Royal Latin School 11+ Guide

About Royal Latin School

Royal Latin School is a selective secondary school in Buckinghamshire. For children to get into Royal Latin School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Royal Latin School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

The Royal Latin School, situated in the heart of Buckingham, is a renowned co-educational grammar school that has been nurturing young minds for centuries. This prestigious institution prides itself on delivering an exceptional education to students aged 11 to 18, equipping them with the essential skills and attributes necessary to thrive in their academic and personal lives.

At the core of the Royal Latin School's philosophy is the concept of 'Latin Learning', a unique approach developed collaboratively by the school's dedicated teachers and students. This philosophy encompasses five key pillars: Leadership, Aspiration, Teamwork, Innovation, and Nurturing. These principles are deeply ingrained in every aspect of the school, from its comprehensive curriculum to its extensive extracurricular program, ensuring that students receive a well-rounded education that goes beyond mere academic excellence.

The Royal Latin School is committed to providing its students with a wealth of opportunities to explore their interests and develop their talents. From the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award to local leadership and volunteering initiatives, students are encouraged to engage in a wide range of enrichment activities. The school also offers off-timetable enrichment days, educational trips, music lessons, house competitions, and a diverse selection of extracurricular clubs and teams. By participating in these activities, students cultivate essential life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and adaptability, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The school's unwavering dedication to academic excellence is evident in the outstanding exam results its students achieve year after year. The Royal Latin School's experienced and supportive staff work tirelessly to ensure that each student receives personalized attention and guidance, enabling them to reach their full potential. With a challenging academic curriculum and a nurturing environment that fosters personal growth, the Royal Latin School continues to set the standard for exceptional education in Buckinghamshire.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Royal Latin School together with their admissions contact details.

Royal Latin 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 1,311 pupils attend Royal Latin School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr David Hudson.

Royal Latin School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Royal Latin School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Information

In order to get into Royal Latin 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 the Royal Latin School. This exam, provided by GL Assessment, evaluates a range of skills across two separate one-hour papers.

The first paper focuses on verbal abilities, assessing the candidate'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 ability to solve non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning problems.

By examining a diverse set of subjects, the Secondary Transfer Test aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a student's academic potential and suitability for the Royal Latin School's curriculum.

Other Schools using Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)

As well as Royal Latin School, several other schools also use Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). These are:

• Aylesbury Grammar School
• Aylesbury High School
• Beaconsfield High School
• Burnham Grammar School
• Chesham Grammar School
• Dr Challoner's Grammar School
• Dr Challoner's High School
• John Hampden Grammar 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 Royal Latin 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 Royal Latin School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) tests (to get into Royal Latin School) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Royal Latin School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Royal Latin School was last inspected by Ofsted on 15/11/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 26/02/2023, 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

Ofsted Report Summary

The Royal Latin School was inspected by Ofsted on 15 November 2022, and the overall outcome was Good. The school received a Good rating for its Quality of education and Leadership and management.

The school excelled in several areas, with Outstanding ratings for Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, and Sixth form provision. These ratings highlight the school's commitment to fostering a positive learning environment and supporting students' growth and well-being.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Royal Latin 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)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Royal Latin School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

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 Royal Latin School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.