Burnham Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Burnham Grammar School.
How to get into Burnham Grammar School
Burnham Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Buckinghamshire. To get into Burnham Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Burnham Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2014 and 31st August 2015 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2026 (see key dates). The school offers 180 places annually [1].
Children must achieve a minimum score of 121 in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) to be eligible for admission. All admissions for Year 7 to Year 9 are administered by Buckinghamshire Council [1].
- Children attending Buckinghamshire primary schools are automatically registered for the test
- Families with children at schools outside Buckinghamshire must register them separately for testing
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school receive places before admission criteria apply
- Contact details available in the school information section
Application Process
Registration for the 2025 exam opens on Friday 2nd May 2025 and closes on Friday 13th June 2025 (see key dates) for families with children attending schools outside Buckinghamshire.
Families must name Burnham Grammar School on the Common Application Form (CAF) available from early September, with submissions required by 31st October 2025 (see key dates). School places for September 2026 will be confirmed in March 2026 (see key dates).
- Families living in Buckinghamshire complete the form on the Buckinghamshire Council website
- Families living in other local authorities must apply through their relevant council website
- Test results are communicated by email after 4pm on 10th October 2025 (see key dates)
- Passing the exam does not guarantee a place as many grammar schools are oversubscribed
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) takes place on 9th September 2025 (practice test) and 11th September 2025 (main test) (see key dates). The test consists of two one-hour papers.
Each test paper lasts approximately 45 minutes with all questions being multiple-choice. The test is weighted as 50% verbal skills, 25% mathematical skills, and 25% non-verbal skills.
- Paper 1 tests Comprehension, technical English and Verbal Reasoning
- Paper 2 tests Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning and Mathematics
- Scores are age-standardised to ensure fairness regardless of the child's birthday
- Approximately 37% of children are expected to achieve the qualifying score of 121 or above
Oversubscription Criteria
When more than 180 children achieve the qualifying score, the school applies oversubscription criteria to prioritise places [1]. In 2023, the school received approximately 6 applications per place with 984 applications for 178 offers.
Children are prioritised in the following order:
- Looked after and previously looked after children
- Up to 6 places for Pupil Premium eligible children in the catchment area with scores of 115-120
- Children living in the catchment area who qualify for Pupil Premium
- Other children living within the catchment area
- Siblings of children currently at Burnham Grammar School
- Children with exceptional social or medical needs that can only be met by the school
Catchment Area
Burnham Grammar School operates a catchment area including Burnham, Taplow, Egypt, Hedgerley, Fulmer and Middle Green[1]. The school is noted as the most oversubscribed in Buckinghamshire and Slough, with catchment extending to Stoke Poges and Farnham Common.
In September 2024, all applicants were offered places under various criteria, with some distance allocations extending to 2.061 miles. In 2023, the school received 226 applications from Buckinghamshire residents (61 offers) and 758 from other local authorities (117 offers).
Preparation Guidance
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) is designed to be difficult, requiring structured preparation. Families should begin preparation well in advance of the September 2025 test dates (see key dates).
Building a strong knowledge base before the test is essential, using a 'little and often' approach for effective learning. Students scoring consistently 75%+ in practice tests are typically on track to pass the actual exam.
- Access free preparation resources at practice papers section
- Consider professional support through qualified tutoring services
- Buckinghamshire primary school children receive sample practice papers during Year 5 summer break
- Practice tests occur two days before the main exam to familiarise children with exam conditions
Practical Advice
Formal test invitations with venue details are emailed to families by 8th August 2025 (see key dates). Families cannot choose test times, dates or venues as these are allocated automatically.
Children at Buckinghamshire primary schools take tests in their own schools, while others attend grammar schools or central venues. Families may request a Selection Review if circumstances affected their child's test performance.
- Check email spam folders if test invitations are not received by 8th August (see key dates)
- Unsuccessful applicants are placed on waiting lists until 31st December 2025
- Consider backup schools within Buckinghamshire's grammar school consortium
- Attend school open events in September and October for facility tours and staff meetings
- Direct specific enquiries to the school information section
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Information
In order to get into Burnham Grammar 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 an assessment used for admission into Burnham Grammar School. This exam, provided by GL Assessment, evaluates students' abilities across a range of subjects through two separate one-hour papers.
The first paper focuses on verbal skills, assessing the student's proficiency in English comprehension, technical English, and verbal reasoning. The second paper concentrates on mathematical and non-verbal skills, testing the student's knowledge of Key Stage 2 maths, as well as their aptitude in non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning.
By examining a diverse set of skills and subjects, the Secondary Transfer Test aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a student's academic potential, which is then used to determine their suitability for admission into Burnham Grammar School.
Other Schools using Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)
As well as Burnham Grammar School, several other schools also use Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). These are:
- Aylesbury Grammar School
- Aylesbury High School
- Beaconsfield High 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
- Wycombe High School
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Burnham Grammar 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 Burnham Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Burnham Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Burnham Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 02/05/2025 | Registration Opens For The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 13/06/2025 | Registration Closes For The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | |
| 09/09/2025 | Buckinghamshire Practice Test | |
| 11/09/2025 | Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | |
| Early October | Parents Receive Results From The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | |
| Late October | Secondary School Common Application Deadline | |
| 02/03/2026 | National School Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Burnham Grammar School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Burnham Grammar School
As the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Burnham Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Burnham Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Burnham Grammar School
Unfortunately, Burnham Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School
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 Burnham Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) to get into Burnham Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Burnham Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT).
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Burnham Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Burnham Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Burnham Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Burnham Grammar School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Burnham Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Burnham Grammar School, Hogfair Lane, Burnham, Slough, Buckinghamshire SL1 7HG |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.burnhamgrammar.org.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01628604812 |
| Email Address | info@burnhamgrammar.org.uk |
| Gender | Mixed (both girls and boys) |
| Total Year 7 Places | 180 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1264 (564 Girls / 700 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Dr Andrew Gillespie |
Burnham Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) 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 1,264 pupils attend Burnham Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Dr Andrew Gillespie.
Burnham Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Burnham Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 22/11/2012 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 13/12/2012, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 22/11/2012 | 1 | 13/12/2012 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Burnham Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Burnham Grammar 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)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Biology | 147 | - | - | - | - | 9 | 14 | 39 | 31 | 33 | 21 |
| Business Studies:Single | 77 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 7 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| Chemistry | 147 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 15 | 24 | 37 | 34 | 34 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 62 | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 8 |
| Design & Technology | 20 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| English Language | 180 | - | - | - | 2 | 11 | 40 | 50 | 33 | 27 | 17 |
| English Literature | 180 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 55 | 48 | 32 | 12 |
| French | 35 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| Geography | 113 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 15 | 29 | 33 | 23 | 8 |
| German | 18 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| History | 63 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 13 |
| Mathematics | 181 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 15 | 28 | 47 | 59 | 28 |
| Physics | 147 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 19 | 35 | 30 | 33 | 27 |
| Religious Studies | 180 | - | - | - | 4 | 9 | 23 | 54 | 49 | 30 | 11 |
| Sociology | 56 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 3 |
| Spanish | 58 | 3 | - | 2 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | - |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 42 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
| Science: Double Award | 33 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Biology | 62 | - | 5 | 8 | 9 | 20 | 12 | 7 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 21 | - | - | - | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Chemistry | 56 | - | 3 | 11 | 9 | 19 | 9 | 3 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 27 | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 1 | |||
| Economics | 36 | - | 1 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 3 | |||
| English Literature | 12 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 3 | 2 | |||
| Geography | 38 | - | 2 | 3 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Government and Politics | 19 | - | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 1 | |||
| History | 11 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | - | |||
| Mathematics | 114 | - | 7 | 10 | 23 | 30 | 27 | 13 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 23 | - | - | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | |||
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 11 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 6 | - | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 9 | - | - | 1 | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Physics | 35 | - | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 5 | |||
| Psychology | 43 | - | - | 8 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 2 | |||
| Religious Studies | 8 | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | - | |||
| Sociology | 18 | - | - | 1 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | |||
FAQ
Is Burnham Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Burnham Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Burnham Grammar School a private school?
No, Burnham Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Burnham Grammar School free?
Yes, Burnham Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Burnham Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Burnham Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Burnham Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
