The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe 11+ Guide

About The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe is a selective secondary school in Buckinghamshire. For children to get into The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe (RGSHW) is an esteemed all-boys grammar school located in the heart of Buckinghamshire. As a selective institution, RGSHW admits students based on their performance in the 11 plus Secondary Transfer Test, ensuring a community of academically gifted individuals. The school takes pride in its long-standing tradition of excellence, which is seamlessly integrated with modern educational practices.

At RGSHW, students are presented with a comprehensive curriculum that spans a wide array of subjects, including languages, humanities, mathematics, sciences, creative and performing arts, as well as an extensive range of sports and physical activities. The school's commitment to linguistic development is evident in the opportunity for pupils to learn six ancient and modern languages. Beyond the classroom, RGSHW offers an impressive selection of over 60 extracurricular activities, catering to diverse interests and fostering personal growth.

The school places utmost importance on the well-being of its pupils, recognizing that academic success goes hand-in-hand with mental and physical health. Through dedicated pastoral care, RGSHW nurtures independence and self-confidence in each individual. This holistic approach to education is reflected in the school's outstanding GCSE and A-Level results, which consistently propel students towards top-tier universities.

As a testament to its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, RGSHW offers a unique opportunity for up to 70 boys to benefit from state-of-the-art boarding facilities. Boarders at RGSHW enjoy additional study time, ongoing academic and pastoral support, and a wide range of activities, all at a fraction of the cost of private school boarding. This initiative exemplifies the school's dedication to providing an exceptional education to talented boys, regardless of their background.

School Information

Below you will find further information about The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe together with their admissions contact details.

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

Notably, The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe is one of very few English grammar schools to also offer boarding facilities.

In total 1,424 pupils attend The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and it's led by the Headmaster, Mr Philip Wayne.

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe for the 2022-23 academic year.

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Information

In order to get into The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, children need to pass the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Subjects & Structure

The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English Comprehension
• Technical English
• Verbal Reasoning
• Key Stage 2 Maths
• Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Spatial Reasoning

The Secondary Transfer Test is an entrance examination for students seeking admission to The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. This assessment, provided by GL Assessment, consists of two separate one-hour papers that evaluate a range of skills and knowledge essential for success in secondary education.

The first paper focuses on verbal skills, assessing the candidate's proficiency in English comprehension, technical English, and verbal reasoning. These sections aim to gauge the student's ability to understand and analyze written text, grasp complex language concepts, and draw logical conclusions based on given information.

The second paper concentrates on mathematical and non-verbal skills. This includes questions based on Key Stage 2 maths curriculum, non-verbal reasoning tasks that test the student's ability to identify patterns and solve problems using visual cues, and spatial reasoning exercises that assess their understanding of shapes, space, and position. Success in this entrance exam requires a well-rounded knowledge base and strong critical thinking skills.

Other Schools using Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)

As well as The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, several other schools also use Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). These are:

• Aylesbury Grammar School
• Aylesbury High School
• Beaconsfield High School
• Burnham Grammar School
• Chesham Grammar School
• Dr Challoner's Grammar School
• Dr Challoner's High School
• John Hampden Grammar School
• Royal Latin School
• Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
• Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
• Wycombe High School

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) tests (to get into The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe was last inspected by Ofsted on 09/10/2019 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 28/11/2019, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe underwent an Ofsted inspection on 9 October 2019, receiving an overall outcome of Good. The school demonstrated outstanding performance in several areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth form provision.

The quality of education and leadership and management were both rated as good. These ratings indicate that the school provides a high-quality educational experience for its students, with effective leadership and management supporting the school's success.

The Royal Grammar School's outstanding ratings in behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth form provision highlight the school's commitment to fostering a positive learning environment and preparing students for success in their future endeavors.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use our 11+ practice papers to help your child prepare.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Ensure you double-check with The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.