About The Royal Latin School (RLS)
The Royal Latin School in Buckingham is one of England's oldest grammar schools, founded in 1423. It is a co-educational grammar school admitting 180 pupils per year and is part of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) Consortium. The school serves the north Buckinghamshire area around Buckingham town.
The Royal Latin School (RLS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 67.2%. A-Level A*–B: 83.2%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for The Royal Latin School (RLS)
The Royal Latin School (RLS) is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 180 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Bucks test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Thursday 11 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
The Royal Latin School (RLS) is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (180 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for The Royal Latin School (RLS)
The Royal Latin School (RLS) Admissions Criteria
The Royal Latin School in Buckingham is one of England's oldest grammar schools, founded in 1423. It is a co-educational grammar school admitting 180 pupils per year and is part of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) Consortium. The school serves the north Buckinghamshire area around Buckingham town.
- ✓Children attending Buckinghamshire state primary schools are automatically registered for the STT.
- ✓Children at other schools must register via Buckinghamshire Council (opens 1st May, closes 2nd June 2026).
- ✓Sit the Buckinghamshire STT: two ~60-minute multiple-choice papers.
- ✓Achieve a qualifying standardised score of 121 or above.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children within the school's catchment area.
- ✓Children within the Royal Latin School catchment area who have achieved the qualifying score.
- ✓Siblings of current pupils at The Royal Latin School.
- ✓Children of school staff on a permanent contract for 2+ years.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by straight-line distance from the school.
The Royal Latin School (RLS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 180 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by The Royal Latin School (RLS))
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — The Royal Latin School (RLS) 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Bucks 11+ portal |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Thursday 11 September 2026 (Familiarisation: 7 Sept; Main test: Verbal + Non-Verbal + Maths) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to The Royal Latin School (RLS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Bucks) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at The Royal Latin School (RLS)
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Thursday 11 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List The Royal Latin School (RLS) as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join The Royal Latin School (RLS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at The Royal Latin School (RLS)
The Royal Latin selects through the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (GL Assessment), sat once for the county's grammar schools — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers, with a qualifying standardised score of 121.
- Verbal paper: comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
- Non-verbal paper: non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and mathematics.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for The Royal Latin School (RLS)
The Royal Latin School (RLS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the The Royal Latin School (RLS) 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at The Royal Latin School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
The Royal Latin School (RLS) is a high-performing Buckinghamshire grammar with strong GCSE and A-Level results and good progression to leading universities.
- GCSE: around 79% of grades at 9–7 in a recent year.
- Sixth form: around 84% of A-Level grades at A*–B, with a large co-educational sixth form.
- Ofsted: rated Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes, personal development and sixth-form provision.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for The Royal Latin School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT), set by GL Assessment and shared across The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools consortium — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers of around 45–60 minutes: one testing verbal skills (comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning), the other non-verbal skills (non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and mathematics). Scores are age-standardised and aggregated, and the qualifying standard is a standardised score of 121 (or qualification through a Selection Review); in practice only around 30% of candidates qualify. Children at Buckinghamshire state primaries are entered automatically; others register with the council.
The school admits around 180 pupils to Year 7 and uses a defined catchment covering North Buckinghamshire (Buckingham, Steeple Claydon, Marsh Gibbon and Winslow). After children with an EHCP naming the school and looked-after children who qualify, Pupil Premium pupils are prioritised, then remaining places are offered in straight-line distance order. Name the school on the Local Authority form by 31 October. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
The Royal Latin School is a co-educational selective grammar for ages 11–18 on Chandos Road in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire (MK18 1AX), with over 1,300 pupils and a large sixth form. Founded in 1423, it is the oldest school in Buckinghamshire and the county's only pre-Reformation grammar; it survived the dissolution of the chantries through a royal charter under Edward VI, gained royal patronage under Elizabeth I, and has been co-educational since 1907. It became an academy in 2011.
The school carries the motto Alle May God Amende, holds a Science and training-school specialism, and offers a wide co-curriculum from debating to creative writing and philosophy. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Royal Latin School
How do I apply to The Royal Latin School (RLS) for Year 7?
Applications to The Royal Latin School (RLS) are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026), then list The Royal Latin School (RLS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does The Royal Latin School (RLS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — The Royal Latin School (RLS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Thursday 11 September 2026 (Familiarisation: 7 Sept; Main test: Verbal + Non-Verbal + Maths). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for The Royal Latin School (RLS)?
The Royal Latin School (RLS) sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 180 places.
How many Year 7 places does The Royal Latin School (RLS) have?
The Royal Latin School (RLS) admits 180 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for The Royal Latin School (RLS) in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join The Royal Latin School (RLS)'s waiting list.
Is The Royal Latin School (RLS) a state school or fee-paying?
The Royal Latin School (RLS) is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the The Royal Latin School (RLS) 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find The Royal Latin School (RLS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for The Royal Latin School (RLS) 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.