Herschel Grammar School vs Upton Court Grammar School
Both are grammar schools in Slough, 1.8 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Herschel Grammar School | Upton Court Grammar School | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Pupils on roll | 1,056 | 1,166 |
| Free school meals | 6.4% | 8.1% |
| Ofsted rating | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Attainment 8 — 2024/25 | 75.8 | 79.9 |
| A-level average points — 2024/25 | 41.68 | 43.15 |
| 11+ test board | GL Assessment | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | pass/fail then criteria order | pass/fail then criteria order |
| Places offered — 202627 | 149 | 165 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 0.8 | 1.18 |
Qualifying scores
Herschel Grammar School
111 (2026 entry)
Standardised score ≥ 111 qualifies for any school in the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.
Upton Court Grammar School
111 (2026 entry)
Standardised score ≥ 111 qualifies for any school in the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Herschel Grammar School
- Looked After Children (accommodated or taken into care under Children Act 1989 s.20/31/38)
- Home address within 4 miles of the school (straight line), ranked by distance (closest first)
- Up to 10 places: Pupil Premium, home address within 10 miles of the school, ranked by distance
- Children of permanent staff employed ≥2 years
Source: school admissions policy.
Upton Court Grammar School
- Looked after child or previously looked after child
- Up to 20 places: currently or within the last 6 years eligible for Free School Meals (Pupil Premium), ranked by 11+ scor
- Children of Pioneer Educational Trust staff employed ≥2 years (0.5 FTE+) or skills-shortage recruit
- Children attending Foxborough Primary School or Trevelyan Middle School (designated feeder schools)
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Both schools admit mixed, 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.
Other Slough comparisons
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT