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Dr Challoner's High School vs The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe

Both are grammar schools in Buckinghamshire, 7.5 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.

Side by side

Dr Challoner's High School The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
Phase Secondary Secondary
Gender Girls Boys
Pupils on roll 1,391 1,451
Free school meals 2.6% 5.9%
Ofsted rating Outstanding Good
Attainment 8 — 2025/26 76.2 71.9
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 189 182
First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place 1.6 1.19

Qualifying scores

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 ↗

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe

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.

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.

The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe

  1. Looked after and previously looked after children
  2. Up to 6 places for Pupil Premium or looked-after boys in the catchment (both priority areas) scoring 115–120
  3. Qualified Pupil Premium boys living in the catchment area
  4. Siblings of day students on the roll
  5. Boys living in the catchment area since 1 September of Year 5 — Priority Area A, then B, nearest first
  6. Children of staff employed for two years or more (or in a skill-shortage post)

Source: school admissions policy.

Choosing between them

Dr Challoner's High School is a girls school and The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe is a boys school, so for many families the starting point is which one can admit their child. 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: Dr Challoner's High School · The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
Or see all secondary schools in Buckinghamshire ranked.

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