Top 100 Grammar Schools in England: Admissions and Comparison Guide
England state-funded selective secondary schools. This is not a UK-wide examination-results ranking.
A grammar-school shortlist starts with the admission authority and the child’s eligibility. This guide covers 100 open, state-funded selective secondary schools recorded in England’s official Get Information About Schools directory. The list spreads examples across local authorities. It does not rank examination results or include an independent school merely because its name contains “Grammar”. The directory records school identity and status; the current admission arrangements explain how a family can apply.
The complete 100-entry table
100 of 100 entries shown
| No. | Institution and source | Location | Type / status | Recorded information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet Listed website | Barnet, Barnet | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 2 | St Michael's Catholic Grammar School Listed website | London, Barnet | Voluntary aided school | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 3 | The Henrietta Barnett School Listed website | London, Barnet | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 4 | Beths Grammar School Listed website | Bexley, Bexley | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 5 | Bexley Grammar School Listed website | Welling, Bexley | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 6 | Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School Listed website | Sidcup, Bexley | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 7 | Townley Grammar School Listed website | Bexleyheath, Bexley | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 8 | Bishop Vesey's Grammar School Listed website | Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 9 | King Edward VI Aston School Listed website | Birmingham, Birmingham | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 10 | King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys Listed website | Birmingham, Birmingham | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 11 | King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls Listed website | Birmingham, Birmingham | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 12 | King Edward VI Five Ways School Listed website | Birmingham, Birmingham | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 13 | Bournemouth School Listed website | Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 14 | Bournemouth School for Girls Listed website | Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 15 | Parkstone Grammar School Listed website | Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 16 | Poole Grammar School Listed website | Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 17 | Newstead Wood School Listed website | Orpington, Bromley | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 18 | St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School Listed website | Orpington, Bromley | Voluntary aided school | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 19 | Aylesbury Grammar School Listed website | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 20 | Aylesbury High School Listed website | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 21 | Beaconsfield High School Listed website | Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 22 | Burnham Grammar School Listed website | Slough, Buckinghamshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 23 | The Crossley Heath School Listed website | Halifax, Calderdale | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 24 | The North Halifax Grammar School Listed website | Halifax, Calderdale | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 25 | Colyton Grammar School Listed website | Colyton, Devon | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 26 | The Latymer School Listed website | London, Enfield | Voluntary aided school | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 27 | Chelmsford County High School for Girls Listed website | Chelmsford, Essex | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 28 | Colchester County High School for Girls Listed website | Colchester, Essex | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 29 | Colchester Royal Grammar School Listed website | Colchester, Essex | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; Boarding school |
| 30 | King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford Listed website | Chelmsford, Essex | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 31 | Denmark Road High School Listed website | Gloucester, Gloucestershire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 32 | Marling School Listed website | Stroud, Gloucestershire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 33 | Pate's Grammar School Listed website | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 34 | Ribston Hall High School Listed website | Gloucester, Gloucestershire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 35 | Barton Court Grammar School Listed website | Canterbury, Kent | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 36 | Borden Grammar School Listed website | Sittingbourne, Kent | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 37 | Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School Listed website | Ramsgate, Kent | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 38 | Cranbrook School Listed website | Cranbrook, Kent | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; Boarding school |
| 39 | The Tiffin Girls' School Listed website | Kingston upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 40 | Tiffin School Listed website | Kingston upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 41 | Heckmondwike Grammar School Listed website | Heckmondwike, Kirklees | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 42 | Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School Listed website | Rossendale, Lancashire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 43 | Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Listed website | Clitheroe, Lancashire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 44 | Lancaster Girls' Grammar School Listed website | Lancaster, Lancashire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 45 | Lancaster Royal Grammar School Listed website | Lancaster, Lancashire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; Boarding school |
| 46 | Boston High School Listed website | Boston, Lincolnshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 47 | Bourne Grammar School Listed website | Bourne, Lincolnshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 48 | Caistor Grammar School Listed website | Market Rasen, Lincolnshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 49 | Carre's Grammar School Listed website | Sleaford, Lincolnshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 50 | The Blue Coat School Listed website | Liverpool, Liverpool | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 51 | Chatham Grammar Listed website | Chatham, Medway | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 52 | Fort Pitt Grammar School Listed website | Chatham, Medway | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 53 | Holcombe Grammar School Listed website | Chatham, Medway | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 54 | Rainham Mark Grammar School Listed website | Gillingham, Medway | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 55 | Ermysted's Grammar School Listed website | Skipton, North Yorkshire | Voluntary aided school | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 56 | Ripon Grammar School Listed website | Ripon, North Yorkshire | Community school | Ages 11–18; Mixed; Boarding school |
| 57 | Skipton Girls' High School Listed website | Skipton, North Yorkshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 58 | Devonport High School for Boys Listed website | Plymouth, Plymouth | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 59 | Devonport High School for Girls Listed website | Plymouth, Plymouth | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 60 | Plymouth High School for Girls Listed website | Plymouth, Plymouth | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 61 | Kendrick School Listed website | Reading, Reading | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 62 | Reading School Listed website | Reading, Reading | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; Boarding school |
| 63 | Ilford County High School Listed website | Ilford, Redbridge | Community school | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 64 | Woodford County High School Listed website | Woodford Green, Redbridge | Community school | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 65 | Herschel Grammar School Listed website | Slough, Slough | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 66 | Langley Grammar School Listed website | Langley, Slough | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 67 | St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School Listed website | Slough, Slough | Voluntary aided school | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 68 | Upton Court Grammar School Listed website | Slough, Slough | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 69 | Southend High School for Boys Listed website | Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 70 | Southend High School for Girls Listed website | Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 71 | Westcliff High School for Boys Academy Listed website | Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 72 | Westcliff High School for Girls Listed website | Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 73 | St Joseph's College Listed website | Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 74 | Nonsuch High School for Girls Listed website | Sutton, Sutton | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 75 | Sutton Grammar School Listed website | Sutton, Sutton | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 76 | Wallington County Grammar School Listed website | Wallington, Sutton | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 77 | Wallington High School for Girls Listed website | Wallington, Sutton | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 78 | Haberdashers' Adams Listed website | Newport, Telford and Wrekin | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; Boarding school |
| 79 | Newport Girls' High School Academy Listed website | Newport, Telford and Wrekin | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 80 | Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy Listed website | Brixham, Torbay | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 81 | Torquay Boys' Grammar School Listed website | Torquay, Torbay | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 82 | Torquay Girls' Grammar School Listed website | Torquay, Torbay | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 83 | Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Listed website | Altrincham, Trafford | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 84 | Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Listed website | Altrincham, Trafford | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 85 | Loreto Grammar School Listed website | Altrincham, Trafford | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 86 | Saint Ambrose College Listed website | Altrincham, Trafford | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 87 | Queen Mary's Grammar School Listed website | Walsall, Walsall | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 88 | Queen Mary's High School Listed website | Walsall, Walsall | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 89 | Alcester Grammar School Listed website | Alcester, Warwickshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 90 | King Edward VI School Listed website | Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 91 | Lawrence Sheriff School Listed website | Rugby, Warwickshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 92 | Rugby High School Listed website | Rugby, Warwickshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 93 | Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Listed website | Penrith, Westmorland and Furness | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Mixed; No boarders |
| 94 | Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School Listed website | Salisbury, Wiltshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 95 | South Wilts Grammar School Listed website | Salisbury, Wiltshire | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 96 | Calday Grange Grammar School Listed website | Wirral, Wirral | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 97 | St Anselm's College Listed website | Prenton, Wirral | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Boys; No boarders |
| 98 | Upton Hall School FCJ Listed website | Wirral, Wirral | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 99 | West Kirby Grammar School Listed website | Wirral, Wirral | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
| 100 | Wolverhampton Girls' High School Listed website | Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton | Academy converter | Ages 11–18; Girls; No boarders |
List numbers are navigation identifiers except where the stated research/completion ordering or published NIRF rank is explained. Download the complete CSV.
Sources and selection method
Open, state-funded, Secondary, Selective; round-robin by local authority; alphabetical within each authority.
England only. Numbers are not performance ranks.
Source: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Downloads. Source records checked 2026-10-01. Current admissions, courses and fees require the institution’s own current evidence. Each row links to its source.
Understand selection and place allocation
Passing an entrance test and receiving a place are separate outcomes. Each school or admission authority publishes its selection procedure and oversubscription rules. A qualifying score may be followed by residence, distance, priority-area or other published criteria. Families need to read the policy for the intended entry year. A previous year’s allocation score is historical evidence, not a promised threshold. A school can also have different arrangements for Year 7 and sixth-form entry.
Build a calendar from official dates
Test registration can close before the local authority’s secondary-school application deadline. Record registration, test, results and preference submission as distinct steps. Check whether one registration covers a consortium or whether separate applications are required. Ask the test administrator about access arrangements before the deadline if they are needed. Save the official acknowledgement and the version of the admission policy. A general guide cannot replace those dated instructions.
Compare an ordinary school day
A family should compare the real journey at morning and afternoon times. A school outside the immediate neighbourhood can add transport cost and fatigue. Ask about homework, pastoral support, learning needs and how concerns are raised. Check the latest inspection report alongside the school’s current response. Subject availability can change between entry and sixth form. A strong aggregate result does not establish that a particular subject combination will be available to the child.
Read results in context
Selective intakes and different cohorts affect examination comparisons. Use the official performance service for the same year and measure, and note the cohort size. An inspection grade is a separate judgement from examination attainment. Avoid comparing a small sixth form against an entire secondary cohort. The table number here is a navigation aid. It does not assert that the first school provides the best teaching or the greatest chance of admission.
Prepare a realistic set of preferences
Include schools for which the child meets the stated criteria and consider a feasible alternative if selection or allocation does not work out. Record evidence for each preference rather than treating tutoring claims as admission guarantees. Before a visit, ask how the school helps pupils who struggle after entry. Review transport and support arrangements as carefully as test preparation. A sustainable daily experience belongs in the final decision.
Decision checklist
- Check the intended entry year
- Register before the test deadline
- Read oversubscription criteria
- Test the daily journey
- Keep realistic alternative preferences
Shortlist worksheet
For three feasible options, record the exact programme or year group, current eligibility, full cost, support provision, travel and the official evidence date. Leave a missing answer unresolved instead of estimating it.
Questions before you decide
Does the guide cover all UK grammar schools?
No. Its official data scope is England. Other UK jurisdictions use different systems.
Does passing the test guarantee a place?
No. Oversubscription and allocation rules can still apply.
Are these the top 100 by GCSE results?
No. These are 100 geographically sampled eligible directory records.
Are private schools with Grammar in their name included?
No. The source filter requires state-funded secondary status and a selective admission policy.
Where do I check the current admission year?
Use the school or admission authority’s current published arrangements, not a historical results table.
Related guides
Compiled by VisitBest from the stated public sources. Current course, admission, service and price details should be obtained from the relevant provider. Send corrections with the exact record and a supporting source.