About Independent / Other Grammar Schools
The Independent / Other category covers the UK's top fee-paying selective schools — including world-famous names such as Westminster, St Paul's Girls', Eton, Winchester, Harrow, Wycombe Abbey, North London Collegiate and James Allen's Girls' School (JAGS). These schools admit through their own entrance examinations (typically the ISEB Pre-Test followed by 11+ or 13+ school-specific tests) and many feature consistently in the top 50 UK schools by GCSE and A-Level performance. Annual fees typically range from £18,000 to £40,000 for day pupils and £35,000-£55,000 for boarding pupils. Most offer bursaries and academic scholarships.
History & Tradition
The roots of independent education in the UK stretch back to the medieval period — Winchester College was founded in 1382, Eton in 1440, Westminster in 1560. The Victorian era saw a major expansion with the founding of schools like Cheltenham Ladies' College (1853), Roedean (1885) and St Paul's Girls' (1904). The 1944 Education Act preserved their independence while expanding state grammar provision. Today many independents work closely with state grammars, sharing examiners and admissions philosophies.
The Entry Test
Most leading independents use the ISEB Pre-Test in Year 6 followed by their own 11+ or 13+ Common Entrance exams. Some use school-specific entrance exams. London independents often follow the 11+ London Consortium model. Boarding schools (Eton, Harrow, Wellington) typically use 13+ Common Entrance or ISEB Pre-Test plus interview. Subject papers include English, Maths, Verbal/Non-Verbal Reasoning, and often Science, French, and Latin at 13+.
Independent / Other 11+ at a Glance
Main Test
ISEB Pre-Test / 11+ / 13+ Common Entrance / School-specific tests
2026/27 Key Dates
Registration opens in autumn of Year 5 for most schools; ISEB Pre-Test taken in autumn Year 6; 13+ Common Entrance in early summer of Year 8
Demographics
193 independent schools in our database span all of England with the highest concentration in London and the Home Counties (especially Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire). Many have co-educational sixth forms even where the lower school is single-sex.
7 Things You Should Know About Independent / Other Grammar Schools
Researched facts about the region's selective schools — drawn from official sources, school websites and education research.
- 1Independent schools have no defined catchment areas — they admit by ability and (often) ability to pay, though most offer means-tested bursaries covering 50-100% of fees for families earning under £80,000.
- 2The ISEB Pre-Test is taken online by computer in the autumn of Year 6 — children sit it at their primary school or at the target independent school. Scores are shared across all subscribed schools to streamline applications.
- 313+ Common Entrance Examinations have been used by independent schools since 1904 — they're administered by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) and include subjects state schools rarely teach at this level (Latin, French, Religious Studies, Science).
- 4Top London independents (Westminster, St Paul's, Highgate, City of London) typically interview every shortlisted candidate after the written tests — interviews assess curiosity, conversation and academic depth as much as knowledge.
- 5Many independents offer 100% bursaries to pupils from low-income families: Westminster's bursary programme covers up to 110% of fees including uniform and trips. Eton's New Foundation programme funds bursary places, currently 90+ pupils receive 100% free.
- 6The most selective independents (Westminster, St Paul's Girls', St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey, North London Collegiate) typically receive 5-10 applicants per place at 11+ and have GCSE 9-7 results above 95%.
- 7Around 18% of UK independent school pupils receive financial assistance (bursaries or scholarships) — totalling over £1.2 billion per year. Many schools' admissions policies now actively prioritise widening access.
All 190 Independent / Other Grammar Schools — Ranked
| Rank | School Name | Gender | PAN | 11+ Exam | GCSE 9-7 | A-Level A*-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #43 | The Blue Coat School, Liverpool#43 | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 81.6% | 78.2% |
| Abercorn School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Arnold Lodge School (ALS) | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Ashcroft Technology Academy | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Ashlawn School | Mixed | 270 | GL Assessment | 75-80% | 60% | |
| Ashville College | Boys | — | Independent | 38% | 72% | |
| Babington House School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 70% | 70% | |
| Badminton School | Girls | — | Independent | 74.9% | 72.6% | |
| Beechwood Sacred Heart School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Belmont (Mill Hill) School | Mixed | — | CEM | 75% | 78.4% | |
| Benenden School | Girls | — | Independent | 78.2% | 87.9% | |
| Bethany School | Boys | — | Independent | 33.3% | 60% | |
| Blackheath High School | Girls | 90 | GL Assessment | 76% | 84% | |
| Bloxham School | Boys | — | Independent | 70% | 70% | |
| Blundell's School | Boys | — | Independent | 52% | 70% | |
| Boston Grammar School (BGS) | Boys | 96 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Boston High School | Girls | 120 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| British School Dhahran | Mixed | 40 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Bromley Grammar Schools | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 97.0% | 90.0% | |
| Bromley High School | Girls | — | Independent | 71.2% | 83.7% | |
| Buckinghamshire (Bucks) Grammar Schools | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 90.0% | 90.0% | |
| Burntwood School | Girls | 270 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Chestnut Grove Academy | Mixed | 160 | GL Assessment | 35.1% | 59.9% | |
| Clitheroe Royal Grammar School | Boys | 144 | GL Assessment | 67.7% | 61.2% | |
| Cokethorpe School | Mixed | — | Independent | 48% | 69% | |
| Colfe's School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 80.1% | 95.3% | |
| Cranford House School | Girls | — | CEM Select | 60% | 70% | |
| Crossley Heath Grammar | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 70% | 70% | |
| Croydon High School | Girls | — | CEM | 77.5% | 84% | |
| Dauntsey's School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 62.2% | 74.6% | |
| Denstone College | Mixed | — | Independent | 45.6% | 64.7% | |
| Derby High School | Girls | — | GL Assessment | 49.3% | 69% | |
| Dunottar School | Girls | — | CEM Select | 49% | 72% | |
| Eaton (Holme) Grange School | Mixed | — | CEM Select | — | — | |
| Edgbaston High School for Girls (EHS) | Girls | — | CEM Select | 63.4% | 75.5% | |
| Eltham College | Boys | 90 | CEM | 88.5% | 91.9% | |
| Emanuel School | Boys | — | Independent | 90.9% | 91.3% | |
| Ernest Bevin College | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Ewell Castle School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 52.1% | 52.8% | |
| Farnborough Hill | Girls | — | CEM Select | 50.5% | 77.2% | |
| Farringtons School | Mixed | — | Independent | 70% | 60% | |
| Felsted School | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Forest School | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 77.8% | 81.3% | |
| Frensham Heights School | Mixed | — | Independent | 44% | 59% | |
| Gad's Hill School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| George Heriot's School | Mixed | — | CEM | — | — | |
| Giggleswick School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Glenthorne High School | Mixed | 240 | GL Assessment | 48% | 63% | |
| Graveney School | Mixed | 280 | GL Assessment | 51.8% | 60.4% | |
| Greenshaw High School | Mixed | 240 | Independent | — | — | |
| Grey Coat Hospital | Mixed | 150 | GL Assessment | 54.1% | 73.9% | |
| Halliford School | Boys | — | Independent | 54% | 58% | |
| Headington School | Girls | — | Independent | — | 25% | |
| Heathfield School Ascot | Girls | — | CEM Select | 70% | 65% | |
| Hereford Cathedral School | Mixed | — | Independent | 55% | 55% | |
| Highclare School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Hill House School, Doncaster | Girls | — | Independent | 44.5% | 61% | |
| Hipperholme Grammar School | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Homewood School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 75% | 75% | |
| Howell's School, Llandaff | Girls | — | Independent | 57.5% | 78.7% | |
| Huddersfield Grammar School | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Ibstock Place School | Mixed | — | CEM | 83.4% | 86% | |
| Immanuel College, Bushey | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 71.9% | 88.4% | |
| Kensington Park School (KPS) | Mixed | — | Independent | 48.9% | 58.6% | |
| King Edward VI (KEVI) Camp Hill School for Girls | Girls | — | GL Assessment | 84.7% | 86.8% | |
| King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) | Girls | — | Independent | 96.6% | 94.9% | |
| King Edward's School (KES) Birmingham | Boys | — | Independent | 83.8% | 94.8% | |
| King Edward's School, Bath | Boys | 170 | Independent | 76.6% | 89.7% | |
| King's College Lower School, Wimbledon (KCS) | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| King's Ely Junior School | Mixed | — | CEM | — | — | |
| King's Hall School | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Kingham Hill School | Mixed | — | Independent | 31% | 79% | |
| Kingswood School | Mixed | — | Independent | 78.4% | 77.7% | |
| Kirkstone House School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Kneller Hall School | Mixed | — | CEM | — | — | |
| Lancaster Girls' Grammar School (LGGS) | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment | 68.3% | 68.8% | |
| Leehurst Swan School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Leighton Park School | Mixed | — | Independent | 59.5% | 67.1% | |
| Lewes Old Grammar School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Leweston School | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Lichfield Cathedral School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Lingfield College | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Long Close School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Manchester Islamic Grammar School for Girls (MIGSG) | Girls | — | GL Assessment | 70% | — | |
| Mayfield Grammar School | Girls | 186 | GL Assessment | 44.7% | 43.2% | |
| Mayfield School | Girls | 85 | Independent | 65.8% | 80.4% | |
| Mayville High School, Southsea | Girls | — | GL Assessment | 70% | — | |
| Medway Grammar Schools | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Meoncross School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Mount House School | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Mount Kelly College | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Myddelton College | Girls | — | CEM Select | — | — | |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme School | Boys | — | CEM Select | 68.9% | 80.8% | |
| Normanhurst School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| North London Collegiate School (NLCS) | Girls | 120 | Independent | 99.2% | 96.6% | |
| Notre Dame School | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Oakham School | Boys | — | Independent | 54.9% | 71.6% | |
| Oldham Hulme Grammar School | Boys | — | Independent | 43.2% | 77.3% | |
| Orchard Park High School | Mixed | 180 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Parkstone Grammar School (PGS) | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment | 55.5% | 74.6% | |
| Pipers Corner School | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Plymouth College | Boys | — | Independent | 35.6% | 60.8% | |
| Plymouth High School for Girls (PHSG) | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment | 48% | 51.8% | |
| Portland Place School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Princethorpe College | Mixed | — | CEM Select | 53.5% | 67.3% | |
| Priory School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Queen Anne's School, Caversham | Girls | — | CEM Select | 70% | — | |
| Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Wakefield (QEGS) | Boys | — | Independent | 70% | 65% | |
| Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 50% | 75% | |
| Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford (QEGS) | Mixed | 90 | GL Assessment | 70% | — | |
| Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham | Mixed | 180 | GL Assessment | 44.9% | 60.1% | |
| Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle | Mixed | 120 | GL Assessment | 70% | — | |
| Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall | Boys | 145 | GL Assessment | 68.3% | 70.1% | |
| Queen Mary's High School | Boys | 120 | GL Assessment | 71.2% | 62% | |
| Queens' School, Bushey | Boys | — | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Quinton House School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Redbridge Grammar Schools | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 90.0% | 85.0% | |
| Redmaids' High School | Girls | — | Independent | 73.1% | 88.6% | |
| Rishworth School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Rossall School | Mixed | — | Independent | 42.8% | 70% | |
| Royal Grammar School (RGS) Dodderhill | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Royal Grammar School (RGS) Newcastle | Boys | — | CEM | 80.3% | 86.3% | |
| Royal Grammar School (RGS) Worcester | Mixed | — | Independent | 62% | 78% | |
| Ryde School with Upper Chine | Girls | — | Independent | 39.6% | 67.8% | |
| Rye St. Antony School | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Saint Felix School | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Salesian College, Farnborough | Mixed | 80 | GL Assessment | 59.8% | 56% | |
| Scarisbrick Hall School | Mixed | — | Independent | 41% | 70% | |
| Sedbergh School | Boys | — | Independent | 50% | 70% | |
| Sheffield High School for Girls (SHS) | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Shiplake College | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Sidcot School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Sir William Perkin's School (SWPS) | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| St. Benedict's School | Boys | — | Independent | 71.7% | 82.3% | |
| St. Catherine's School, Bramley | Girls | — | Independent | 79.6% | 90.8% | |
| St. Catherine's School, Twickenham | Girls | — | Independent | 62% | 70% | |
| St. Christopher School, Letchworth | Girls | — | Independent | 43% | 58% | |
| St. Columba's College, St. Albans | Boys | — | CEM | 54.6% | 71.1% | |
| St. Edmund's College, Ware | Mixed | — | CEM Select | — | — | |
| St. Edmund's School, Canterbury | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 40% | 50% | |
| St. Edmund's School, Hindhead | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| St. Francis' College, Letchworth | Girls | — | Independent | 70.1% | 77.8% | |
| St. Gabriel's School | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| St. George's School, Ascot | Girls | — | Independent | 62.4% | 68.7% | |
| St. George's School, Edgbaston | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| St. Georges Weybridge | Mixed | — | CEM | 79.9% | 81.6% | |
| St. Helen and St. Katharine (SHSK) | Girls | — | Independent | 92.1% | 87.5% | |
| St. James Senior Boys' School | Boys | 40 | GL Assessment | 70% | 70% | |
| St. John's School, Billericay | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| St. John's School, Leatherhead | Mixed | — | CEM Select | 79.6% | 82.2% | |
| St. John's Senior School, Enfield | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| St. Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent | Boys | — | Independent | 42.5% | 48.7% | |
| St. Margaret's School, Bushey | Girls | — | CEM Select | 60% | 50% | |
| St. Margaret's School, Hampstead | Girls | — | GL Assessment | 70% | — | |
| St. Mary Magdalene Academy (SMMA) | Mixed | 45 | GL Assessment | 70% | 50% | |
| St. Michael's School (St Mike's) | Mixed | — | CEM Select | 78.7% | 93.5% | |
| St. Nicholas' School, Fleet | Girls | — | CEM Select | — | — | |
| St. Teresa's School, Effingham | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Stafford Grammar School | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 40% | 60% | |
| Stamford High School | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 50.5% | 50% | |
| Strangford Integrated College | Mixed | 100 | SEAG | 52% | 58% | |
| Surbiton High School | Girls | — | Independent | 85.5% | 91.8% | |
| Sutton High School | Girls | — | CEM | 68% | 85.7% | |
| Sydenham High School | Girls | — | Independent | 67.3% | 77.3% | |
| The Cathedral School, Llandaff | Mixed | — | CEM Select | 69.9% | 89.8% | |
| The Cedars School | Boys | — | Independent | 70% | 75% | |
| The Folkestone School for Girls (FSG) | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment | 65% | 65% | |
| The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) | Boys | — | Independent | 71.1% | 87.4% | |
| The John Lyon School | Boys | — | Independent | — | — | |
| The King's School, Chester | Boys | — | CEM Select | 83.6% | 84.8% | |
| The King's School, Macclesfield | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 75% | 65% | |
| The King's School, Worcester (King's Worcester) | Boys | — | Independent | 66% | 75.2% | |
| The Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh (MES) | Boys | — | Independent | 65% | — | |
| The North Halifax Grammar School (NHG) | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | 53.8% | 71.8% | |
| The Old Palace School, Croydon | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| The Queen's School, Chester | Girls | — | Independent | 53.5% | 87.4% | |
| The Royal Masonic School for Girls | Girls | — | Independent | 65% | 75% | |
| The Spires College | Mixed | — | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Trinity School | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 86.1% | 95% | |
| Tudor Hall School | Girls | 25 | CEM Select | 40.6% | 74.1% | |
| Wakefield Girls' High School (WGHS) | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Wandsworth Selective Schools | Mixed | 70 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Westfield School, Newcastle upon Tyne | Girls | — | Independent | 70% | 65% | |
| Wetherby Senior School | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 68.6% | 74.3% | |
| Whitgift School | Boys | 150 | Independent | 87.2% | 90.1% | |
| Wimbledon High School (WHS) | Girls | — | Independent | 85.9% | 94.6% | |
| Wirral and Liverpool Grammar Schools | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 85% | 75-85% | |
| Woodhouse Grove School | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Yarm School | Boys | — | Independent | 70.5% | 75.7% |