet
- Best Grammar Schools in Bexley
- Best Grammar Schools in Bromley
- Best Grammar School in Enfield
- Best Grammar Schools in Kingston upon Thames
- Best Grammar Schools in Redbridge
- Best Grammar Schools in Sutton
Best Grammar Schools in Barnet
Henrietta Barnett School
Address: Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, NW11 7BN
County: Hertfordshire. London Borough of Barnet
website: https://www.hbschool.org.uk
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is an excellent non-denominational girls’ Grammar School. It’s located in leafy Hampstead Garden Suburb, was founded in 1911 and as of 2012 it has had Academy status.
It’s definitely on a top grammar school in London and on the watch list for those parents of girls who are top performers.
Entrance is, however, always a long-drawn-out process with much nail-biting going on. HBS receive so many applications for so few places that they have a two-round entrance procedure.
Your daughter will need to be very well prepared if this school’s on your wish list. In 2019 HBS received more than three thousand applications for a place.
Hopeful girls will sit a round one test consisting of multiple choice papers in English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with only the top 300 ranked candidates being asked back to sit the round two tests.
Those round two tests, traditional open answer papers in maths and English will then compete for less than one hundred places.
Places available: approx 95-104
Round one test month: September
Round two test month: October 2022
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
Address: Queen’s Road, Barnet, EN5 4DQ
County: Hertfordshire. London Borough of Barnet
Website: https://www.qebarnet.co.uk
Queen Elizabeth Grammar (QE Boys) is a superb grammar school for boys located in Barnet, Greater London. Established in 1573, it invariably appears in the top rankings for most academically successful secondary schools throughout the UK.
Boys seeking a place at QE Boys will sit a pair of multiple-choice test papers for English and Maths. Only the very best need apply as competition is extremely fierce.
Their OFSTED report states the school is regarded as the top state school for Russell Group Universities admission.
Places available: 180
Test month: September
St. Michael’s Catholic School
Address: Nether Street, North Finchley, N12 7NJ
County: London
Website: https://ww.st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk
St. Michael’s Catholics School was established in 1908. It is an all-girls Catholic and Voluntary Aided Grammar School located in Finchley, London.
The school is always oversubscribed, so those securing places one of the 96 places available each year are drawn from those scoring high enough in the entrance test, plus being from a practising Catholic family who have made their First Holy Communion.
Outstanding status in their OFSTED report understates the quality of education delivered in this school.
The entrance test comprises multiple-choice papers in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Places available: 96
Test month: September
Best Grammar Schools in Bexley
Beth’s Grammar School
Address: Hartford Road, Bexley, DA5 1NE
County: Kent
Website: https://www.beths.bexley.sch.uk
Beths Grammar School admits boys from ages 11 to 16. It is a top-performing school and one of the best Grammar Schools in Bexley and has been a high-performing school since 2005.
Beths Grammar School was rated ‘Outstanding’ in the OFSTED inspection.
Candidates will sit tests covering Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Places available: 192
Test month: September
Bexley Grammar School
Address: Danson Lane, Welling, DA16 2BL
County: Kent
website: https://www.bexleygs.co.uk
The founder of Bexley Grammar School was Sir Edward Heath and the school was established in 1955. It is a co-educational school, with both boys and girls from ages 11 to 18. It is a prestigious school located in Welling, London.
Candidates will sit tests covering Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Places available: 190
Test month: September
Candidates will sit tests covering Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Townley Grammar School
Address: Townley Road, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AB
County: London Borough of Bexley
website: https://www.townleygrammar.org.uk
Townley Grammar School is a girls-only (co-ed sixth form) Academy status school, located in Bexleyheath.
Candidates will sit tests covering Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Along with academic success, it holds a strong reputation for the performing and visual arts.
Places available: 224
Test month: September
Chislehurst and Sidcup School
Address: Hurst Road, Sidcup, DA15 9AG
County: London Borough of Bexley
Website http://www.csgrammar.com
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School was founded in 1931 (as Sidcup County School for Boys), in response to the shortage of secondary schools in the newly developed area of Sidcup.
Chis and Sid, as it’s known by locals, attracts parents who are looking for co-ed schooling from year 7 (other schools may be co-ed from their sixth form).
The OFSTED report states Chislehurst and Sidcup School’s performance as ‘Good’.
Candidates will sit tests covering Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Places available: 190
Test month: September
Best Grammar Schools in Bromley
Newstead Wood School
Address: Avebury Road, Orpington, BR6 9SA
County: London Borough of Bromley
Website: https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk
Newstead Wood School is a prestigious and highly selective girls’ school Located in Orpington.
Very much an in-demand school, parents of girls in the local area would all put this school #1 on their preference list.
Girls seeking admission will sit multiple choice tests in Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Places available: 160
Test month: September
St Olave’s Grammar School
Address: Goddington Lane, Orpington, BR6 9SH
County: London Borough of Bromley
Website: https://www.saintolaves.net
St Olave’s & St Saviour’s Grammar School, or St Olave’s, as it’s usually known as (or by its nickname STOGS), was founded in 1571.
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School was ranked as ‘Outstanding’ and its performance in all academic sections was high, according to the OFSTED report.
Boys have to work hard to secure a place at St Olave’s and entrance is based upon success over a two-round entrance procedure
Stage 1 – Boys sit the school’s Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This is a multiple-choice test comprising questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Those lucky to clear the Stage 1 SET progress to Stage 2. For this, boys return to sit the school’s second-stage tests covering English and mathematics.
Places available: 160
Test months: September and October
Best Grammar School in Enfield
The Latymer School
Address: Haselbury Road, London, N9 9TN
County: Hertfordshire. London Borough of Enfield
Website: https://www.latymer.co.uk
The Latymer School is a co-educational grammar school located in Edmonton, Enfield. Established in 1624, it has a rich history of educational importance for the area.
As a top grammar school in London, The Latymer School has a consistently rich educational history.
It began its operation in 1624. It has been the centre of education for students residing in North London. Admissions to this school are based on the results of the 11 Plus exam, with 20 slots reserved annually for pupils with outstanding musical talent and abilities.
The Latymer School was ranked ‘Good’ in OFSTED inspection, while in some sections it
Every year the school has many more applicants than places available and sets a two-part test to whittle down the candidates.
In Part One students will be tested on two multiple-choice papers, covering Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning.
Part Two is an English paper, comprising a comprehension task, followed by creative writing.
Places available: 186
Test month: September
Best Grammar Schools in Kingston Upon Thames
Tiffin Girls’ School
Address: Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5PL
County: London
Website: https://www.tiffingirls.org
Tiffin Girls’ School was founded in 1880 and to this day it’s a popular school in London. The school has grown quite significantly since then and became an academy in 2011.
Tiffin Girls’ School always appears around the top end of any ranking for a top Grammar School in London.
OFSTED rates Tiffin Girls’ School as ‘Outstanding’ in all categories.
Tiffin Girls’ School receives around ten times as many applications as they have places available, so only the very best and most strongly prepared girls are in with a chance of clearing the hurdles of the school’s two-round entrance procedure.
Stage One comprises the school’s own English and Maths multiple-choice papers.
Those scoring high enough to be invited back for Stage Two will find themselves being tested on yet more English and Maths papers, usually open format, rather than multiple-choice.
Places available: 180
Test months: Stage 1 in September with Stage 2 in November
Tiffin School
Address: Queen Elizabeth Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 6RL
County: London
Website: https://www.tiffinschool.co.uk/home.html
Tiffin School is a grammar school for boys, located in Kingston, which opened in 1880 and provides a wide and deep education.
Always oversubscribed, candidates will need to be on top form in order to pass through both rounds of the school’s entrance tests.
Stage One comprises the school’s own English and Maths multiple-choice papers.
Those scoring high enough to be invited back for Stage Two will find themselves being tested on yet more English and Maths papers, usually open format, rather than multiple-choice.
Places available: 180
Test months: Stage 1 in September with Stage 2 in November
Best Grammar Schools in Redbridge
Ilford County High School
Address: Fremantle Road, Barkingside, Ilford
County: London Borough of Redbridge
Website: https://www.ichs.org.uk
Ilford High School is situated in the London borough of Redbridge.
Ilford High School is a very well-regarded school for boys and has a very select criteria which means only children from specific local primary schools can apply for a place.
Even then, entrance isn’t guaranteed, because it’s usually at least seven times oversubscribed.
Places available: 180
Test month: September.
Woodford County High School
Address: High Road, Woodford Green, IG8 9LA
County: London Borough of Redbridge
Website: http://www.woodford.redbridge.sch.uk
Woodford County High School (WCHS) is a highly selective secondary school for girls. It’s definitely one on the radar of parents who live locally, however, regular oversubscription means only those with the highest scores will secure a place.
OFSTED ranked as ‘Outstanding’, it’s a great school for those girls who manage to pass the entrance test.
Places available: 180
Test month: September.
Best Grammar Schools in Sutton
Nonsuch High School For Girls
Address: Ewell Road, Cheam, Sutton, SM3 8AB
County: London Borough of Sutton
Website: http://www.nonsuchschool.org
Nonsuch High School for Girls was established in 1938. A very well-regarded and therefore oversubscribed school, girls need to be very diligent in their entrance test preparation if they’re aiming for a place here.
DoE date shows Nonsuch was listed as the 9th best performing school by GCSE results and ranked in the top 20 for pupil progress that they made in GCSE exams.
As a very academic school, Nonsuch always scores highly in yearly rankings for a top Grammar School in London.
Girls seeking a place at Nonsuch have to pass a two-round entrance procedure
Stage 1 – Girls sit the school’s Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This is a multiple-choice test comprising questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Those lucky to clear the Stage 1 SET progress to Stage 2. In this, girls sit the school’s second stage tests covering English and mathematics.
Places available: 210
Test months: Stage 1 in September with Stage 2 usually in November
Greenhshaw High School
Address: Grennell Road, Sutton, SM1 3DY
County: Surrey
Website: https://www.greenshaw.co.uk
Not specifically a grammar school, Greenshaw High School is, however, a school with a partially selective admissions policy.
Greenshaw High School has 314 places available in year 7 and admits up to 60 children who have successfully passed the Selective Eligibility Test.
It’s co-ed, so it’s one to consider for parents of boys and girls in the area.
Stage 1 – Candidates sit the school’s Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This is a multiple-choice test comprising questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Those lucky to clear the Stage 1 SET progress to Stage 2. For this, the remaining candidates return to sit the school’s second-stage tests covering English and mathematics.
Places available: 60 out of 314
Test months: September and October
Wilson’s School
Address: Mollison Drive, Wallington, SM6 9JW
County: London Borough of Sutton
Website: https://www.wilsons.school
Wilson’s School Sutton was opened in 1615. It is a state-funded school that has academy status. Wilson’s school is located in Wallington. A visit from Prince Edward took place in 2015 to commemorate the school’s 400th anniversary.
The school has an enviable reputation for success in academic measures as well as sports, which means it’s seen as a great school for those boys (or their families) seeking a good, well-rounded education.
The school also always ranks highly whenever newspapers or educational magazines rank the best Grammar School in London, so families sending their children there can be assured of a good education for them.
Stage 1 – Boys sit the school’s Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This is a multiple-choice test comprising questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Those lucky to clear the Stage 1 SET progress to Stage 2. For this, boys return to sit the school’s second-stage tests covering English and mathematics.
Places available: 160
Test months: September and October
Wallington High School For Girls
Address: Woodcote Road, Wallington, SM6 0PH
County: London – Borough of Sutton
Website: https://www.wallingtongirls.sutton.sch.uk
Wallington High School For Girls started its operation in 1888 by a group of nuns. It specialises in STEM subjects. Sixth Form girls can attend the school for boys. There are more than 200 positions available in the school for students, and around 2000 plus girls apply for admission each year.
Wallington High School continues to be a ‘Good school’ as per the OFSTED inspection report. They provide teaching by keeping long-term learning goals in mind.
Stage 1 – Girls take the school’s Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This is a multiple-choice test comprising questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Those lucky to clear the Stage 1 SET progress to Stage 2. For this, girls take the school’s second-stage tests covering English and mathematics.
Places available: 210
Test months: September and October
Wallington County Grammar School
Address: Croydon Road, Wallington, SM6 7PH
County: London Borough of Sutton
Website: https://www.wcgs-sutton.co.uk
Wallington County Grammar School (WCGS) was founded in 1927 and has gone on to become one of the country’s top-performing secondary schools.
Previously known as Wallington High School for Boys from 1968 through to to 1990 it’s invariably awarded ‘Outstanding’ status in OFSTED reports.
Always oversubscribed, admission is by successfully completing, and scoring highly, in the two-part Selective Eligibility Test (SET).
Stage 1 – Suitably prepared boys sit the WCGS’s SET. This is a multiple-choice test comprising questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Those lucky to clear the WCGS’s SET Stage 1 then have to deal with Stage 2. For this, those boys will sit the school’s second-stage tests covering English and mathematics.
Places available: 150
Test months: September and October
Sutton Grammar School
Address: Manor Lane, Sutton, SM1 4AS
County: London Borough of Sutton
Website: http://www.suttongrammar.sutton.sch.uk
Sutton first opened as a Grammar School in 1899 as a boys’ school for children aged between 11 to 18, switching over to co-ed in the Sixth Form. It is a competitive school with Victorian origins and one which prepares students for further education.
Sutton Grammar School was ranked Outstanding in a recent OFSTED report. It carries with it a very strong reputation for academic success, which means there will be around ten boys testing for every one of the 120 places available in year 7.
Stage 1 – Suitably prepared boys sit the WCGS’s SET. This is a multiple-choice test comprising questions on English comprehension, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Those lucky to clear the WCGS’s SET Stage 1 then have to deal with Stage 2. For this, those boys will sit the school’s second-stage tests covering English and mathematics.
Places available: 150
Test months: September and October
Conclusion
London has a wonderful selection of Grammar Schools, however, there are many families who would love for their children to secure a place in one.
If you’re looking to send your child to the best Grammar School in London, they’re going to have to produce a strong result in their eleven-plus tests.
This means only the most diligent and hardworking students will be able to outperform the competition in their eleven-plus entrance tests.
Early preparation is always better than a last-minute, rushed approach, and so if you’d like to discuss online 1-to-1 tutoring for your child, to help them with the task ahead you can contact us here.
We’ve successfully supported many families to help their children achieve 11+ success and would welcome the opportunity to help yours, too.