Grammar schools in Cambridge
There are no grammar schools in Cambridge.
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, and Cambridgeshire is not one of them, so every state secondary in Cambridge admits without a selective test.
The nearest is Chelmsford County High School for Girls, about 34.9 miles away in Essex. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.
Nearest grammar schools to Cambridge
Straight-line distance from the centre of Cambridge — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford County High School for Girls | Chelmsford | 34.9 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford | Chelmsford | 35.0 miles | Mixed | — |
| Colchester County High School for Girls | Colchester | 38.6 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School | Colchester | 38.9 miles | Boys | — |
| Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet | Barnet | 40.5 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| The Latymer School | London | 40.8 miles | Mixed | — |
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.
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)
Colchester Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Up to 12 places for boys scoring over 320 who are looked after / previously looked after (first) or on the Pupil Premium Grant — in score order (published source)
- All remaining places in score order, wherever the boy lives (published source)
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)
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)
Schools in Cambridge
Cambridge has 120 open schools. Browse all Cambridge schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT