If you’ve been researching grammar schools in England, two names will almost certainly have come up again and again: Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (QE Boys) and Wilson’s School, Sutton. These two schools consistently top national league tables, often trading places in the rankings from year to year, widely regarded as the best boys’ grammar schools in the country.
For parents, the choice between them is both exciting and daunting. Competition is fierce, entry standards are sky-high, and securing a place at either requires significant preparation. But beyond the numbers, each school has its own culture, history, and ethos — and the right fit will depend as much on your son’s personality as on his academic ability.
In this guide, we explore what makes each school unique, answer parent FAQs, and help you decide which is best for your son.
QE Boys vs Wilson’s: Introducing the Two Schools
Founded in 1573 by royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, QE Boys has a long tradition of academic excellence and ambition. Its Barnet location makes it popular with North London and Hertfordshire families, though it accepts boys from all over thanks to its no-catchment policy. Wilson’s has a similarly illustrious history, founded in 1615. The school was originally based in Camberwell and later moved to its current site in Sutton, South London.
QE Boys is known for its formal, structured ethos, where homework is set daily, lessons move at a fast pace, and academic achievement is celebrated. At the same time, it has thriving music, drama, debating and sports programmes, with many boys representing the school nationally. Its Oxbridge record is one of the strongest in the country, with 40–50 offers most years.
Like QE, Wilson’s is a fully selective grammar school for boys, and it shares the same reputation for academic rigour. What sets Wilson’s apart, however, is its strong emphasis on pastoral care, co-curricular opportunities, and sporting success. Indeed, the school has two specialist entry pathways, for musical or footballing excellence.
As such, Wilson’s combines the traditional feel of a historic grammar with a more rounded, balanced approach to education. Oxbridge outcomes are excellent too (around 30-40 offers), though the school is equally proud of students securing places at top Russell Group universities and pursuing diverse pathways.
Quick Comparison Table: QE Boys vs Wilson’s School
| Feature | Queen Elizabeth’s School
(QE Boys) |
Wilson’s School |
| Location | Queen’s Road, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 4DQ | Mollison Drive, Wallington, Sutton, SM6 9JW |
| Single Sex or Co-Ed | Boys only | Boys only |
| School Size | ~1,300 pupils | ~1,300 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. |
~360 students; boys only. Most progress internally, but small number of external places available. |
| Selective Status | Fully selective grammar school | Fully selective grammar school |
| Catchment Area | No fixed catchment; places awarded strictly by performance | No fixed catchment. Distance only considered in a tie-break between two standardised 11+ scores, when awarding last places. |
| Competition | Extremely high (over 3,500 applicants for ~180 places) | Very high (approx. 1,200 second-stage applicants for ~185 places) |
| Entry Requirements | 11+ entrance exam (GL Assessment) with top scores only | Two-stage Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) plus second-stage exam (School-set) |
| Exam Format | GL Assessment (Single-Round English and Maths papers, Multiple Choice) | SET Stage One: Maths & English (multiple-choice). Stage Two: longer written English & Maths papers. |
| Reputation | Traditional, disciplined, academically elite | Balanced, academic, strong pastoral and sporting ethos |
| Ranking | Regularly ranked among the top five grammars in the UK across multiple League Tables | Regularly ranked among the top five grammars in the UK; named “State Secondary School of the Year” by The Sunday Times in 2024 |
| 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. |
Around 30-40 Oxbridge offers most years. |
| Pupil Transport | Well connected to Northern Line and local bus routes, as well as 10 dedicated school coach services | Purely public transport: served by Sutton and Croydon rail/bus routes (train to either Wallington or Waddon stations) |
| Fees | Free (state-funded) | Free (state-funded) |
| Religious Affiliation | None | None |
Parent FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Choosing between QE Boys and Wilson’s isn’t just about league tables — it’s about matching your son’s personality and needs to each school’s culture. Here’s a deeper look at parents’ most common questions, with added insights into what daily life is actually like.
Wilson’s School
Is Wilson’s School private?
No. Wilson’s is a state-funded selective grammar school, which means there are no tuition fees. Like many top grammars, the school welcomes voluntary donations from parents, but these are optional and never a condition of entry.
What makes Wilson’s stand out is how much it rivals (and often outperforms) leading independent schools, without the £25k+ fees. Parents describe it as a “hidden gem” — the grounds are unusually spacious for a London school, with football pitches and sports facilities that even private schools would envy.
The boys wear blazers and ties, and the school has a proud sense of tradition, but the ethos is known for being a little friendlier and less rigid than some other highly academic grammars.
Is Wilson’s the best school?
Many would say yes, or certainly one of the very best. Wilson’s regularly ranks in the top five state schools in the UK (currently third) and was named State Secondary School of the Year 2024 by The Sunday Times. It has also been recognised as one of the happiest schools in the country — a title backed up by the fact that 99% of Wilson’s parents (over a five-year period) said their child is happy there.
Exam results speak for themselves. At GCSE, around 62% of grades are at Level 9, and over 94% are at 7–9. At A Level, almost 40% of grades are A*, with more than 93% at A*–B, and a 100% pass rate. Oxbridge success is also striking, with a recent year seeing 37 boys receiving offers.
But being “the best” depends on what you value. Wilson’s is academically ambitious, but it doesn’t feel like an exam factory. Its football programme is nationally respected, and music, house competitions and a wide co-curricular offer give boys a balance alongside their studies. Parents often say the school has a strong sense of community and independence, helping boys grow into responsible, capable young men who enjoy their school years.
What rank is Wilson’s School?
Wilson’s consistently sits in the very top tier of grammar schools. In the Sunday Times Parent Power rankings, it’s currently third nationally, just behind QE Boys and Henrietta Barnett.
Ofsted also rated the school Outstanding in every category, praising both teaching quality and the positive school culture. Inspectors noted that boys are focused and ambitious in lessons, but also genuinely enjoy school life.
On a day-to-day level, Wilson’s feels disciplined and purposeful, but not intimidating. The atmosphere at break is lively, with plenty of laughter and a huge range of clubs, music groups, and sports teams to keep boys engaged.
How hard is it to get into Wilson’s School?
In short, very hard. But not impossible with the right preparation! Wilson’s is one of the most oversubscribed schools in the country. Each year, around 6,000 boys sit the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET), which is shared by six local grammar schools. From this pool, about 1,200 boys are invited to Wilson’s second stage, giving roughly a 15% chance of progression at that point.
The second-stage exams are tougher and more in-depth, requiring extended writing in English and multi-step Maths problem-solving. Unlike some 11+ exams, there’s no verbal or non-verbal reasoning — but the written papers demand focus, resilience, and the ability to think creatively under timed conditions.
Parents often comment that the process feels very fair: if your son earns a place, it’s because he genuinely performed at the very top on both days.
How do I get into Wilson’s School?
To get into Wilson’s School, there are three main admission routes:
- Stage One: The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This consists of two multiple-choice exams (English and Maths). Each lasts 40–50 minutes. The test is created by the schools themselves and is sat by thousands of boys across Sutton and South London. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not included.
- Stage Two: Written papers. Boys who meet the SET threshold (around 212+ in recent years) are invited to sit longer, open-ended exams. English involves extended comprehension and creative writing (which means figurative language, advanced vocabulary and SPaG are all important), while Maths focuses on multi-step problem-solving. These are shared with Sutton Grammar and Wallington County Grammar.
- Aptitude routes: Wilson’s also offers a small number of specialist places each year (18 in total — 9 music and 9 football). These are awarded through separate aptitude assessments.
In practice, this means preparation needs to cover both speed and accuracy (for multiple-choice) and depth of reasoning (for written work). The school doesn’t release past papers, though sample questions for the English and Maths SET are available.
Stage Two papers are based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum (no sample papers available), but at a very high level. As a result, many parents use other high-level grammar practice papers (particularly QE Boys practice material) to build the right skills.
What’s the pass mark for Wilson’s School?
There isn’t a fixed pass mark for Wilson’s School. Each year, after the tests are marked and standardised, participating schools set their own thresholds. However, in recent years:
- Stage One: a minimum standardised score of around 212 has been required to progress.
- Stage Two: results from the written exams are combined with Stage One to produce a final standardised score. The minimum combined score has often been around 480.
A good benchmark is that boys consistently scoring 85–90% or above on high-level practice papers are in the competitive range. However, Stage Two often tips the balance. Boys who can write fluently, think creatively and problem-solve under pressure often edge ahead. This is very much in keeping with Wilson’s ethos of rewarding all-round academic strength rather than just exam technique.
Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE Boys)
What rank is QE Boys?
QE Boys is frequently ranked as the top-performing state school in England. For several years, it has taken first place in the Sunday Times Parent Power rankings, and it regularly tops national A Level league tables. For 2025, it holds second place (making it the top boys’ grammar), only behind Henrietta Barnett.
Backing up these impressive rankings are raw results. Almost every boy achieves top grades (think 96% grades 9-7 in GCSE and 98% A*-B at A Level), and Oxbridge success is extremely high. Last year, 40+ boys went on to Cambridge alone.
As such, the school’s reputation is one of academic intensity and elite performance. Parents often see QE as the “gold standard” of grammar schools: incredibly demanding, but also incredibly rewarding for boys who thrive in that environment.
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, St Olave’s and Habs Boys.
Does QE Boys have a catchment area?
No. QE Boys has no catchment area, no sibling policy, and no priority routes of any kind. It doesn’t matter where you live — every boy is competing on exam performance alone. This means the intake is hugely diverse, with boys coming from Barnet, Hertfordshire, Enfield, North London, and further afield.
Dedicated coaches run from multiple areas, but many boys have long commutes, which can make the already heavy workload harder to juggle. The lack of catchment is both a blessing and a challenge: it gives all families a chance, but it also means you’re up against thousands of applicants from across the country.
How many places are in QE Boys?
Around 180–190 boys are admitted into QE’s Year 7 each year. With over 3,500 applicants, the odds are very tough. Fewer than 1 in 18 boys are successful.
The sheer volume of applications makes it one of the hardest schools in the country to get into. Parents should expect the competition to be relentless, with the bar for entry higher than almost anywhere else.
That said, once boys are in, QE offers a structured yet supportive environment where high performance is the norm. Lessons are fast-paced, homework is frequent and boys are expected to be self-motivated. Nonetheless, there’s a strong focus on pastoral care alongside a peer mentoring scheme. Many thrive on this driven yet encouraging atmosphere, finding satisfaction among like-minded peers.
Is QE Boys selective?
Yes, and to an extreme degree. QE Boys is one of the most selective schools in the UK. Admission is purely based on the 11+ exam (including multiple-choice English and Maths papers), with no consideration given to location or family background. As such, the expectation is that only the very top applicants will be offered a place.
For boys, this means being not just good, but outstanding, across English and Maths. For parents, it means preparation is key. Regular use of realistic practice papers, timed mock exams and building skills alongside stamina are all essential. Day-to-day, the selectivity translates into an atmosphere where almost every boy is high-achieving, which creates both opportunities and pressures.
What are the entry requirements for QE?
At 11+, boys sit two multiple-choice GL Assessment papers (English and Maths), both lasting around 45 – 50 minutes, on the same day. There’s no second stage: everything rides on those two tests. To win a place, boys need to be in roughly the top 4–5% of applicants.
- In English, students face two comprehension passages as well as a challenging SPaG section. Around 60-65 questions.
- In Maths, students face a single paper (usually progressing in difficulty). Around 60 questions.
At Sixth Form, requirements are also strict (even for internal candidates). Pupils must have at least seven GCSEs at grade 7 or above, and many subjects require a grade 8 or 9 to continue. For example, boys wanting to study Sciences or Maths at A Level are expected to already have top grades in those subjects. All these Sixth Form places are taken by existing pupils.
What’s the pass mark for the QE 11+ exam?
There’s no fixed pass mark for the QE Boys 11+ exam. Instead, candidates are ranked, and places offered from the top down until all are filled.
In recent years, the lowest successful combined score has been in the 220–230 range after standardisation. For parents, this translates to needing consistent 90%+ scores on high-level practice materials.
Unlike Wilson’s, QE doesn’t have a second stage, which means boys have only one chance to prove themselves. The pressure is intense, but for the boys who succeed, it’s the start of an academic journey in one of the UK’s most prestigious schools.
So… Which School Is Better?
The truth is, there’s no single answer. It depends on your son’s personality, ambitions, and what kind of environment he will thrive in. Both QE Boys and Wilson’s are exceptional, but they offer slightly different flavours of excellence.
QE Boys may be the better choice if:
- You want a fee-free education that outperforms almost every private school in the country.
- Your son thrives in a high-pressure, academically competitive environment where expectations are sky-high.
- He is aiming for Oxbridge, medicine, or another highly selective pathway.
- Your family can commit to the demanding preparation required for the 11+, and the commute is manageable.
- You like the idea of a school culture that is structured, disciplined, and laser-focused on results.
Wilson’s may be the better choice if:
- You want an equally strong academic education but with a slightly more balanced, all-round school feel.
- Your son would enjoy a school with strong traditions but also big on sport, music and house activities.
- You like the idea of a two-stage admissions process that rewards both sharp exam technique and deeper written skills.
- Your family already lives near Sutton, making the journey to school easier and less tiring.
- You want a school with excellent Oxbridge and Russell Group outcomes, but where boys also have space to explore other talents and interests.
In reality, both schools are right at the very top of the grammar system. The decision will come down to location, exam performance, and where your son feels most at home — whether that’s the highly disciplined, almost “private-school” atmosphere of QE, or the more rounded but equally ambitious community at Wilson’s.
For more parent-friendly breakdowns, catchment tips and school rankings across North London and Hertfordshire, don’t miss our guides to:
- Grammar Schools in Barnet
- Grammar Schools in Watford
- Grammar Schools in Harrow
- Grammar Schools in Slough
- The Best Grammar Schools in London
- The Best Secondary Schools in London
- The Best Private Schools in London
- The Best Secondary Schools in the UK
- The Best Grammar Schools in the UK
- The Best Private Schools in the UK
Achieve Learning: Preparing for QE Boys or Wilson’s 11+ Exams
Getting into QE Boys or Wilson’s (or for that matter, any other leading grammar school!) is no small feat. With thousands of applicants chasing a limited number of places, success depends on more than just ability. It’s about preparation, practice, and confidence on the day.
At Achieve Learning, we know these exams inside out. From expert 11+ tuition and academic consultancy tailored to your child, to realistic practice papers and full mock exams that build resilience under pressure, we give your family the tools to succeed.
Get in touch for a friendly chat today — and help your child walk into the exam hall calm, prepared and ready to shine.
