Top 200 Grammar Schools in the UK 2026 — Ranked

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Top 200 Grammar Schools in UK 2026 — At a Glance

The top 200 grammar schools in UK 2026 — average academic performance, regional breakdown and exam board distribution. All data is based on the latest GCSE 9-7 and A-Level A*-B results for state grammar schools across England and Northern Ireland.

83.0%

Average GCSE 9-7

across the Top 200

84.7%

Average A-Level A*-B

across the Top 200

Regions Represented

in the Top 200

Largest Region

Northern Ireland

By Region

Northern Ireland

London

Independent / Other

Birmingham & West Midlands

Buckinghamshire

Essex

Greater Manchester & Trafford

Kent

Gloucestershire

Surrey & Sussex

By Exam Board

GL Assessment

SEAG

Independent

CEM (legacy)

CSSE Essex

Other

The Full Top 200 Grammar Schools in UK 2026 — Ranked Table

Click any school name for detailed admissions information · Avg GCSE 83.0% · Avg A-Level 84.7%

Top 200 grammar schools in the UK for 2026, ranked by GCSE 9–7 and A‑Level A*–B results. Columns: rank, school, region, gender, 11+ exam board, GCSE 9–7 percentage and A‑Level A*–B percentage.
Rank	School	Region	Gender	11+ Exam	GCSE 9-7	A-Level A*-B
#1	Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet	London	Boys	GL Assessment	95.5%	97.6%
#2	Wilson’s School	London	Boys	GL Assessment	97.4%	95.4%
#3	St Olave’s Grammar School	London	Boys	GL Assessment	89.7%	95.1%
#4	Colchester Royal Grammar School	Essex	Boys (Mixed 6th)	CSSE Essex	88.4%	95.5%
#5	The Tiffin Girls’ School	London	Girls	GL Assessment	95.7%	89.9%
#6	Pate’s Grammar School	Gloucestershire	Mixed	GL Assessment	90%	92.6%
#7	King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford	Essex	Boys (Mixed 6th)	CSSE Essex	87.5	91.1
#8	The Henrietta Barnett School	London	Girls	GL Assessment	97.2%	86%
#9	Altrincham Grammar School for Girls	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Girls	GL Assessment	86.1%	91.3%
#10	Reading School	Berkshire	Boys	GL Assessment	88.9%	88.8%
#11	Tiffin School	London	Boys	GL Assessment	79.8%	91.8%
#12	King Edward VI School, Stratford	Warwickshire	Mixed	GL Assessment	90.7%	86.0%
#13	Nonsuch High School for Girls	London	Girls	GL Assessment	82.8%	89.2%
#14	Tonbridge Grammar School	Kent	Girls (Mixed 6th)	GL Assessment	77.6%	91.5%
#15	Dartford Grammar School	Kent	Boys	GL Assessment	80.7%	89.8%
#16	Chelmsford County High School for Girls	Essex	Girls	CSSE Essex	87%	86.7%
#17	King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls	Birmingham & West Midlands	Girls	GL Assessment	84.7%	86.8%
#18	The Latymer School	London	Mixed	GL Assessment	84.1%	85.7%
#19	The Judd School	Kent	Boys	GL Assessment	81.1%	87.1%
#20	Colyton Grammar School	Devon & Torbay	Mixed	CEM	80.9%	87.1%
#21	Sutton Grammar School	London	Boys	GL Assessment	81.1%	87%
#22	St Michael’s RC Grammar School, Finchley	London	Girls	GL Assessment	90%	85-90%
#23	Colchester County High School for Girls	Essex	Girls	CSSE Essex	85.6	83.7
#24	Wallington High School for Girls	London	Girls	GL Assessment	83.3%	84.3%
#25	Dr Challoner’s High School	Buckinghamshire	Girls	GL Assessment	82.9%	84.2%
#26	Dame Alice Owen’s School	Hertfordshire	Mixed	GL Assessment	72.1%	89.1%
#27	Stratford Girls’ Grammar School	Birmingham & West Midlands	Girls	GL Assessment	85.8%	81.6%
#28	Kendrick School	Berkshire	Girls	GL Assessment	80%	70%
#29	Langley Grammar School	Slough	Mixed	GL Assessment	77.0%	85.0%
#30	Wallington County Grammar School	London	Boys	GL Assessment	73%	87%
#31	Strathearn School	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	73%	85.8%
#32	Sir Thomas Rich’s School	Gloucestershire	Boys	GL Assessment	77.9%	83.1%
#33	Altrincham Grammar School for Boys	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Boys	GL Assessment	82%	85%
#34	Newstead Wood School	London	Girls	GL Assessment	87.9%	77.3%
#35	Rathmore Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	69.3%	86.3%
#36	St Dominic’s Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	71.3%	85.3%
#37	Woodford County High School	London	Girls	GL Assessment	85%	78%
#38	Sale Grammar School	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Mixed	GL Assessment	73.7%	83.3%
#39	Dr Challoner’s Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Boys	GL Assessment	64.8%	87.5%
#40	King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys	Birmingham & West Midlands	Boys	GL Assessment	70.6%	84.5%
#41	Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School	Birmingham & West Midlands	Boys	GL Assessment	77.5%	80.6%
#42	Chesham Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Mixed	GL Assessment	66.9%	85.7%
#43	The Blue Coat School, Liverpool	Independent / Other	Mixed	GL Assessment	81.6%	78.2%
#44	West London Free School	London	Mixed	Free School test	63.1	87.4
#45	South Wilts Grammar School	Wiltshire	Girls	GL Assessment	79%	74%
#46	Friends’ School Lisburn	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	78.2%	79.1%
#47	The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe	Buckinghamshire	Boys	GL Assessment	65.4%	85.5%
#48	Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	61.6%	87.2%
#49	Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls	Birmingham & West Midlands	Girls	GL Assessment	82.8%	76.5%
#50	Bexley Grammar School	Bexley	Mixed	GL Assessment	67.3%	84.1%
#51	St Ambrose College	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Boys	GL Assessment	74.6%	80.3%
#52	Upton Court Grammar School	Slough	Mixed	GL Assessment	82.2%	76.2%
#53	Lumen Christi College	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	74.4%	79.9%
#54	King Edward VI Five Ways School	Birmingham & West Midlands	Mixed	GL Assessment	74%	80%
#55	Royal Latin School	Buckinghamshire	Mixed	GL Assessment	67.2%	83.2%
#56	Beaconsfield High School	Buckinghamshire	Girls	GL Assessment	71.2%	80.9%
#57	Westcliff High School for Boys	Essex	Boys	CSSE Essex	74.9	77.9
#58	Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Mixed	GL Assessment	65%	65%
#59	JFS	London	Mixed	Independent	54	87.5
#60	Loreto Grammar School	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Girls	GL Assessment	71.2%	78.8%
#61	Southend High School For Boys	Essex	Boys	CSSE Essex	68.9	79.8
#62	Sullivan Upper School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	66.7%	80.9%
#63	Wolverhampton Girls’ High School	Birmingham & West Midlands	Girls	GL Assessment	72.3	78.1
#64	Banbridge Academy	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	72.2%	78%
#65	St Louis Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	75%	70%
#66	Newport Girls’ High School	Shropshire	Girls	GL Assessment	76.3%	75.4%
#67	Stroud High School	Gloucestershire	Girls	GL Assessment	79.6%	73.6%
#68	Bishop Wordsworth’s School	Wiltshire	Boys	GL Assessment	65.3%	80.4%
#69	Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	66.3%	79.4%
#70	Herschel Grammar School	Slough	Mixed	GL Assessment	73.0%	75.7%
#71	Ripon Grammar School	Yorkshire & North	Mixed	GL Assessment	59.6%	81.7%
#72	Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College	Lancashire & Cumbria	Girls	Independent	66.3	78.3
#73	The Rochester Grammar School	Kent	Mixed	CEM	52%	85.3%
#74	Aylesbury High School	Buckinghamshire	Girls	GL Assessment	70%	76%
#75	Ballymena Academy	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	58.2%	81.8%
#76	Yavneh College	Hertfordshire	Mixed	Independent	56	82
#77	Southend High School for Girls	Essex	Girls	CSSE Essex	70.2	74.6
#78	Rainey Endowed School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	61.1%	79.0%
#79	Churston Ferrers Grammar School	Devon & Torbay	Mixed	GL Assessment	60.9%	78.9%
#80	Carrickfergus Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	56.4%	80.9%
#81	Invicta Grammar School	Kent	Girls	GL Assessment	59.8%	79%
#82	St Andrew’s RC School, Leatherhead	Surrey & Sussex	Mixed	Diocesan / Aptitude	52.5%	82.4%
#83	Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School	Kent	Girls	GL Assessment	67.0%	75.0%
#84	Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School	Bexley	Mixed	GL Assessment	71.5%	72.6%
#85	Camden School for Girls	London	Girls	Aptitude (Music)	50	83
#86	Townley Grammar School	Bexley	Girls	GL Assessment	69.7%	72.9%
#87	Urmston Grammar	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Mixed	GL Assessment	62%	76%
#88	Ilford County High School	London	Boys	GL Assessment	68.2%	72.7%
#89	Rugby High School	Warwickshire	Girls (Mixed 6th)	GL Assessment	72.8%	70.4%
#90	Heckmondwike Grammar School	Yorkshire & North	Mixed	GL Assessment	83.5%	64.6%
#91	St Bernard’s RC Grammar School	Essex	Girls	CSSE Essex	72	70.2
#92	Dartford Grammar School for Girls	Kent	Girls	GL Assessment	75.5%	68.5%
#93	John Hampden Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Boys	GL Assessment	62.1%	75.1%
#94	King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls	Birmingham & West Midlands	Girls	GL Assessment	65%	65%
#95	Down High School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	50.7%	80.2%
#96	Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Mixed	GL Assessment	65.8%	72.4%
#97	The Charter School North Dulwich	London	Mixed	Independent	54	78
#98	The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School	London	Boys	Independent	55.5	77.1
#99	Lancaster Royal Grammar School	Lancashire & Cumbria	Boys	GL Assessment	65.2%	72.2%
#100	Waldegrave School, Twickenham	London	Girls (Mixed 6th)	Independent	53	78
#101	Bourne Grammar School	Lincolnshire	Mixed	GL Assessment	52.7%	65.4%
#102	Barnet and Enfield Grammar Schools	London	Girls	GL Assessment	95.0%	100.0%
#103	City of London School for Girls (CLSG)	London	Girls	CEM	95.4%	95.7%
#104	King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS)	Independent / Other	Girls	Independent	96.6%	94.9%
#105	St. Paul's Girls' School (SPGS)	London	Girls	CEM	99.5%	95.6%
#106	Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	80%	70%
#107	Dalriada School Ballymoney	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	52.9%	73.6%
#108	Methodist College Belfast	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	61.8%	71.6%
#109	North London Collegiate School (NLCS)	Independent / Other	Girls	Independent	99.2%	96.6%
#110	St Michael's College Enniskillen	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	65%	62%
#111	Highgate School	London	Boys	GL Assessment	95.7%	92.7%
#112	Loreto Grammar School Omagh	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	80%	70%
#113	Antrim Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	80%	70%
#114	Assumption Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	80%	70%
#115	Dominican College Belfast	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	80%	70%
#116	Dominican College, Portstewart	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	80%	70%
#117	Glenlola Collegiate Bangor	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	39.2%	66.3%
#118	Our Lady's Grammar School Newry	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	80%	70%
#119	Sacred Heart Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	80%	70%
#120	Bromley Grammar Schools	Independent / Other	Boys	GL Assessment	97.0%	90.0%
#121	Christian Brothers Grammar School Omagh	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	70%	70%
#122	Mount Lourdes Grammar School Enniskillen	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	70%	70%
#123	Royal Belfast Academical Institution	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	70%	70%
#124	Thornhill College	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	70%	70%
#125	Guildford High School	Surrey & Sussex	Girls	CEM Select	96.7%	97.3%
#126	Coleraine Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	75%	70%
#127	Enniskillen Royal Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	39.9%	70.1%
#128	Omagh Academy Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	57.3%	67.5%
#129	St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	75%	70%
#130	Ballyclare High School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	55.4%	73.1%
#131	Bangor Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	70%	70%
#132	Cambridge House Grammar School Ballymena	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	70%	70%
#133	Larne Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	70%	70%
#134	Brighton College	Surrey & Sussex	Mixed	GL Assessment	98%	97.9%
#135	Berkshire Grammar Schools	Berkshire	Boys	GL Assessment	95.0%	90.0%
#136	Cheltenham Ladies' College (CLC)	Gloucestershire	Girls	Independent	87.6%	87.3%
#137	Trafford Grammar Schools	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Boys	GL Assessment	95.0%	90.0%
#138	King Edward VI Shakespeare's School (KES)	Independent / Other	Mixed	GL Assessment	100.0%	85.0%
#139	Wallace High School Lisburn	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	53.5%	71%
#140	University College School (UCS)	London	Boys	Independent	91.3%	93.6%
#141	The Perse School	Cambridgeshire	Mixed	Independent	90.4%	93.9%
#142	Kingston Grammar School (KGS)	London	Boys	Independent	91.6%	92.7%
#143	Withington Girls' School	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Girls	Independent	92.9%	91.3%
#144	Belfast Royal Academy	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	58.7%	72.2%
#145	Grosvenor Grammar School Belfast	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	75%	65%
#146	Hunterhouse College	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	70%	70%
#147	Lagan College	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	70%	70%
#148	St Louis Grammar School Ballymena	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	55.8%	85.9%
#149	St Malachy's College Belfast	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	75%	65%
#150	St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School Belfast	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	75%	65%
#151	Reigate Grammar School	Surrey & Sussex	Boys	Independent	89.7%	93.9%
#152	Foyle College (Londonderry/Derry)	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	75%	65%
#153	St Colman's College Newry	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	80%	70%
#154	Victoria College, Belfast	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	48.6%	73%
#155	Emanuel School	Independent / Other	Boys	Independent	90.9%	91.3%
#156	St Joseph's Grammar School Donaghmore	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	70%	70%
#157	St Mary's Grammar School Magherafelt	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	73.3%	88.5%
#158	Campbell College	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	39%	85.0%
#159	Royal School Armagh	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	48.2%	64.5%
#160	St Columb's College Derry	Northern Ireland	Boys	SEAG	75%	70%
#161	Trinity School	Independent / Other	Boys	GL Assessment	86.1%	95%
#162	Royal School Dungannon	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	77%	70%
#163	Gloucestershire Grammar Schools	Gloucestershire	Boys	GL Assessment	90.0%	90.0%
#164	Buckinghamshire (Bucks) Grammar Schools	Independent / Other	Boys	GL Assessment	90.0%	90.0%
#165	Kent Grammar Schools	Kent	Girls	GL Assessment	90.0%	90.0%
#166	Alleyn's School	London	Girls	Independent	94.8%	94.7%
#167	Dulwich College	London	Boys	GL Assessment	93.5%	89.1%
#168	Haberdashers' Boys' School (Habs Boys)	London	Boys	CEM Select	70%	70%
#169	Bloomfield Collegiate Belfast	Northern Ireland	Girls	SEAG	70%	70%
#170	Regent House School Newtownards	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	70%	70%
#171	Wellington College Belfast	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	77%	70%
#172	Epsom College	Surrey & Sussex	Mixed	GL Assessment	87.1%	90.6%
#173	Surbiton High School	Independent / Other	Girls	Independent	85.5%	91.8%
#174	Whitgift School	Independent / Other	Boys	Independent	87.2%	90.1%
#175	Manchester Grammar School (MGS)	Greater Manchester & Trafford	Boys	GL Assessment	88.2%	93%
#176	Grey Coat Hospital	Independent / Other	Mixed	GL Assessment	54.1%	73.9%
#177	Limavady Grammar School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	46.7%	60.2%
#178	Belfast High School	Northern Ireland	Mixed	SEAG	65%	70%
#179	Birmingham Grammar Schools	Birmingham & West Midlands	Boys	GL Assessment	87.5%	87.5%
#180	Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton Grammar Schools	Birmingham & West Midlands	Boys	CEM Select	87.5%	87.5%
#181	Torquay Girls' Grammar School	Devon & Torbay	Girls	GL Assessment	57.7%	71.9%
#182	St. Mary's School Ascot	Hampshire	Girls	Independent	94.1%	84.7%
#183	Badminton School	Independent / Other	Girls	Independent	74.9%	72.6%
#184	Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Wakefield (QEGS)	Independent / Other	Boys	Independent	70%	65%
#185	Redbridge Grammar Schools	Independent / Other	Boys	GL Assessment	90.0%	85.0%
#186	Royal Grammar School (RGS) Newcastle	Independent / Other	Boys	CEM	80.3%	86.3%
#187	St. Catherine's School, Bramley	Independent / Other	Girls	Independent	79.6%	90.8%
#188	St. Helen and St. Katharine (SHSK)	Independent / Other	Girls	Independent	92.1%	87.5%
#189	St. Michael's School (St Mike's)	Independent / Other	Mixed	CEM Select	78.7%	93.5%
#190	Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester (The Math)	Kent	Mixed	CEM	55.6%	73.7%
#191	Lancashire and Cumbria Grammar Schools	Lancashire & Cumbria	Boys	GL Assessment	87.5%	87.5%
#192	Lincolnshire Grammar Schools	Lincolnshire	Boys	GL Assessment	87.5%	87.5%
#193	Hampton School	London	Boys	Independent	95.8%	91.5%
#194	Latymer Upper School	London	Mixed	Independent / ISEB	96.5%	95.1%
#195	Merchant Taylors' School (MTS) Northwood	London	Boys	Independent	88.3%	89.3%
#196	Abingdon School	Oxfordshire	Boys	GL Assessment	87.1%	88.9%
#197	City of London Freemen's School	London	Mixed	Independent	81.5%	92.2%
#198	Bancroft's School	Essex	Mixed	CEM Select	88.3%	93.2%
#199	The Leys School	Cambridgeshire	Mixed	Independent	86.1%	85.7%
#200	Sutton Grammar Schools - Selective Eligibility Test (SET)	London	Boys	GL Assessment	94.0%	77.5%

Preparing for the 11+? Get the Right Practice Papers

Aiming for one of these schools? Success comes down to preparing for the right 11+ test. Find your target school’s exam below and practise with papers that match it — each with full worked solutions.

GL Assessment

Used across much of England and Northern Ireland, including many London grammar schools.

GL practice papers →

CEM

Used by some grammar consortia and a number of independent schools.

CEM practice papers →

CSSE & Independent

Essex (CSSE) and selective independent schools set their own papers.

Independent 11+ papers →

SEAG (Northern Ireland)

Every Northern Ireland grammar school uses the SEAG Transfer Test.

SEAG practice papers →

What Makes the Best Grammar Schools in the UK?

The best UK grammar schools share several characteristics — not just exam results, but the breadth of opportunity, pastoral support, and university destinations. Our rankings draw on:

GCSE 9-7 Performance

The percentage of grades at 9-7 (formerly A*/A) is the single strongest indicator of academic outcomes at Key Stage 4. The top grammar schools in UK regularly achieve 80-95% of grades at 9-7 — against a national average of around 27%.

A-Level A*-B Rate

Sixth-form outcomes matter as much as GCSEs. The best grammar schools in the UK deliver A-Level A*-B rates above 85%, fuelling strong destinations at Russell Group and Oxbridge universities.

Entrance Test & Selectivity

All UK grammar schools admit on the basis of an 11+ entrance exam (or SEAG Transfer Test in Northern Ireland). Schools with the highest qualifying marks — some London consortiums require near-perfect scores — tend to occupy the very top of the rankings.

History & Foundation

Many of the best UK grammar schools were founded by royal charter centuries ago — from Reading School (1125) to King Edward VI Birmingham (1552). Long traditions translate into established academic cultures and strong alumni networks.

University Destinations

Where pupils go after Sixth Form is the ultimate measure. Top UK grammar schools regularly send 20-40% of leavers to Russell Group universities, with multiple Oxbridge offers each year.

Access & Diversity

The best grammar schools in the UK are increasingly prioritising Pupil Premium and Free School Meals applicants — Birmingham's King Edward VI Foundation, for example, reserves 20% of places for FSM pupils.

Grammar Schools 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the UK grammar school rankings, the 11+ exam and how to apply for 2026 entry.

What are the top grammar schools in the UK in 2026?

The highest-ranked schools on this list include Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, Wilson’s School and The Tiffin Girls’ School, which combine outstanding GCSE 9–7 and A‑Level A*–B results with highly competitive 11+ entry. The full table spans England and Northern Ireland and can be sorted by region, gender and entrance test above, or browsed in our complete grammar schools database.

How are these grammar schools ranked?

Positions 1–100 follow The Times Parent Power Top 100, while positions 101–200 are derived from the latest published GCSE 9–7 and A‑Level A*–B results. Together this gives parents the broadest reliable view of selective excellence across the UK.

What do “GCSE 9–7” and “A‑Level A*–B” mean?

GCSE 9–7 is the percentage of GCSE entries graded 9, 8 or 7 — the top band, equivalent to the old A*/A grades. A‑Level A*–B is the percentage of A‑level entries graded A*, A or B. Both are standard measures for comparing academic performance between schools.

Are grammar schools state-funded or private?

Most grammar schools are state-funded and free to attend, selecting pupils by ability through an 11+ entrance test rather than by fees. A small number of high-performing selective independent schools also appear where their results and entry standards are comparable.

Which UK regions have the most top grammar schools?

Grammar schools are concentrated in areas that kept academic selection — including London, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Lincolnshire, and Northern Ireland, which is fully selective. Use the region column in the table above to find the strongest schools near you.

What is the 11-plus exam?

The 11+ is the entrance test grammar schools use to select pupils in Year 6, typically covering English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Different areas use different boards — GL Assessment, CEM, the CSSE or Northern Ireland’s SEAG. Learn more on our exam boards guide and with our 11+ practice papers.

How do I get my child into a top grammar school?

Register for your area’s 11+ before the deadline, prepare across the tested subjects, and list the school on your local authority application. Our practice test papers and key dates guide walk through the process step by step.

When are grammar school applications for 2026 entry due?

In most areas the 11+ registration closes in the summer before Year 6, and the secondary Common Application Form is due by 31 October. Exact dates vary by school and area, so check each school’s page and our key dates guide.