The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
School summary
One of the larger selective boys' schools in Buckinghamshire, The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe combines a state grammar ethos with a boarding option, an unusual pairing among local schools. Entry comes through the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools consortium, with 192 places at age 11 for a roll of around 1,409 boys. The school is currently running slightly over its formal capacity of 1,371, a sign of sustained demand. Ofsted rated it Good overall in 2019, with behaviour, personal development and the sixth form all judged Outstanding. Nearly 30% of pupils speak English as an additional language, pointing to a diverse intake.
How hard is it to get in?
Very competitive · 3 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand comfortably exceeds the 192 Year 7 places each year - a clear pass, not a borderline one, is what wins a place.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Key dates · 2028 entry
Free month · No payment needed
Latest results
Attainment 8
73.9
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
98%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 9 October 2019
Teaching & academics
Academic results sit well above national benchmarks: an Attainment 8 score of 73.9 against a national average of 46.9, and 98% of pupils securing grade 5 or above in English and Maths, compared with 47% nationally. The 11+ assessment, set by GL Assessment, tests Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, so families should prepare across all three. With a pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 18.3, classes reflect the scale of a large school. The Outstanding sixth form judgement suggests strong support for boys progressing to advanced study.
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 6.6%
- EHC plans
- 0.5%
- English as additional language
- 29.5%
- Free school meals
- 5.2%
Schools nearby
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Marlow, South East
Dr Challoner's Grammar School
Amersham, South East
Dr Challoner's High School
Amersham, South East
Herschel Grammar School
Slough, South East
Upton Court Grammar School
Slough, South East
Kendrick School
Reading, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A high-achieving boys' grammar where strong results meet Outstanding ratings for behaviour and sixth form, with boarding setting it apart from its consortium peers. Families should be ready for a competitive, three-paper entry test.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.