Wycombe High School 11+ Guide

About Wycombe High School

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

Wycombe High School is an exceptional all-girls grammar school located in the heart of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. From its humble beginnings with just a handful of students and staff, the school has flourished into a thriving educational institution, now accommodating over 1,300 pupils. Admission to this prestigious school is based on girls' performance in the Secondary Transfer Test, ensuring a community of academically gifted students.

At Wycombe High School, the curriculum is carefully crafted to be both comprehensive and adaptable, catering to the unique interests and aspirations of each student. The school recognizes that its students are the future leaders and innovators, and thus, the syllabus is designed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge. While core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science form the foundation of the curriculum, the school also places great emphasis on creative and digital learning, offering a wide array of subjects and activities to foster well-rounded development.

Beyond the classroom, Wycombe High School offers an impressive range of extracurricular activities, with over 100 clubs and societies available for students to explore their passions and develop essential life skills. From the performing arts and sports to philosophy and politics, there is something for every student to engage in. The school also actively promotes STEM subjects, providing numerous opportunities for girls to delve into the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through captivating clubs, competitions, and educational visits.

Wycombe High School prides itself on nurturing an environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The school's dedication to providing high-quality pastoral care and maintaining a safe and serene atmosphere has been recognized by Ofsted, which has awarded the school an 'outstanding' rating. With a focus on fostering limitless ambition and an insatiable curiosity for learning, Wycombe High School encourages its students to pursue their dreams fearlessly, empowering them with the belief that there are no boundaries to what they can achieve.

The success of Wycombe High School is evident in the achievements of its students, who go on to pursue higher education at prestigious universities, secure respected apprenticeships, and embark on successful careers. As a beacon of educational excellence, Wycombe High School continues to inspire and empower young women to become the trailblazers of tomorrow.

School Information

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

Wycombe High School is a girls 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).

In total 1,321 pupils attend Wycombe High School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Nicola Renyard.

Wycombe High School 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 Wycombe High School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Information

In order to get into Wycombe High School, 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 a crucial assessment for students seeking admission to Wycombe High School. This exam, provided by GL Assessment, evaluates a range of skills across two distinct one-hour papers. Verbal abilities, including comprehension, technical proficiency, and reasoning, are thoroughly assessed in one paper. The other paper focuses on mathematical aptitude, along with non-verbal and spatial reasoning skills.

To excel in the Secondary Transfer Test, students must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Key Stage 2 maths concepts and exhibit strong problem-solving abilities. Additionally, a solid grasp of the English language, including technical vocabulary and comprehension skills, is essential for success in the verbal section.

By assessing a diverse set of skills, the Secondary Transfer Test aims to identify students who possess the academic potential to thrive at Wycombe High School. Those who perform well in both papers showcase a balanced skill set and the ability to adapt to the rigorous educational environment offered by this prestigious institution.

Other Schools using Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)

As well as Wycombe High School, 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
• The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Wycombe High School 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 Wycombe High School, 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 Wycombe High School) 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 Wycombe High School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Wycombe High School was last inspected by Ofsted on 27/06/2012 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 19/07/2012, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Wycombe High School 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, Wycombe High School 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 Wycombe High School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.