Grammar Schools in England
There are 164 open grammar schools on School Signal - 163 secondary, 1 other. 99.4% of those in England were rated Outstanding or Good at their last graded inspection, against 92.5% of all schools.
Browse state-funded selective grammar schools across England by area. Compare 11-plus admissions, Ofsted ratings and GCSE results.
Ofsted grades: grammar schools and all schools
49.7% Outstanding against 14.4% across England.
- Outstanding80 (50%)
- Good80 (50%)
- Requires improvement1 (1%)
- Outstanding2,939 (14%)
- Good15,991 (78%)
- Requires improvement1,432 (7%)
- Inadequate98 (0%)
- Outstanding
- 49.7%14.4%
- Outstanding or Good
- 99.4%92.5%
- Requires improvement or Inadequate
- 0.6%7.5%
Source: Ofsted, latest graded inspection per school (England)
Where the most grammar schools are
Click an area to see every school there, with grades and results.
About grammar schools in England
State grammar schools are selective secondary schools funded by the government, offering free places allocated by academic ability rather than catchment alone. Entry is decided by the 11-plus test, taken in Year 6 - usually in September or October - which means 11-plus registration typically opens in the summer term before your child sits the exam. Because selective schools draw from a wider area than most comprehensives, families often commute across borough or county boundaries, and competition for places is strong. Understanding each school's admissions criteria, how many applicants sit per place, and whether it belongs to a shared consortium or sets its own 11-plus is the first step to building a realistic shortlist.
When comparing the best grammar schools in England, headline results only tell part of the story. Progress 8 scores show how much pupils improve between primary and their GCSEs - a fairer measure than raw attainment, and one that matters if your child is on the borderline for the selective criteria. Ofsted judgements cover teaching quality, behaviour and sixth-form provision, while grammar school catchment area data helps you gauge how far successful pupils actually travel. Outstanding grammar schools in England are concentrated in a handful of counties, so browsing by area is the quickest way to see which selective schools are realistic for your family.
Browse grammar schools by area
Questions parents ask about grammar schools
How do grammar schools compare on Ofsted grades?
Of the 161 grammar schools in England with a graded Ofsted inspection, 49.7% were last graded Outstanding and 99.4% Outstanding or Good, against 14.4% and 92.5% for all graded schools in England. Grades date from different years, and Ofsted stopped giving new single-word grades in September 2024, so read each school's latest report too.
When do I need to register for the 11-plus?
Most grammar schools require you to register your child for the 11-plus in the summer term before Year 6 - typically May to July, though exact deadlines vary by school and consortium. The test itself is usually held in September or October. Missing the registration window means missing that year's round entirely, so check each school's website early and set a calendar reminder.
How does grammar school admissions work alongside the normal secondary school process?
Grammar school admissions run alongside the standard local authority process. You register separately for the 11-plus test in summer, sit the exam in September or October, and then name the grammar school on your local authority's secondary school application by the 31 October deadline. Results and offers come on National Offer Day in March, ranked according to each school's admissions criteria - usually test score first, then distance or other tie-breakers.
Are grammar school GCSE results better than comprehensives?
Grammar schools consistently post high raw GCSE results because they select academically able pupils - so a direct comparison with comprehensives is not straightforward. Progress 8 is a more useful measure: it shows how much pupils improve relative to their starting point. Many outstanding grammar schools score well on both, but some top-performing comprehensives outperform selective schools on Progress 8. Always check both metrics together when building your shortlist.