Dr Challoner’s Grammar School: Admissions, Exam and Results
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School is a selective state grammar school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Known for its academic focus and strong examination performance, the school is a popular choice for families considering grammar school education in the county. Entry into Year 7 is competitive and depends on meeting the qualifying standard in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, followed by the school’s admissions criteria.
For parents researching Dr Challoner’s Grammar School, understanding the 11+ process is an important first step. A qualifying score does not automatically guarantee a place: the school’s catchment area, priority categories and distance criteria can all affect whether an eligible applicant receives an offer. This guide explains the admissions process, entrance exam, catchment arrangements and latest published results to help families understand what to expect.
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Where Is Dr Challoner’s Grammar School?
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School is located on Chesham Road in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with the postcode HP6 5HA. It is a boys’ selective academy for pupils aged 11 to 18. The school admits boys into Year 7 and also offers a separate sixth-form entry route for external students, including girls.
The school has a published admission number of 180 boys for Year 7 entry. Its sixth form has 45 places for external students, subject to meeting the academic entry requirements.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School should not be confused with Dr Challoner’s High School, which is a separate girls’ grammar school in Little Chalfont. Although the two schools share the Challoner’s name and are both in Buckinghamshire, they have separate admissions arrangements and catchment areas.
Parents can find the school’s location, contact details and admissions information on the official Dr Challoner’s Grammar School website.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School Admissions
Admission into Year 7 is managed through Buckinghamshire Council’s coordinated secondary school admissions process. Applicants must meet the qualifying standard in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test or be deemed qualified following a successful Selection Review or, in exceptional circumstances, an admissions appeal.
For September 2027 entry, the school’s published admission number is 180 places. However, the number of applicants who qualify may exceed the number of places available. When this happens, the school uses its published oversubscription criteria to decide which eligible children receive offers.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School 2027 Entry Requirements
The main entry requirements for Year 7 are:
- School type: Selective state grammar school
- Gender: Boys
- Age range: 11–18
- Year 7 admission number: 180 places
- Entrance assessment: Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
- Qualifying score: 121
- Admissions authority: Buckinghamshire Council, working with the school
- School address: Chesham Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5HA
A score of 121 or above in the Secondary Transfer Test normally qualifies a boy for consideration for a Buckinghamshire grammar school place. However, qualification is not the same as an offer. Where more qualified applicants apply than there are places, the school’s oversubscription criteria determine the order in which places are allocated.
The school can also consider children who have been deemed qualified through a Selection Review Panel or, in exceptional circumstances, a subsequent admissions appeal.
How Competitive Is Admission?
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School has 180 Year 7 places, but demand can be higher than the number of available places. In the 2027 admissions process, meeting the qualifying score is only the first part of the application.
Applicants are considered in priority order. Children who meet higher-priority categories may be offered places before other qualified applicants, while distance from the school is used in several categories and as the final tie-breaker.
This means families should consider both the test requirements and the admissions policy. A child who qualifies academically but lives outside the catchment area may have a different level of priority from a qualifying child who lives within it.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School 11+ Exam
The entrance assessment for Dr Challoner’s Grammar School is the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). This is the shared 11+ assessment used for admission to Buckinghamshire’s grammar schools.
The test is taken in the autumn of Year 6, during the year before a child is due to start secondary school. It assesses verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills through two test papers.
For September 2027 entry, the Secondary Transfer Test took place in September 2026, with results issued in October. Families preparing for a later entry year should check the dates published by Buckinghamshire Council, as registration and testing arrangements can change.
What Does the Buckinghamshire 11+ Test Include?
The Secondary Transfer Test assesses three main areas:
- Verbal skills: Understanding and working with language, including vocabulary and verbal reasoning.
- Mathematical skills: Applying mathematical knowledge and solving numerical problems.
- Non-verbal skills: Recognising patterns, understanding shapes and solving problems using visual information.
The assessment consists of two papers, each lasting approximately 60 minutes, including an introduction and practice examples. The papers are designed to assess a range of abilities rather than simply test what a child has memorised from the school curriculum.
Children’s scores in the three areas are age-standardised and then combined. This helps account for differences in age between pupils sitting the assessment.
What Is the Pass Mark for Dr Challoner’s Grammar School?
For September 2027 entry, the normal qualifying score is 121 in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test.
A child who achieves 121 or above is normally considered qualified for Buckinghamshire grammar school admission. However, this does not guarantee a place at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School because places are allocated according to the school’s oversubscription criteria.
The 2027 admissions policy also includes limited provisions for certain eligible children living in the catchment area who receive Pupil Premium or are looked-after or previously looked-after children. Under the relevant criteria, some applicants may be considered with a score of at least 115, with a further limited provision for scores between 110 and 114 if places remain within that category.
These provisions have specific eligibility conditions and should not be treated as a general alternative pass mark.
What Happens If a Child Scores Below 121?
Parents whose child does not achieve the qualifying score may be able to request a Selection Review if they believe particular circumstances affected their child’s performance in the test.
A Selection Review Panel considers the evidence submitted and decides whether the child should be treated as qualified for grammar school admission. The panel may consider information about the child’s academic ability and circumstances surrounding the assessment.
A successful review can make a child eligible for consideration, but it does not guarantee a place at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School. The school’s oversubscription criteria still apply.
Parents should read the official guidance carefully and follow the deadlines and evidence requirements set by Buckinghamshire Council.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School Catchment Area
The catchment area is an important part of the admissions process. Dr Challoner’s Grammar School gives priority to certain qualified applicants who live within its designated catchment area.
However, living within the catchment area does not automatically guarantee admission. Applicants must still meet the academic eligibility requirements, and places are allocated according to the school’s published priority categories.
For September 2027 entry, applicants claiming catchment-related priority must meet the school’s residency requirements and complete its Supplementary Information Form (SIF) where required.
How Does the Catchment Area Affect Admissions?
The 2027 admissions policy sets out the following main priority categories for applicants:
- Looked-after and previously looked-after boys.
- Boys living in the catchment area who receive Pupil Premium.
- Siblings of pupils in Years 7 to 12 who live in the catchment area.
- A limited number of places for eligible catchment-area Pupil Premium or looked-after applicants who achieve the specified lower test scores.
- Eligible sons of members of staff.
- Other qualified boys living in the catchment area, ranked by distance.
- Siblings of pupils in Years 7 to 12 who live outside the catchment area, ranked by distance.
- Any remaining places, allocated by distance.
Distance is measured in a straight line between the applicant’s normal home address and the school’s main entrance on Chesham Road.
This order is important. For example, a qualifying applicant who lives outside the catchment area may be considered after eligible applicants who live within it. Families should therefore check their address against the school’s official catchment map rather than assume that living nearby will provide priority.
How Do You Check If Your Address Is in Catchment?
The school publishes a catchment area map on its admissions page. Parents can also use Buckinghamshire Council’s school admissions service to check whether their home address falls within the designated area.
For 2027 entry, the policy requires applicants seeking catchment priority to have lived permanently and continuously at their home address since 1 April 2026. The school may request supporting evidence to confirm that the address meets its requirements.
Applicants claiming priority under the relevant catchment criteria must also complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form. For the first allocation round for September 2027 entry, the published deadline is 4pm on 30 November 2026.
The school may request additional proof of residence. Its policy also includes rules covering shared addresses, rental agreements and families who retain a previous main home. Parents should read these requirements carefully before relying on a particular address for admissions priority.
How to Apply to Dr Challoner’s Grammar School
The application process involves registering for the Secondary Transfer Test where necessary, completing any relevant school-specific forms and submitting a secondary school application through the family’s home local authority.
For Buckinghamshire residents, the local authority coordinates the application process. Families living outside Buckinghamshire can still apply, but they must follow the testing and application arrangements that apply to their circumstances.
Step 1: Register for the Secondary Transfer Test
Children attending Buckinghamshire state-funded primary schools are normally registered automatically for the Secondary Transfer Test unless their parents withdraw them.
Children attending independent schools or schools outside Buckinghamshire generally need to be registered separately through the testing administrator. Parents should check the current registration window and requirements with Buckinghamshire Council.
Step 2: Prepare for the 11+ Assessment
The Secondary Transfer Test takes place in Year 6. Preparation should focus on the skills assessed in the papers, including English and verbal skills, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.
A consistent preparation routine can help children become familiar with the question styles and improve their confidence with timed assessments.
Step 3: Complete the Supplementary Information Form
Families seeking priority under the relevant catchment-related admission criteria must complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form and provide the required residency information.
For September 2027 entry, the deadline for the first allocation round is 4pm on 30 November 2026. This is separate from the main secondary school application deadline.
Step 4: Submit the Secondary School Application
Parents must list Dr Challoner’s Grammar School as a preference on their home local authority’s secondary school application.
For September 2027 entry, the national closing date is 31 October 2026. As this date is imminent, families applying for 2027 entry should check their local authority’s application arrangements immediately.
Listing a school as a preference does not affect a child’s test score or admissions priority. Parents should list schools in their genuine order of preference and include suitable alternatives.
Step 5: Receive the School Offer
National offer day for September 2027 entry is 1 March 2027. Applicants will be informed of the school place offered through their home local authority.
If a child qualifies but does not receive an offer, parents can review the admissions outcome, waiting-list arrangements and appeal options.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School Results
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School has a strong academic profile, and its examination results are an important consideration for families comparing secondary schools.
The school publishes GCSE and A-level results on its official website. Its published 2025 examination results are available through the school’s exam results page, while a separate school announcement provides its 2026 GCSE results.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School GCSE Results 2026
The school reported strong GCSE performance for its 2026 Year 11 cohort:
- 80% of students achieved five or more GCSE grades at 7–9.
- 47 students achieved grades 7–9 across all their subjects.
- One quarter of all GCSE grades were grade 9, the highest available grade.
These results show a high proportion of pupils achieving top GCSE grades. They also provide a useful indication of the school’s recent academic performance, although examination results should be considered alongside teaching, pastoral support, curriculum and the wider school environment.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School A-Level Results
The school’s official examination results page provides access to its published GCSE and A-level results. Its current results page lists the full 2025 results.
Parents comparing sixth forms should review the complete A-level results rather than relying on a single headline statistic. Subject choices, course availability, teaching support and university destinations can all help families understand whether a sixth form is suitable for their child.
For the latest published figures, visit the school’s official examination results page.
How to Prepare for the Dr Challoner’s Grammar School 11+
Preparing for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test requires a balanced approach. Children need to develop their skills across verbal, mathematical and non-verbal reasoning, while also becoming comfortable with the format and timing of the assessment.
Starting with a clear understanding of the test areas can help parents identify strengths and areas where additional practice may be useful.
1. Build Verbal Reasoning and English Skills
Verbal skills are an important part of the Secondary Transfer Test. Regular reading can help children develop vocabulary, comprehension and confidence when working with written information.
Useful preparation activities include:
- Reading a range of fiction and non-fiction texts.
- Practising comprehension questions.
- Learning new vocabulary and understanding word meanings.
- Completing verbal reasoning questions.
- Explaining answers and discussing unfamiliar words.
Encourage children to focus on understanding the question rather than rushing to choose an answer.
2. Strengthen Mathematical Skills
Mathematics preparation should cover the core knowledge expected by the end of primary school, alongside problem-solving and reasoning.
Useful areas to practise include:
- Arithmetic and number operations.
- Fractions, decimals and percentages.
- Measurements and conversions.
- Shapes, angles and geometry.
- Word problems and multi-step calculations.
- Identifying patterns and applying mathematical reasoning.
Practising a variety of questions helps children learn how to apply their knowledge in unfamiliar situations.
3. Practise Non-Verbal Reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning involves solving problems using shapes, diagrams and visual patterns. Children may need to identify sequences, recognise similarities or work out how shapes change.
Practice can help children become familiar with common question styles, but it is important to focus on understanding the reasoning behind each answer.
4. Complete Timed Practice Papers
Timed practice can help children become more confident with the pace of an assessment. It also gives parents an opportunity to identify areas where a child may need more support.
Start with shorter practice sessions and gradually introduce timed questions. After each session, review mistakes and explain the correct method rather than focusing only on the final score.
Parents can explore a range of 11+ practice questions and preparation resources to help children build familiarity with different question types.
5. Create a Consistent Revision Routine
A regular revision routine is often more manageable than long, intensive study sessions. Short sessions spread across the week can help children maintain progress without becoming overwhelmed.
A balanced weekly plan could include:
| Area | Suggested activity |
|---|---|
| Verbal skills | Reading and comprehension practice |
| Mathematics | Arithmetic and problem-solving questions |
| Non-verbal reasoning | Pattern and shape-based questions |
| Mixed practice | Questions covering different test areas |
| Review | Revisit mistakes and practise weaker topics |
The aim should be to build confidence and understanding across all test areas, rather than concentrating on one subject at the expense of the others.
Is Dr Challoner’s Grammar School a Good Choice?
Choosing a secondary school involves more than comparing examination results or focusing on the 11+ pass mark. Parents should consider whether the school’s academic environment, teaching approach, extracurricular opportunities and pastoral support are suitable for their child.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School offers a selective academic environment for boys, with a sixth form that admits both boys and girls. Its recent GCSE results demonstrate strong academic performance, while its admissions policy makes clear that entry into Year 7 is competitive.
Families should also consider practical factors such as the journey to school, the child’s readiness for a selective environment and whether the school is a realistic admissions choice based on the family’s location and circumstances.
It is worth attending an open event where possible and reviewing the school’s prospectus, curriculum information and admissions policy before making a final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pass mark for Dr Challoner’s Grammar School?
For September 2027 entry, the normal qualifying score is 121 in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test. Some limited provisions apply to eligible catchment-area applicants under the school’s admissions policy. Achieving the qualifying score does not guarantee a place.
Is Dr Challoner’s Grammar School boys-only?
The school is boys-only from Year 7 to Year 11. Its sixth form is co-educational, and external applicants of both genders can apply for available Year 12 places if they meet the entry requirements.
How many Year 7 places are available?
The published admission number for September 2027 entry is 180 boys.
Where is Dr Challoner’s Grammar School’s catchment area?
The school has a designated catchment area around Amersham and the surrounding area. Parents should use the school’s official catchment map and Buckinghamshire Council’s address-checking service to confirm whether a specific property is included.
Does living in catchment guarantee a place?
No. Applicants must still meet the academic eligibility requirements, and places are allocated according to the school’s oversubscription criteria. Catchment residence can provide priority, but it does not guarantee an offer.
When is the Dr Challoner’s Grammar School application deadline?
For September 2027 entry, the national secondary school application deadline is 31 October 2026. The school’s supplementary information form deadline for the first allocation round is 4pm on 30 November 2026 for applicants claiming the relevant catchment-based priority.
What were the school’s latest GCSE results?
The school reported that 80% of its 2026 Year 11 cohort achieved five or more GCSE grades at 7–9. It also reported that 47 students achieved grades 7–9 across all their subjects, and that 25% of all grades were grade 9.
Final Thoughts
Dr Challoner’s Grammar School is a popular selective school in Amersham, with 180 Year 7 places and a competitive admissions process. Applicants must normally achieve a score of 121 in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, but the school’s catchment and oversubscription criteria also play an important role in determining who receives an offer.
For families considering the school, the most important steps are to understand the Secondary Transfer Test, check the catchment requirements carefully and follow the relevant application deadlines. With a clear understanding of the admissions process and a consistent approach to preparation, parents can make more informed decisions about their child’s secondary school options.
