Best Grammar Schools in London: Complete 2026 Guide

What Is a Grammar School and How Do They Work in London?

Grammar schools are state-funded secondary schools that select pupils on the basis of academic ability, typically assessed through the 11+ examination at the end of Year 6. In most of England, grammar schools were abolished in the 1960s and 1970s, but London retains a small number that continue to be among the most sought-after schools in the country.

Unlike comprehensive schools, which accept pupils of all abilities from their local area, London's grammar schools draw from wider catchments — in some cases the whole borough or beyond — and admission is determined entirely by 11+ performance and, in oversubscribed cases, distance from the school.

Which Boroughs Have Grammar Schools?

Grammar schools in Greater London are concentrated in a handful of boroughs. The key areas are:

• Barnet: Home to Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys, The Henrietta Barnett School and St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.
• Kingston upon Thames: Tiffin School (boys) and Tiffin Girls' School, both nationally renowned and heavily oversubscribed.
• Sutton: Sutton Grammar School, Wilson's School, and Wallington County Grammar School form a cluster that families across south-west London target.
• Bromley: St Olave's Grammar School and Newstead Wood School draw pupils from across south-east London and beyond.
• Redbridge: Ilford County High School and Woodford County High School serve east and north-east London families.
• Bexley: Beths Grammar School, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, and Townley Grammar School are popular choices in the south-east.

The Top Grammar Schools in London by Reputation

While all of London's grammar schools perform exceptionally well at GCSE and A-level, certain schools consistently appear at the top of national league tables:

• Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet (QE): Boys' grammar. Regularly places in the top three state secondary schools in England. Entry is fiercely competitive, with hundreds of pupils applying for roughly 180 places each year.
• Tiffin School, Kingston: Boys' grammar. Outstanding A-level results with strong Oxford and Cambridge entry rates. Draws pupils from across south-west London and Surrey.
• Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston: Girls' grammar. Equally prestigious and oversubscribed. Each Tiffin school runs its own two-stage entrance test.
• Wilson's School, Sutton: Boys' grammar with an outstanding Ofsted rating and consistently impressive GCSE results. Popular with families in Sutton, Croydon, and Merton.
• St Olave's Grammar School, Bromley: Mixed sixth form, boys' grammar below. Known for outstanding academic rigour and is one of England's highest-performing state schools.

How Are Places Allocated?

Each grammar school sets its own admissions criteria, but the general process is consistent:

• Children sit the 11+ examination in Year 6, typically in September or October before their intended Year 7 entry.
• Schools set a qualifying score threshold. Children who meet or exceed this score are considered "selective" for that school.
• If a school is oversubscribed (far more qualifying children than places available), distance from the school usually acts as the tiebreaker.
• Some schools, including QE Barnet, use a "banding" system that adjusts scores to ensure pupils are drawn from different ability ranges within the selective cohort.

How to Prepare for Grammar School Entry

Preparation for London grammar schools typically begins 12 to 18 months before the exam — placing it firmly in Year 5 for most pupils. Key elements of effective preparation include:

• Verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning: Many London 11+ papers include VR and NVR sections that are not covered in the primary school curriculum. Dedicated practice is essential.
• English comprehension and writing: Grammar schools expect high levels of literacy. Reading widely and practising structured comprehension answers is vital.
• Mathematics: Pupils should be confident with Year 6 content and ideally exposed to Year 7 topics such as algebra foundations, fractions, and problem solving.
• Past papers and timed practice: Familiarity with the question formats and working under timed conditions makes a significant difference to performance on the day.

Many families in London work with specialist 11+ tutors who know the specific format used by their target school — whether that's GL Assessment, CEM, or a bespoke school-produced paper. A good tutor doesn't just drill content; they build a child's confidence and teach effective exam strategy.

Is Tutoring Worth It for Grammar School Entry?

The honest answer is: for most pupils, yes. Not because tutoring teaches children things they could never learn on their own, but because the 11+ rewards familiarity, speed, and confidence — qualities that come from deliberate practice. A child who has worked through dozens of past papers in exam conditions will be less likely to panic, better able to manage their time, and more consistent in the types of questions they find difficult.

The best 11+ tutors in London combine subject expertise with genuine knowledge of the admissions landscape — they know which schools are realistically achievable for a given child, how to interpret mock scores, and when to encourage a family to broaden their school list.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can my child sit the 11+ for multiple grammar schools? Yes. Most families target two to four schools. Each school's test date is different, so timetabling is manageable.
• Do grammar schools offer appeal routes if we miss the threshold? Schools have limited appeal grounds; a score below the qualifying threshold is rarely overturned on appeal unless there were exceptional circumstances (illness on the day, for example).
• Are there grammar schools that also admit at 13+? A small number of London grammar schools admit at 13+, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Most entry is at Year 7.