Grammar schools in Bedford
There are no grammar schools in Bedford.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any — Bedford is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Royal Latin School, about 23.9 miles away in Buckinghamshire.
Could a child from Bedford get a place?
Passing the test is not enough. These schools give places first to children in their priority groups, such as looked-after children, siblings and children in the school's own catchment area. Any places left go to other children who passed, nearest home first. A child from Bedford without one of those priorities competes for those last places, so what matters is how far they reached.
| School | Intake | Last place by distance, 2026 | Earlier years | Bedford postcodes within that distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Latin School | Mixed | 7.0 miles | — | none |
| Aylesbury Grammar School | Boys | 9.8 miles | 2025: 11.1 mi; 2024: 13.2 mi | none |
| Aylesbury High School | Girls | 12.7 miles | 2025: 13.5 mi; 2024: 15.1 mi | none |
| Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School | Mixed | 13.8 miles | 2025: 14.2 mi; 2024: 13.2 mi | none |
| Chesham Grammar School | Mixed | 3.7 miles | 2025: 3.5 mi; 2024: 9.7 mi | none |
| Dr Challoner's Grammar School | Boys | 10.0 miles | — | none |
The furthest straight-line distance from home at which each school offered a place by distance on National Offer Day, from the council's allocation figures. The distance changes every year, and later rounds can stretch it slightly. The postcode share uses ONS postcode centres, so it counts postcodes, not households.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: deadline to apply for a secondary place, through Bedford Council even for schools in another council
Each council's test has its own registration window, months before the test itself. Children who don't attend a school in that council usually have to be registered by their parents.
Nearest grammar schools to Bedford
Straight-line distance from the centre of Bedford — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Latin School | Buckingham | 23.9 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Aylesbury Grammar School | Aylesbury | 26.7 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Aylesbury High School | Aylesbury | 26.8 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School | Aylesbury | 27.2 miles | Mixed | Outstanding |
| Chesham Grammar School | Chesham | 30.6 miles | Mixed | Not judged |
| Dr Challoner's Grammar School | Amersham | 32.9 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Royal Latin School — 2027 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children (published source)
- Children living in the school's catchment area who qualify for the Pupil Premium Grant (published source)
- Up to 12 places for children scoring 115–120 in the Secondary Transfer Test who are looked after or previously looked after (living anywhere), or live in the catchment area and are eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant (published source)
Aylesbury High School — 2026 entry
- Looked after, previously looked after and internationally adopted children living in the catchment area (published source)
- Girls on the Pupil Premium living in the catchment area (published source)
- Up to 6 places for Pupil Premium or looked-after girls in the catchment area scoring 115–120 (published source)
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children (published source)
- Children in the catchment area since 1 September of Year 5 eligible for the Pupil Premium (published source)
- Siblings of students on the roll (published source)
Chesham Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children (published source)
- Up to 6 places for Pupil Premium children in the catchment area scoring 110–120 (looked-after children first) (published source)
- Children in the catchment area who qualify for the Pupil Premium (published source)
Dr Challoner's Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after boys (published source)
- Boys in the catchment area receiving the Pupil Premium (published source)
- Siblings of students in Years 7–12 living in the catchment area (published source)
Schools in Bedford
Bedford has 83 open schools. Browse all Bedford schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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