SchoolsGPT

Beaconsfield High School vs Dr Challoner's High School

Both are grammar schools in Buckinghamshire, 5.4 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.

Side by side

Beaconsfield High School Dr Challoner's High School
Phase Secondary Secondary
Gender Girls Girls
Pupils on roll 1,283 1,391
Free school meals 2.3% 2.6%
Ofsted rating Outstanding Outstanding
Attainment 8 — 2025/26 74.5 76.2
11+ test board GL Assessment GL Assessment
Admission system pass/fail + catchment (passing the test is a gate; living in the catchment area determines priority over score) pass/fail + catchment (passing the test is a gate; living in the catchment area determines priority over score)
Places offered — 202627 186 189
First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place 1.35 1.6

Qualifying scores

Beaconsfield High School

121 (2026 entry)

Standardised score ≥ 121 qualifies for grammar school consideration. Qualifying does not guarantee a place; schools apply own oversubscription criteria after qualification.

Council source ↗

Dr Challoner's High School

121 (2026 entry)

Standardised score ≥ 121 qualifies for grammar school consideration. Qualifying does not guarantee a place; schools apply own oversubscription criteria after qualification.

Council source ↗

Who gets priority

Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.

Beaconsfield High School

  1. Looked after and previously looked after children
  2. Qualified girls in the catchment area on the Pupil or Service Premium
  3. Up to 10 places for Pupil or Service Premium girls in the catchment area scoring at least 115
  4. Girls in the catchment area with a sister at the school
  5. Daughters of staff employed for two years or more (or in a skill-shortage post)
  6. Girls living in the catchment area — nearest first

Source: school admissions policy.

Dr Challoner's High School

  1. Looked after, previously looked after and internationally adopted girls
  2. Girls on the Pupil or Service Premium living in the catchment area since 1 April of Year 5
  3. 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)
  4. Daughters of staff employed for two years or more (or in a skill-shortage post)
  5. Girls living in the catchment area since 1 April of Year 5
  6. Sisters of girls on the roll

Source: school admissions policy.

Choosing between them

Both schools admit girls, so the decision usually comes down to the admission criteria above and how far each one reaches. The figures on this page are the published ones — they describe intakes and results, not what either school would be like for your child. The right choice depends on your family's own priorities and circumstances.

Full detail for each school: Beaconsfield High School · Dr Challoner's High School
Or see all secondary schools in Buckinghamshire ranked.

Other Buckinghamshire comparisons

All grammar school comparisons →

Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?

Ask SchoolsGPT