QE Boys vs St Olave’s: Which Top Grammar is Right for Your Child?

Choosing between Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (QE Boys) and St Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington is no easy task. Both are among the UK’s most competitive and academically successful boys’ grammars, regularly topping national league tables and sending impressive numbers of students to Oxbridge and other leading universities.

But beyond the headline results, these schools have very different characters, admissions processes and day-to-day experiences. One uses a single-round GL Assessment exam, the other has a two-stage process with its own unique style. Both offer challenge — but the right fit for your son may come down to subtler factors like school culture, travel time and the kind of pressure they’ll thrive under.

In this guide, we’ll introduce both schools, provide a quick side-by-side comparison, then answer parents’ most pressing questions. By the end, you’ll have a much clearer sense of which could be the best match for your child.

QE Boys vs St Olave’s: Introducing the Two Schools

Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet and St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington are two of the most sought-after boys’ grammars in the UK. Both are state-funded, academically elite, and have long histories of producing exceptional students. Yet they offer quite different day-to-day experiences, shaped by their locations, culture and approach to school life.

Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE Boys)

Set in the leafy north London suburb of Barnet, QE Boys occupies an impressive, traditional red-brick building surrounded by well-kept playing fields and sports facilities. The school has a reputation for formality and discipline, with a strong academic ethos running through every aspect of school life. 

Its culture is unapologetically high-achieving. Boys are expected to work hard, stay organised and aim high, with support from a teaching staff who are subject specialists and leaders in their fields. While the environment is intense, it’s also close-knit, with boys forming strong friendships through shared academic and extracurricular commitments.

St Olave’s Grammar School

Located in Orpington, Kent, St Olave’s blends historic prestige with a modern, purpose-built campus. The main buildings are set within attractive grounds, with dedicated science laboratories, music facilities and extensive sports pitches. 

The school’s ethos is one of academic excellence balanced with opportunities for individual talent to shine — whether through extras like the Duke of Edinburgh award or World Challenge, the Choristership Scheme, or a broad range of clubs and competitions. 

St Olave’s is known for being welcoming but highly competitive, with students drawn from across London and beyond. The atmosphere is ambitious, diverse and dynamic, with a strong sense of pride in the school’s traditions.

Quick Comparison Table: QE Boys vs St Olave’s

Feature Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE Boys) St Olave’s Grammar School
Location Queen’s Road, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 4DQ Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SH
Single Sex or Co-Ed Boys only Boys only (Mixed in Sixth Form)
School Size ~1,300 pupils ~1,085 pupils
Sixth Form Size ~290 students; boys only

No additional sixth form entry. Often a Grade 7 or above is required to progress from GCSE.

 ~Not published, but likely around 350 students; mixed; selective external entry (Requires GCSE Grade 7 or above in chosen subjects)
Selective Status Fully selective grammar school Fully selective grammar school
Catchment Area No fixed catchment; places awarded strictly by performance No fixed catchment; places awarded strictly by performance
Competition Extremely high (over 3,500 applicants for ~180 places) Very high (1,500+ applicants for ~124 places)
Entry Requirements 11+ entrance exam (GL Assessment) with top scores only Two-stage 11+ exam; also Choristership route (4 places available)
Exam Format GL Assessment (Single-Round English and Maths papers, Multiple Choice) Stage 1: English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning (Multiple-Choice); Stage 2: English & Maths papers (including Creative Writing)
Reputation Traditional, disciplined, academically elite Academic, historic, strong music & sport
Ranking Regularly ranked among the top five grammars in the UK across multiple League Tables Consistently top 5 grammar in UK
Ofsted Rating Outstanding in all areas Outstanding in all areas
Oxbridge Success High (35–45 offers most years)

 

In 2024, a staggering 13 students attended Oxford with 40 going on to Cambridge.

 Very high (often 20-25 offers per year)
Pupil Transport Well connected to Northern Line and local bus routes, as well as 10 dedicated school coach services Good road, bus and rail links from South East London & Kent (Orpington Station); school coach network
Fees Free (state-funded) Free (state-funded)
Religious Affiliation None Church of England

 

Parent FAQs: Your Questions Answered

Once you start weighing QE Boys against St Olave’s, the questions begin to pile up. How do the exams compare? What’s the culture like? How intense is the Oxbridge push? And would my son be happier in a more traditional, regimented environment or one with slightly broader entry routes?

Well, let’s find out.

Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE Boys)

Is QE Boys a good school?

Academically, QE Boys is in a league of its own. 

It’s consistently ranked among the very top grammar schools in the UK, not just for raw exam results but also for its university destinations — including an unusually high number of Oxbridge offers each year. The most recent Ofsted report rated it Outstanding across the board, highlighting the school’s “culture of ambition” and the sense of purpose among its pupils.

QE has a very strong academic ethos. Lessons move quickly, homework is set daily, and the pace is relentless compared to most schools. Most parents see this as a huge advantage — their sons are constantly stretched and rarely bored — but it’s worth being honest about the intensity. 

Another key part of its reputation is the student body. The school attracts highly motivated, academically capable boys from across London and beyond, creating a peer group where hard work is normal and high achievement is celebrated. For many parents, this positive, proactive culture is just as important as the grades.

Where are QE Boys ranked?

QE Boys has one of the most consistent track records of any grammar school when it comes to rankings. Whether you look at GCSE results, A Level performance, or Oxbridge entry rates, it’s almost always in the top handful of state schools nationally.

In The Sunday Times Parent Power 2025 rankings, QE was named the UK’s top state school for A Level results (joint with Henrietta Barnett) and the second overall state-funded school for combined performance. Year after year, its position barely slips, making it a reliable choice for families whose priority is academic excellence.

The numbers speak for themselves:

  • In 2024, 13 students went to Oxford and 40 to Cambridge — a staggering figure for any school, let alone a state grammar.
  • A significant proportion of the rest progress to Russell Group universities or top global institutions.

Does QE Boys have a catchment area?

No, QE Boys doesn’t have a catchment area. All places are allocated purely on performance in the entrance exam, with no geographical priority and no sibling policy.

This open admissions policy means the Year 7 cohort is drawn from a wide area. Some boys live close enough to walk or take a short bus ride, while others travel for over an hour each way, often from neighbouring boroughs or even other counties.

The upside is that distance won’t hold your son back if he’s academically suited to the school. The downside is that long commutes can limit after-school activities, increase tiredness, and make logistics trickier for families. So it’s worth carefully weighing-up whether journey times will impact your child’s energy levels, social life and homework routine.

How many marks is the QE exam?

QE does not publish a fixed “pass mark” because its admissions process is based on rank order of scores rather than meeting a set threshold. 

That said, the competition is fierce. With over 3,500 applicants each year for around 180 places, your son needs to finish in the top 4–5% of all candidates to secure a place.

The entrance exam consists of GL Assessment papers in English and Maths (usually around 50-65 questions in each subject), taken in a single round, with all questions in multiple-choice format. Each exam lasts roughly 50 minutes. 

The exact format may change from year to year, meaning there’s no “set” amount of marks on offer.

What is the lowest score on the QE Boys exam?

The exact cut-off score for QE Boys changes every year depending on how the cohort performs. That said, in recent years, boys have usually needed a combined standardised score of 220–230 to gain a place.

But in years where the overall standard is exceptionally high, even boys with very strong raw scores may miss out. Because places are allocated strictly in rank order, there is no flexibility for “borderline” cases — a boy ranked 181st will not be offered a place unless another family turns it down. 

The takeaway for parents is every single mark counts, and preparation should focus not just on covering the syllabus, but on minimising avoidable mistakes in exam conditions.

Want to learn how QE Boys stacks up against other top schools? Explore our in-depth comparisons with Latymer, Watford Grammar, Tiffin Boys, Dame Alice Owen’s and Habs Boys.

St Olave’s Grammar School

Is St Olave’s a fee-paying school?

No. St Olave’s is a state grammar school, which means there are no tuition fees. Parents only pay for extras such as uniform, trips and optional activities. For a school that costs nothing to attend, its academic outcomes and university destinations rival the very best independents.

The 2024 leaver data is the kind of thing that makes parents’ jaws drop:

  • 203 students went on to UK universities, plus two to US institutions.
  • 24 students secured Oxbridge offers (14 to Cambridge, 10 to Oxford).
  • 43 went on to study Medicine, Veterinary Science, or Dentistry.
  • A handful opted for gap years to travel, gain work experience, or volunteer.

It’s this combination — a free education with world-class outcomes — that makes St Olave’s one of the most sought-after boys’ grammars in the country.

What rank is St Olave’s Grammar School?

St Olave’s regularly features in the UK’s top 10 grammar schools and often sits just behind QE Boys in national league tables. The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2025 ranked it 4th nationally among all secondary schools for academic performance.

Recent exam results also underline its academic strength:

  • A Level: 93.4% A*–B, with 37% A*, 74% A*/A, and 49 pupils securing three or more A*s. That puts St Olave’s 3rd among all Boys’ Academic State Schools.
  • GCSE: 95.3% grades 9–7, with 57% at grade 9, 84% at grades 9/8, and 12 pupils achieving all grade 9s. That’s 2nd in the Boys’ Academic State Schools ranking.

In short: if you’re looking for national-level performance, St Olave’s is firmly in the top bracket.

How do I get into St Olave’s Grammar School?

For most boys, entry at Year 7 means preparing for both stages of the school’s highly competitive academic selection process. There are no shortcuts — it’s designed to test a wide range of skills, from reasoning and problem-solving to extended writing.

The main routes in are:

  • Year 7 entrance (124 places, plus up to 4 extra via the Wakeham Choristership Scheme).
  • Year 12 entry for sixth form, based on GCSE grades.
  • Alternative routes: up to 10 Year 7 places reserved for boys on Pupil Premium.

The Choristership route is particularly worth noting if your son has exceptional musical ability — but successful applicants must meet both academic and voice test standards.

Does St Olave’s have a catchment?

No, just like QE Boys, St Olaves doesn’t have a catchment. And that’s a key difference from most other grammars in the country. There’s no geographical catchment, no sibling policy, and no feeder school links. Every place is awarded purely on performance in the entrance tests.

The result is a Year 7 cohort drawn from around 90 different primary schools, with pupils commuting in from across Kent, London and further afield.

Is St Olave’s GL or CEM?

Neither. Instead of working with providers such as GL or CEM, St Olave’s uses its own bespoke papers, with a two-stage testing process:

Stage 1 – Selective Eligibility Test (SET)

Stage 2 – English and Mathematics

English

  • Section One: multiple-choice questions on a fiction or non-fiction passage, plus basic grammar.
  • Section Two: two parts — (a) written responses analysing and justifying inferences from a text (often including poetry), and (b) extended creative writing, assessing structure, figurative language, vocabulary and SPaG.

Mathematics

  • A 60-minute paper of increasing difficulty.
  • Based on the National Curriculum up to Level 4, but with problems that require deeper application and unfamiliar contexts.
  • Topics include number, algebra, shape, space, measure, and data handling.

The school publishes sample questions for both stages, but not past papers. Successful candidates often prepare using a mix of independent school papers, advanced GL papers, and materials for other top grammars like QE Boys.

How hard is it to get into St Olave’s Grammar School?

Entry to St Olave’s is extremely competitive. Around 1,500 boys apply each year for just 124–128 places. The two-stage format means many boys don’t progress beyond Stage 1, and even among those who do, the competition is fierce.

To give a rough idea: only the top 450 move from Stage 1 to Stage 2, and of those, fewer than a third will ultimately receive an offer.

The demands of the exams — especially the extended writing and problem-solving elements — mean preparation needs to be carefully planned. Many families start in Year 4 or early Year 5, building strong core skills before moving into timed paper practice.

So… Which School is Better?

We’ll be honest, there’s no universal answer here. Both QE Boys and St Olave’s are exceptional schools with outstanding results. The “better” choice depends on your son’s personality, priorities and the type of environment in which he’ll thrive.

QE Boys might suit…

  • Boys who excel in a fast-paced, high-pressure academic environment.
  • Families looking for a single-round entrance process focused purely on English and Maths.
  • Students with a clear focus on top-tier university destinations, particularly Oxbridge, medicine, law, and engineering.
  • Families happy to travel, as QE admits from anywhere with no catchment area.

St Olave’s might suit…

  • Boys who want an equally strong academic environment but with broader entry routes, including music and sport aptitude places.
  • Students who would relish the challenge of a two-stage selection process that tests both reasoning skills and extended written work.
  • Families who value a long-established sense of tradition alongside modern facilities.
  • Boys with a genuine interest in music, given the unique Choristership scheme.

Ultimately, you’re looking at two of the most competitive and high-achieving grammar schools in the UK. The decision will come down to where your son will feel most motivated, confident and supported — both academically and personally.

For more parent-friendly breakdowns, catchment tips and school rankings across North London and Hertfordshire, don’t miss our guides to: 

Ready to Give Your Child the Best Chance of Entry?

Achieve Learning offers specialist 11+ tuition, mock exams and academic consultancy for QE Boys, St Olave’s, and other top selective schools. 

Our expert tutors know exactly what each school is looking for, and how to help your child get there.

So get in touch today, and let’s help your child thrive.

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