Royal Latin School, Buckingham

In its own words: "Latin Learning is the basis of the school’s teaching and learning philosophy. We take seriously our obligations to ensure that students are given both the academic and personal skills needed to lead a happy life beyond school."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pride that I welcome you to The Royal Latin School - a school which has been a cornerstone of the Buckinghamshire community for over six centuries. Established in 1423, The Royal Latin School is a coeducational state grammar school with over 1,300 students."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, drama, chess, photography, debating and Duke of Edinburgh.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 and an open evening on Thursday 1 July 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Royal Latin School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 75, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 55 in Buckinghamshire and 47 across England.

97% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 61% in Buckinghamshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 73.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.59: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

Royal Latin School is a grammar school: places go to children who reach the required standard in its entrance test, and only then are the oversubscription criteria applied.

For September 2026 entry, 304 families put Royal Latin School as their first choice and 529 named it as one of their preferences, for 179 places offered. That is 1.7 first choices for every place. 136 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Royal Latin School admits pupils through an entrance test - in Buckinghamshire, the Secondary Transfer Test. Children have to be registered for it in advance, normally in the spring or summer of Year 5; the test itself is usually sat in September of Year 6, and results come out in October, before the 31 October deadline for naming secondary schools.

Passing the test makes a child eligible rather than guaranteeing a place: when more children pass than there are places, Royal Latin School ranks them by the criteria in its admissions policy, which can include test score and distance. Check Buckinghamshire's admissions pages and the school's own policy for this year's registration deadline - a child who is not registered in time cannot sit the test.

Buckinghamshire has 13 state grammar schools in all, so a child who passes may have several selective schools to choose between.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Royal Latin School are Buckingham School (0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36.3); Sir Thomas Fremantle School (5.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); and Elizabeth Woodville School (5.9 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 45.2).

Royal Latin School's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Royal Latin School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

Of the 170 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 97% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 6% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 225 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 75% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 11% into work. 52% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

4.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 23 pupils (1.7%) received SEN support and 10 (0.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Royal Latin School.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Royal Latin School (outside), 190 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 89 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Buckinghamshire (44), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Royal Latin School issued 10 suspensions, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Royal Latin School are George Grenville Academy (0.1 miles), Bourton Meadow Academy (0.7 miles), Lace Hill Academy (0.8 miles) and Buckingham Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.