All Grammar Schools

What Are Grammar Schools?

Grammar schools are state secondary schools in England and Northern Ireland which have a selective entrance procedure known as the 11 Plus. There are no grammar schools in Scotland or Wales. Grammar schools do not charge tuition fees but some have a boarding option and so do charge for accommodation and meals during term time. Grammar schools are seen as academically-focused due to their selection of around the top 25% of children based on academic achievement. Some grammar schools also offer places to talented musicians or artists.

League table for grammar schools in England

School Name	Type of school	Number of pupils	Pupils included in progress 8	Progress 8 score	Attainment 8 score	Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSEs	EBacc average point score
The Henrietta Barnett School	Grammar School	104	85	1.10	87.6	100%	8.70
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet	Grammar School	190	176	1.00	85.5	100%	8.50
Newstead Wood School	Grammar School	160	139	1.13	81.5	100%	7.60
St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School	Grammar School	125	112	1.11	84.4	100%	8.37
Tiffin School	Grammar School	175	162	0.79	80.6	100%	7.83
Nonsuch High School for Girls	Grammar School	206	186	1.11	82.3	100%	7.79
Sutton Grammar School	Grammar School	135	115	0.82	79.2	100%	7.10
Wallington High School for Girls	Grammar School	209	184	0.93	80.1	100%	7.40
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys	Grammar School	120	98	1.02	83.3	100%	8.17
King Edward VI Handsworth School	Grammar School	158	150	0.59	75.2	100%	7.11
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	178	170	0.95	78.8	100%	7.00
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School	Grammar School	140	119	0.71	76.4	100%	7.32
Kendrick School	Grammar School	100	91	1.06	84.3	100%	8.29
Chelmsford County High School for Girls	Grammar School	154	132	0.90	82.4	100%	8.13
King Edward VI School	Grammar School	87	77	0.99	80.5	100%	7.73
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School	Grammar School	96	92	1.09	79.8	99%	7.59
Beths Grammar School	Grammar School	191	185	0.63	73.0	99%	6.61
Townley Grammar School	Grammar School	222	215	0.69	75.6	99%	6.99
The Tiffin Girls' School	Grammar School	180	153	0.96	84.1	99%	8.16
Woodford County High School	Grammar School	178	165	0.82	79.0	99%	7.78
Wallington County Grammar School	Grammar School	150	136	0.81	76.1	99%	6.99
Wilson's School	Grammar School	184	166	1.33	86.4	99%	8.56
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School	Grammar School	159	145	0.73	75.2	99%	7.28
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls	Grammar School	149	126	0.90	81.2	99%	7.93
Queen Mary's High School	Grammar School	120	114	0.74	74.2	99%	7.09
Wolverhampton Girls' High School	Grammar School	145	137	0.75	76.9	99%	7.30
The Blue Coat School	Grammar School	182	173	0.97	79.3	99%	7.76
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	178	142	1.14	80.1	99%	7.48
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	203	169	1.05	82.2	99%	8.19
Dr Challoner's Grammar School	Grammar School	184	126	1.19	77.5	99%	7.40
Dr Challoner's High School	Grammar School	183	144	1.08	78.5	99%	7.66
John Hampden Grammar School	Grammar School	183	175	0.83	72.9	99%	6.93
The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe	Grammar School	203	176	0.96	76.0	99%	7.39
Reading School	Grammar School	149	124	0.97	82.2	99%	8.11
Herschel Grammar School	Grammar School	152	142	0.74	76.2	99%	7.26
Colyton Grammar School	Grammar School	153	127	0.98	79.7	99%	7.69
Colchester County High School for Girls	Grammar School	160	135	0.99	80.5	99%	7.78
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford	Grammar School	149	129	0.82	81.5	99%	7.13
Southend High School for Boys	Grammar School	178	165	0.67	75.3	99%	6.82
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy	Grammar School	180	162	0.90	78.2	99%	7.65
Westcliff High School for Girls	Grammar School	184	169	0.89	78.5	99%	7.61
Dartford Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	173	166	0.93	75.2	99%	7.20
The Rochester Grammar School	Grammar School	200	190	0.83	71.6	99%	6.90
Newport Girls' High School Academy	Grammar School	86	76	0.79	77.5	99%	7.57
Pate's Grammar School	Grammar School	154	126	0.90	82.5	99%	7.98
Sir Thomas Rich's School	Grammar School	155	133	0.84	75.3	99%	6.80
Bexley Grammar School	Grammar School	192	185	0.62	74.0	98%	7.32
The Latymer School	Grammar School	189	179	0.79	81.6	98%	8.02
Queen Mary's Grammar School	Grammar School	148	145	0.52	74.3	98%	7.04
Aylesbury High School	Grammar School	182	171	0.91	77.6	98%	7.29
Beaconsfield High School	Grammar School	181	138	1.04	76.9	98%	6.87
Chesham Grammar School	Grammar School	179	157	0.88	76.0	98%	7.36
Royal Latin School	Grammar School	178	162	0.61	73.8	98%	6.82
Langley Grammar School	Grammar School	177	166	0.83	78.3	98%	7.38
St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School	Grammar School	124	115	0.80	77.5	98%	7.39
Devonport High School for Girls	Grammar School	124	118	0.50	73.4	98%	6.91
Dartford Grammar School	Grammar School	184	175	1.12	78.2	98%	7.79
Tonbridge Grammar School	Grammar School	177	129	0.76	77.3	98%	7.65
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School	Grammar School	203	196	0.85	70.4	98%	6.89
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School	Grammar School	149	143	0.37	72.5	98%	6.71
Haberdashers' Adams	Grammar School	121	97	0.40	73.7	98%	6.88
Denmark Road High School	Grammar School	154	137	1.04	76.4	98%	7.03
Lawrence Sheriff School	Grammar School	120	108	0.57	73.8	98%	7.10
Rugby High School	Grammar School	118	112	0.80	76.6	98%	7.27
Stratford Girls' Grammar School	Grammar School	120	103	0.94	80.2	98%	7.52
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School	Grammar School	191	174	0.46	73.0	97%	7.12
Ilford County High School	Grammar School	175	167	0.77	77.4	97%	7.62
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	149	140	0.61	71.4	97%	6.34
Urmston Grammar Academy	Grammar School	151	139	0.43	72.7	97%	7.03
Heckmondwike Grammar School	Grammar School	211	201	0.78	77.1	97%	6.67
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School	Grammar School	184	178	0.51	73.3	97%	5.58
Wycombe High School	Grammar School	188	181	0.80	74.6	97%	7.16
South Wilts Grammar School	Grammar School	157	129	0.61	73.2	97%	6.56
Upton Court Grammar School	Grammar School	164	159	0.56	75.9	97%	7.36
Southend High School for Girls	Grammar School	178	166	0.49	73.4	97%	6.89
The Judd School	Grammar School	184	149	0.59	76.2	97%	7.11
The Skinners' School	Grammar School	161	121	0.71	72.7	97%	6.82
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School	Grammar School	145	121	1.05	73.1	97%	7.19
Lancaster Royal Grammar School	Grammar School	172	155	0.67	72.2	97%	6.47
King Edward VI Aston School	Grammar School	141	136	0.35	71.0	96%	6.28
King Edward VI Five Ways School	Grammar School	178	164	0.48	75.6	96%	7.33
Loreto Grammar School	Grammar School	158	143	0.91	74.4	96%	6.81
Burnham Grammar School	Grammar School	182	177	0.63	70.0	96%	6.32
Devonport High School for Boys	Grammar School	179	170	0.36	69.1	96%	5.94
The Crypt School	Grammar School	151	142	0.57	70.3	96%	6.21
Marling School	Grammar School	158	150	0.50	68.3	96%	6.02
Stroud High School	Grammar School	158	149	0.77	72.5	96%	6.55
The King's School, Grantham	Grammar School	180	166	0.83	69.7	96%	6.46
Saint Ambrose College	Grammar School	180	152	0.90	72.8	95%	6.55
Sale Grammar School	Grammar School	188	172	0.67	74.2	95%	6.95
Stretford Grammar School	Grammar School	159	155	0.60	72.1	95%	6.70
Weald of Kent Grammar School	Grammar School	292	254	0.83	70.4	95%	6.40
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	149	147	0.72	67.2	95%	6.08
Alcester Grammar School	Grammar School	154	134	0.33	71.0	95%	6.80
Calday Grange Grammar School	Grammar School	243	224	0.29	66.1	94%	6.35
West Kirby Grammar School	Grammar School	185	158	0.57	67.9	94%	6.26
Aylesbury Grammar School	Grammar School	185	177	0.72	75.0	94%	7.00
Bournemouth School	Grammar School	152	138	0.56	70.8	94%	6.65
Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School	Grammar School	155	137	0.55	71.9	94%	6.57
Torquay Girls Grammar School	Grammar School	146	138	0.50	70.2	94%	6.84
Dane Court Grammar School	Grammar School	170	164	0.67	69.2	94%	6.16
Lancaster Girls' Grammar School	Grammar School	142	136	0.54	71.6	94%	6.66
Upton Hall School FCJ	Grammar School	150	137	1.08	66.5	93%	6.38
The Crossley Heath School	Grammar School	180	163	0.34	69.3	93%	6.63
The North Halifax Grammar School	Grammar School	179	166	0.13	67.9	93%	6.14
Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School	Grammar School	177	165	1.01	69.6	93%	6.15
Wirral Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	183	171	0.62	70.1	92%	6.52
Ripon Grammar School	Grammar School	122	112	0.77	69.8	92%	6.55
Bournemouth School for Girls	Grammar School	170	148	0.40	70.7	92%	6.34
Borden Grammar School	Grammar School	126	124	0.19	62.7	92%	5.83
Oakwood Park Grammar School	Grammar School	153	145	0.72	66.5	92%	6.20
Wirral Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	155	149	0.29	65.1	91%	6.10
Poole Grammar School	Grammar School	173	153	0.45	70.0	91%	6.51
Highworth Grammar School	Grammar School	222	206	0.71	69.7	91%	6.55
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	140	121	0.46	68.5	91%	6.19
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	141	139	0.74	67.7	91%	6.50
Watford Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	227	205	0.75	68.8	91%	6.75
Caistor Grammar School	Grammar School	101	97	0.55	69.2	91%	6.77
Skipton Girls' High School	Grammar School	139	133	0.62	68.7	90%	6.46
Parkstone Grammar School	Grammar School	176	168	0.26	69.5	90%	6.24
Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy	Grammar School	151	145	0.62	69.7	90%	6.02
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School	Grammar School	174	161	0.49	65.7	90%	6.00
Dame Alice Owen's School	Grammar School	195	179	0.64	71.4	90%	6.81
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy	Grammar School	127	123	0.55	65.6	90%	6.22
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle	Grammar School	122	110	0.49	66.6	90%	6.33
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith	Grammar School	158	153	0.45	64.1	90%	5.82
Plymouth High School for Girls	Grammar School	115	108	0.19	65.6	89%	6.03
Torquay Boys' Grammar School	Grammar School	164	154	0.23	66.2	89%	6.04
Gravesend Grammar School	Grammar School	182	174	0.34	65.4	88%	6.36
Ribston Hall High School	Grammar School	123	119	0.11	62.6	88%	5.58
The Harvey Grammar School	Grammar School	142	141	0.27	62.4	87%	5.68
Invicta Grammar School	Grammar School	245	235	0.52	66.0	87%	6.39
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	184	175	0.49	63.6	87%	6.00
The Norton Knatchbull School	Grammar School	187	182	0.43	63.3	87%	6.08
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School	Grammar School	151	143	0.13	62.7	87%	5.83
Rainham Mark Grammar School	Grammar School	241	235	0.28	62.6	87%	6.02
Bourne Grammar School	Grammar School	246	234	0.60	68.7	87%	6.70
Ermysted's Grammar School	Grammar School	115	114	0.49	64.8	86%	6.23
Maidstone Grammar School	Grammar School	208	197	0.25	64.8	86%	6.02
Watford Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	208	192	0.70	67.6	86%	6.36
Dover Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	132	131	0.56	60.2	85%	5.44
Spalding High School	Grammar School	149	137	0.52	64.3	85%	6.09
Fort Pitt Grammar School	Grammar School	118	117	0.54	63.3	84%	5.95
St Clement Danes School	Grammar School	238	210	0.74	65.6	84%	6.10
Cranbrook School	Grammar School	153	62	LOWCOV	66.0	83%	6.48
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys	Grammar School	227	207	0.25	60.8	83%	5.60
Barton Court Grammar School	Grammar School	146	145	0.15	63.5	82%	6.04
Holcombe Grammar School	Grammar School	147	142	0.06	57.9	82%	5.02
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough	Grammar School	182	177	0.39	64.6	82%	6.20
Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School	Grammar School	238	232	0.12	60.9	81%	5.89
St Anselm's College	Grammar School	156	144	0.24	58.2	79%	5.29
Chatham Grammar	Grammar School	122	114	0.34	59.5	79%	5.51
Dover Grammar School for Girls	Grammar School	143	139	0.28	59.7	78%	5.83
Sir Roger Manwood's School	Grammar School	147	137	-0.24	60.0	78%	5.64
Carre's Grammar School	Grammar School	122	117	0.12	58.6	78%	5.52
Parmiter's School	Grammar School	206	192	0.50	63.5	77%	6.04
Spalding Grammar School	Grammar School	124	112	0.44	60.9	77%	5.54
King Edward VI Grammar School	Grammar School	164	152	0.13	60.2	76%	5.80
Hockerill Anglo-European College	Grammar School	131	95	0.51	64.6	75%	6.45
The Folkestone School for Girls	Grammar School	182	179	0.34	64.0	74%	5.75
Greenshaw High School	Grammar School	297	284	0.63	57.8	72%	4.99
Boston High School	Grammar School	122	115	0.01	55.4	69%	4.87
St Bernard's High School	Grammar School	143	136	0.77	58.5	68%	5.24
The Bishop's Stortford High School	Grammar School	168	158	0.49	59.2	68%	5.73
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy	Grammar School	81	74	0.36	60.2	68%	5.61
Skegness Grammar School	Grammar School	70	65	0.30	56.0	66%	5.41
St Thomas More High School	Grammar School	176	170	0.35	54.4	65%	4.40
Queens' School	Grammar School	264	255	0.18	55.6	65%	4.96
Highsted Grammar School	Grammar School	143	142	-0.25	57.7	64%	5.39
Chancellor's School	Grammar School	173	168	0.34	54.0	59%	5.07
Ashlawn School	Grammar School	279	276	-0.02	51.7	59%	4.98
The Boston Grammar School	Grammar School	123	119	-0.40	49.0	47%	4.60
The Spires College	Grammar School	205	194	-0.49	40.8	34%	3.44
Shoeburyness High School	Grammar School	309	300	-0.50	42.0	34%	3.35
The Maplesden Noakes School	Grammar School	209	203	-0.57	38.1	14%	3.22

Which Counties Have Grammar Schools?

Grammar schools are found in specific areas of England and Northern Ireland. In England, there are 164 grammar schools, with Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Surrey being well-known for having a large number. Smaller numbers are found in Greater London and the West Midlands. Northern Ireland has 69 grammar schools. The entrance test varies depending on the local authority in which the grammar school is situated.

Why Are They Called Grammar Schools?

The word ‘grammar’ originally refers to Latin grammar. Latin was brought to Britain by the Romans, and a form of Latin was spoken for some years after the Roman occupation. Following this, Latin became the written language of scholarship and religion, and was thought suitable for children (primarily boys) to study at school. Happily, both girls and boys now learn the same subjects, and whilst Latin remains a subject at some schools, all grammar schools teach in English.

History of Grammar Schools

Grammar schools have a complex history, not without controversy. In 1944, the Education Act split schools into three types: grammars, secondary moderns, and technical colleges. Each local authority was given the ability to determine the split of schools with their individual geographical area. Grammars were intended to cater for the top 20% of academically able children, with others attending secondary modern schools, or, if they wished to learn a trade, a technical college. Whilst grammars still exist, there are far fewer now than there were previously, and some feel they should be abolished altogether.