Key Facts
| School type | State grammar (academy, Beeches Learning and Development Trust), co-educational, 11 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Burnham, Buckinghamshire |
| Entry points | 11+ (Year 7) via the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test; further places at Year 10 and Year 12 (Sixth Form) by separate application direct to the school |
| Assessment | Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (GL Assessment): two papers on verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills, sat on one day, age-standardised and combined against a qualifying score of 121 |
| Test provider | GL Assessment, via the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test administered by Buckinghamshire Council |
| Registration deadline | Testing registration for children not automatically entered (independent, out-of-county or Milton Keynes schools): 1 May to 3pm on 2 June 2026. Common Application Form naming the school, to the home local authority: 31 October 2026 (for September 2027 entry) |
| Assessment date | Practice test 8 September 2026; main Secondary Transfer Test 10 September 2026; results issued 9 October 2026 (for September 2027 entry) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Burnham Grammar School at 11+ depends on reaching the qualifying score of 121 in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, then naming the school on the common secondary transfer application to the local authority.
Children at Buckinghamshire state primary schools are entered for the test automatically, whilst those at independent, out-of-county or Milton Keynes schools must register separately with Buckinghamshire Council, which administers the test on behalf of the school.
How the 11+ entry process works
Admission into Year 7 is arranged through Buckinghamshire Council's coordinated process; there is no direct application route to Burnham Grammar School. Children sit the Secondary Transfer Test in the autumn of Year 6, receive their standardised score by letter or email, and parents then name their preferred grammar school on the common secondary transfer application form submitted to their home local authority. Buckinghamshire Council allocates places using each school's admission rules once a child has reached the qualifying score; the test score itself plays no further part once a child has qualified.
How the Secondary Transfer Test is structured
The Secondary Transfer Test, produced by GL Assessment, consists of two papers assessing verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills, sat on the same day, each paper lasting around 60 minutes including an introduction and practice examples. A shorter practice test usually takes place a few days beforehand so children know what to expect. Each child's scores in the three skill areas are age-standardised, so results are not affected by where a birthday falls in the year, and the three standardised scores are added together to give the Secondary Transfer Test Score. A score of 121 or more meets the qualifying standard.
Registering for the test
Children attending a state-funded primary school in Buckinghamshire, or a Partner school, are registered for the test automatically and need take no action unless a parent wishes to withdraw them. Families at independent schools, non-Buckinghamshire primaries or Milton Keynes schools must register separately with Buckinghamshire Council, the Test Administrator for all the county's grammar schools, during the published registration window; the school publishes exact dates on its admissions page each cycle. Whatever the route into testing, every family must also name the school on the common secondary transfer application to their home local authority by the national deadline in October.
Catchment area and oversubscription criteria
The school publishes a catchment area map on its admissions page, and children living within it are prioritised ahead of those outside it once other categories below are satisfied. Buckinghamshire Council's own catchment checker, searchable by postcode, gives families a way to confirm coverage before applying.
Where qualifying applications exceed the 180 places available in Year 7, the school allocates places in a set order of priority:
Within any category with more eligible children than places, priority goes by straight-line distance from home to the school gate, with random selection used only where two applicants live exactly the same distance away.
- Looked-after and previously looked-after children
- A small number of catchment places reserved for looked-after children anywhere, or catchment children eligible for Pupil Premium funding who scored just below the qualifying mark
- Other catchment children eligible for Pupil Premium funding
- Siblings of children on roll, then siblings of former pupils
- Children with significant medical or social needs that only this school can meet
- Qualifying children of staff
- Other children living in the catchment area
- All remaining qualifying children, in and out of catchment
Entry to Year 10 and Year 12 (Sixth Form)
Places also become available in Year 10 and Year 12; these are administered directly by the school, separately from the Buckinghamshire Council process used for Year 7. Year 10 applicants sit tests in verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability alongside a reading and writing test, with results assessed against the same style of standardised scoring used earlier in the school. Year 12 applicants must meet minimum academic entry criteria based on GCSE results: a minimum of 46 points from their best eight GCSEs, including grade 5 in English and mathematics, rising to 66 points for four A-levels. External applications go directly to the school, and a 16 to 19 Bursary is available to eligible students.
How to prepare for this school's specific assessment format
Because the Secondary Transfer Test covers verbal, non-verbal and mathematical reasoning across two papers, children tend to benefit from practising all three areas together. Familiarity with the timed, multiple-choice format helps more than last-minute cramming, since each paper runs to a strict time limit and includes practice examples at the start. Reading widely and practising mental arithmetic alongside targeted reasoning practice, spread across the months before the test, tends to leave children calmer on the day. Parents considering a Selection Review for a child who underperforms relative to their normal attainment should keep clear records of the relevant circumstances, since the panel bases its decision on written evidence without retesting the child.
Related guides
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Frequently asked questions
- What score do you need to get into Burnham Grammar School at 11+?
- Children need a Secondary Transfer Test Score of 121 or more to meet the qualifying standard. Reaching that score does not guarantee a place; where applications exceed the 180 Year 7 places, the school's oversubscription criteria, including catchment and Pupil Premium priorities, decide who is offered a place.
- Do children at Buckinghamshire primary schools need to register for the test?
- No. Children attending a state-funded primary school in Buckinghamshire, or a Partner school, are entered for the Secondary Transfer Test automatically. Parents only need to act if they want to withdraw their child from testing.
- What if my child attends a school outside Buckinghamshire?
- Families at independent schools, non-Buckinghamshire primaries or Milton Keynes schools must register their child for the test directly with Buckinghamshire Council, the Test Administrator for all the county's grammar schools, during the published registration window. Registration is not automatic in these cases.
- What happens if my child doesn't reach the qualifying score?
- Parents who believe circumstances affected their child's performance can apply for a Selection Review, considered by a panel of serving primary and secondary headteachers, who may seek advice from an educational psychologist. Children deemed qualified through this route become eligible for any Buckinghamshire grammar school.
- Can a child join in Year 10 or Year 12 instead of Year 7?
- Yes. Year 10 applicants sit tests in verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability plus a reading and writing test, administered directly by the school. Year 12 applicants must meet minimum academic entry criteria based on GCSE results, a minimum of 46 points from their best eight GCSEs including grade 5 in English and mathematics.
- Is there a catchment area for Burnham Grammar School?
- Yes. The school publishes a catchment area map on its admissions pages, and children living within it are prioritised in the oversubscription criteria ahead of those living outside it, once looked-after, Pupil Premium and sibling priorities have been applied.
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