Grammar schools in Hertfordshire
There are no grammar schools in Hertfordshire.
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 — Hertfordshire is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, about 9.1 miles away in Barnet. Nearest is not the same as likeliest, though: in 2026, Chesham Grammar School's places by distance reached about 1% of Hertfordshire postcodes.
Could a child from Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire 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 | Hertfordshire postcodes within that distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesham Grammar School | Mixed | 3.7 miles | 2025: 3.5 mi; 2024: 9.7 mi | about 1% |
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.
Schools that rank by test score
These schools rank children by test score, not by distance from home. Most put children living in a set area first, so from Hertfordshire the question is whether your home is inside it.
| School | Intake | How places are decided, 2027 entry | Hertfordshire postcodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Michael's Catholic Grammar School | Girls | Places go to baptised Catholic girls from practising Catholic families, in order of test score. Home address only breaks a tie. (school's policy) | No area limit |
| The Henrietta Barnett School | Girls | Girls in the top 300 of the first test who live within 3 miles of the school come first. The remaining places of the 120 go in order of test score wherever the child lives. (school's policy) | none within 3 miles |
From each school's own admission arrangements for September 2027 entry. Priority groups such as looked-after children and children on Pupil Premium come before these rules. The postcode share uses ONS postcode centres and straight-line distance, so it counts postcodes, not households; a home near the edge of an area should be checked with the school.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: deadline to apply for a secondary place, through Hertfordshire Council even for schools in another council
Each school or group of schools sets its own test, with a registration window months before the test itself, and parents register their child directly.
Nearest grammar schools to Hertfordshire
Straight-line distance from the centre of Hertfordshire — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet | Barnet | 9.1 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| St Michael's Catholic Grammar School | London | 12.2 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| The Latymer School | London | 13.4 miles | Mixed | — |
| The Henrietta Barnett School | London | 14.4 miles | Girls | Good |
| Chesham Grammar School | Chesham | 15.7 miles | Mixed | Not judged |
| Dr Challoner's High School | Amersham | 15.8 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.
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet — 2026 entry
- All boys meeting the required standard, ranked purely by combined entrance-test score — no catchment area and no LAC/Pupil Premium priority category (published source)
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Baptised + Practising Catholic girls who are Looked After/Previously Looked After, ranked in the top 200 entrance-test places (published source)
- Up to 32 places (25%): Baptised + Practising Catholic girls eligible for Pupil Premium, ranked in the top 200 (published source)
- Baptised + Practising Catholic girls, in rank score order (published source)
The Latymer School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children, ranked within the top 900 test-takers (published source)
- Up to 20 places: Free School Meals/Universal Credit children ranked within the top 900 (published source)
- Up to 20 music places: children ranked within the top 700, selected by audition after passing the academic threshold (published source)
The Henrietta Barnett School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children ranked in the top 300 Round One test results (published source)
- Pupil Premium girls ranked in the top 300 Round One test results, with current-school confirmation (published source)
- Girls living within 3 miles of the school (measured at application, straight line), who sit the Round Two test — ranked by score if oversubscribed (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 High School — 2026 entry
- Looked after, previously looked after and internationally adopted girls (published source)
- Girls on the Pupil or Service Premium living in the catchment area since 1 April of Year 5 (published source)
- Up to 12 places for Pupil Premium or looked-after girls in the catchment area scoring at least 115 (up to 6 at 110–114 if unfilled) (published source)
Schools in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire has 573 open schools. Browse all Hertfordshire schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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