It might be difficult to find your way around the 11 Plus the first time as a parent. How do you aid your kid in getting ready for the Herschel Grammar 11 Plus Exam? What kind of exam structure is it? What stores sell test papers? We’ve provided parents with a “Herschel Grammar 11 Plus Tips” in this article that seeks to address all of your concerns.

Herschel Grammar School

Herschel Grammar School is a coeducational grammar school in Slough, Berkshire. The school has around 900 pupils aged 11 to 18.

Herschel Grammar School is an academy, meaning it has more control over its curriculum than most schools. The school specialises in Technology, Maths, Science and Computing. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and trips, with recent destinations including Spain, France, China and Egypt. 

Founded in 1952, the school moved to its present site to the west of the town centre in 1958. Buildings have been repaired and added since. A sports centre with Astroturf pitches for football and hockey, four tennis courts, indoor basketball and badminton courts and a dance studio was opened in 2004. In addition to a range of sports teams and clubs Herschel Grammar School also runs an extensive Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

School performance

In 2022, 58% of the GCSE grades were 8 or above. 

In 2022 the school’s Progress 8 score was 0.97, meaning that pupils achieve, on average, almost a full grade higher per subject in their GCSE examinations than other pupils with the same prior attainment.

At A-level in 2022 46% of all grades were at A* or A. The average grade at the school was B.

Herschel Grammar School has an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

Herschel Grammar 11 Plus Admissions information

Herschel Grammar School plan to admit 150 students to Year 7 in 2024. To enter Herschel Grammar School for Year 7 applicants must pass the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ exam. Parents must register their child for the 11+ exam in May or early June the year before entry. The registration form is available here.

11+ results are sent to parents ahead of the school application deadline in late October. This means that only parents whose child has passed the exam should name Herschel Grammar School as one of the options on their Common Application Form. All parents must submit the CAF to their Local Authority before the deadline.

Not all applicants who pass the 11+ exam can be given a place at Herschel Grammar School. Priority is given to applicants who live in the school’s catchment area, which is a circle with a radius of four miles around the school. Within this category, places are allocated based on how far from the school applicants live. Any remaining places after this are given to applicants from outside the catchment area in order of their 11+ scores.

Applicants who pass the 11+ but are not given a place are automatically placed on a waiting list.

It is also possible to enter Herschel Grammar School for Sixth Form. Every year, there are between 40 and 60 places for external applicants. Admissions criteria vary depending on the A-level subjects the student intends to take. The application form is made available on the school website in November each year.

Herschel Grammar 11 Plus Admissions timeline

Herschel Grammar School 11+ examination

Herschel Grammar School is part of a consortium of four grammar schools in the Slough area. These schools use the same 11+ exam and apply the same criteria when selecting students. The consortium uses the CEM 11+ exam. Applicants may sit the exam at any of the schools in Slough, and cannot themselves choose which school they go to for the exam.

Test scores are standardised based on the applicant’s age, and the pass mark for the Slough 11+ exam is 111. Applicants who reach this score can apply to any of the grammar schools in Slough, but they are not guaranteed a place.

The exam itself consists of two papers, each 60-65 minutes long. The papers test verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability.

The Slough consortium has produced a guide to the 11+ exam for 2024 entry, which you can find here.

Herschel Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Sample test papers

CEM, the exam provider, has published familiarisation booklets for the maths and non-verbal reasoning parts of the exam. For the verbal reasoning component they have produced separate familiarisation booklets for comprehension questions and word choice questions.

Think Academy UK has compiled a guide to the CEM Assessment, which includes a great range of free resources and sample test papers.

Additional information

• Location: Herschel Grammar School is located near the centre of Slough, just west of Greater London. The area is well-connected, with the M25 and M4 nearby and Slough Railway Station a mile from the school. The school’s playing fields are adjacent to the school.

Frequently asked questions

Does Herschel Grammar School have a catchment area?

Yes. Applicants who live within four miles of the school and pass the 11+ exam are given priority. Applicants from outside the catchment area can also gain a place, however, if they do well in the 11+ exam.

Share your experience!

Visit our dedicated forum thread if you would like to learn more about Herschel Grammar School.

Has your child attended Herschel Grammar School, or are you in the process of applying? Share your experience on our forum!

You can also access further 11 plus exam resources below:

11 Plus Mock Exam 

A Guide to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests

11 plus Exam: Parental Guide For Grammar School Entry

11+ Maths Exam: Helping Your Child to Prepare and Pass in 2022

Meet the 11+ Online Tutors Delivering Results

When Should you Start to Prepare Your Child for the 11 Plus Exam