Grammar schools in Cambridgeshire
There are no grammar schools in Cambridgeshire.
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 — Cambridgeshire is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Spalding High School, about 33.9 miles away in Lincolnshire. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.
Nearest grammar schools to Cambridgeshire
Straight-line distance from the centre of Cambridgeshire — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spalding High School | Spalding | 33.9 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Spalding Grammar School | Spalding | 34.0 miles | Boys | Good |
| Bourne Grammar School | Bourne | 36.1 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Chelmsford County High School for Girls | Chelmsford | 42.8 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford | Chelmsford | 43.0 miles | Mixed | — |
| Colchester County High School for Girls | Colchester | 45.6 miles | Girls | 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.
Spalding High School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Girls with a brother or sister at the school (published source)
- Nearest first (straight line) (published source)
Spalding Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Qualified boys living in Spalding or the feeder parishes of South Lincolnshire — if more than 150, the qualifying score is raised (published source)
- Qualified boys from outside, highest score first, until 150 (published source)
Bourne Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Children with a sibling on roll at the time of application (published source)
- Children of staff (published source)
Chelmsford County High School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children scoring up to 5 marks below the eligible score, wherever they live (published source)
- Up to 30 places for girls on the Pupil or Service Premium scoring up to 5 marks below the eligible score and living within the 12.5-mile priority area since 31 October of Year 6 (published source)
- The rest of 144 places in score order for girls with an eligible score living within the 12.5-mile priority area since 31 October of Year 6 (published source)
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford — 2026 entry
- Up to 8 places for boys on the Pupil Premium or looked after / previously looked after, living in the 12.5-mile priority area since 10 October of Year 6, with a standardised score of at least 330 — top scores first (published source)
- Further places in score order until 120 have gone to boys living in the 12.5-mile priority area since 10 October of Year 6 (published source)
- Of the remaining places, up to 2 for boys on the Pupil Premium or looked after with a score of at least 350, wherever they live (published source)
Colchester County High School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children scoring 320 or more (published source)
- Up to 20 places for the highest-scoring girls eligible for the Pupil Premium (free school meals now or in the last six years) scoring 320 or more (published source)
- Up to 10 places for the highest-scoring girls eligible for the Service Pupil Premium scoring 320 or more and living in the 25-mile priority area (published source)
Schools in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire has 292 open schools. Browse all Cambridgeshire schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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