Grammar and partially selective schools are a popular choice for parents all over the country… and for good reason! They give children the best possible education without the hefty fees charged by private institutions.
This is no different in Hertfordshire, where plenty of schools provide the highest quality education, a supportive pastoral environment and opportunities to study with like-minded peers.
So, if you’re considering applying to grammar schools in Hertfordshire, here’s your brief introduction to the best schools, academic results and how to apply.
What are the best grammar schools in Hertfordshire?
While there are no fully selective grammar schools in Hertfordshire, there are a number of high performing and well reputed partially selective schools. These partially selective schools are known for their high academic standards, strong focus on traditional subjects, and excellent extra-curricular opportunities.
Seven of these schools (listed below) are part of the South West Herts Consortium. We’ve already written a guide to 2024 admissions and 11 Plus Exams for these schools, so take a look if you’re applying. As well as the South West Herts Consortium, there are several other highly-regarded partially selective schools in Hertfordshire.
Here’s your guide to some of the best schools in the area.
South West Herts Consortium Schools
Parmiter’s School
Parmiter’s School was founded in 1681 by Ralph Parmiter, who left money in his will to establish a school for boys from the local area. It became a co-educational school in 1982, with a strong reputation for academic excellence.
Parmiter’s is also one of the oldest schools in the country, with a history dating back over 300 years. With the motto “nemo sibi nascitur” (meaning “no one is born unto himself alone”), the school has a strong sense of community, with a famously supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
Fact file:
- Address: High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 0UU.
- Established: 1681
- Single-sex or mixed: Parmiter’s is a co-educational school (open to girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 180 year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: The school is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. In 2022, 27% of all A Level grades were A* and 81% at A*/A/B. GCSE results were similarly impressive, with 62% of all entries awarded grades 9 to 7.
- Specialities: Parmiter’s has a strong focus on academic achievement, with a wide range of extracurricular activities available in music, drama and sport.
Parmiter’s School admissions policy >
Queens’ School
Queens’ School was founded in 1898 by the “Church Schools Company” to provide education for girls in the local area. Ever since, it’s been a highly respected school with a strong tradition of academic excellence.
Today, Queens’ is the largest co-educational state school in Hertfordshire, with roughly 1,700 students. The school prides itself not only on strong academic performance, but also impressive facilities. They boast 12 “all-weather” sports pitches and extensive playing fields over 50 acres.
Fact file:
- Address: Aldenham Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 2TY.
- Established: 1898
- Single-sex or mixed: Co-educational (girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 80 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: Rated as “excellent” by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and “good” by Ofsted, Queens’ School has long enjoyed impressive academic results. 60% of A Level entries achieved A*-B grades, while 73% of GCSE candidates secured grade 5 or above in English and Maths.
- Specialities: Queens’ has a strong focus on developing well-rounded students, with as much attention given to personal development as academic performance. As well as A Levels, the school also offers an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in sixth form.
Queens’ School admissions policy >
Rickmansworth School
Originally founded as a grammar school for boys, Rickmansworth School became a comprehensive in the 1970s and started admitting girls.
Now a partially selective institution, Rickmansworth promotes their six “Ricky Rs” through their curricular and extracurricular activities – including responsibility, respect, positive relationships, resourcefulness, resilience and reflection.
Fact file:
- Address: Scots Hill, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3AQ.
- Established: 1905
- Single-sex or mixed: Co-educational (girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 240 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: Rated as “good” with “outstanding features” by Ofsted. In 2022, 68% of A Level entries achieved A*-B and 79% of GCSE candidates achieved grade 5 or higher in English and Maths.
- Specialities: The school offers a broad range of subjects (including subjects like Photography, Film Studies, Philosophy and Product Design), as well as a strong sports and music program.
Rickmansworth School admissions policy >
St Clement Danes School
Established as a boys’ school in 1862, St Clement Danes started accepting girls in the 1970s. Since then, the school has undergone several impressive expansion and renovation projects to accommodate their growing student body.
The school is named after Saint Clement Danes, the patron saint of blacksmiths. Their motto “Fides Servanda Est” means “Keep faith” – an ethos that drives their positive work with students and the local community.
Fact file:
- Address: Chenies Road, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, WD3 6EW.
- Established: 1862
- Single-sex or mixed: Co-educational (girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 300 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: The school is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. In 2022, 80% of A Level students achieved A*-B grades, while 82% of students achieved a 5 or higher at GCSE English and Maths.
- Specialities: St Clement Danes has a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects, as well as sports and languages.
St Clement Danes School admissions policy >
Watford Grammar School For Boys
Founded in 1704, Watford Boys was originally established as a charity school for local boys. It later became a grammar school and has since developed a reputation for academic excellence.
The school enjoys a long-standing friendly rivalry with nearby Rickmansworth School, which dates back to the nineteenth century when the two schools competed in races on the River Chess.
Fact file:
- Address: Rickmansworth Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7JF.
- Established: 1704
- Single-sex or mixed: Single-sex (boys-only).
- Places available: Approximately 190 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: Rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted. In 2022, 72% of A Level students achieved A*-B grades and 87.9% of GCSE students secured 5 or above in English and Maths.
- Specialities: The school has a strong reputation for academic excellence, particularly in mathematics, science, and technology. It also offers a range of extracurricular activities in sports, music, drama, and more.
Watford Grammar School for Boys admissions policy >
Watford Grammar School For Girls
Founded in 1704, Watford Grammar School for Girls is the partner school of Watford Boys Grammar, located a few miles away. They were both established as charity schools, before becoming grammar schools in the nineteenth century.
The school’s alumni include several notable figures, including actress Emma Chambers, Olympic athlete Paula Radcliffe, and former BBC Director-General Jenny Abramsky.
Fact file:
- Address: Lady’s Close, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0AE.
- Established: 1704
- Single-sex or mixed: Single-sex (girls-only).
- Places available: Approximately 190 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: Rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. The school celebrated “exceptional” progress in their 2022 exam results, with 28% of GCSE students achieving Grade 9 and 55% of A Level results either A* or A.
- Specialities: The school has a strong reputation for academic excellence, particularly in English, languages, and the arts – empowering students to become “life-long learners”.
Watford Grammar School for Girls admissions policy >
Croxley Danes School
Croxley Danes was established in 2017 as a free school, in response to growing demand for secondary school places in Hertfordshire. It’s part of the Danes Educational Trust, which also includes St Clement Danes School and Westfield Academy.
The school’s name reflects its location in Croxley Green and its association with the Danes Educational Trust. Despite being a relatively new school, Croxley Danes has quickly established a reputation for academic excellence and a strong sense of community.
Fact file:
- Address: Baldwins Lane, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3LR.
- Established: 2017
- Single-sex or mixed: Co-educational (girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 180 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: The school is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. Over 20% of students averaged grade 7 or above across their GCSEs. The first A Level results will be collected by Croxley Danes students in 2024.
- Specialities: The school has a strong focus on developing individual character and resilience alongside academic achievement.
Croxley Danes School admissions policy >
Other partially selective schools in Hertfordshire
Dame Alice Owen’s School
Dame Alice Owen’s School was founded in 1613 by Dame Alice Owen, a wealthy widow who left money in her will to establish a school for “20 poor boys and 20 poor girls” in Islington. The school moved to its current location in Potters Bar in 1973 and has since expanded to become a co-educational school with over 1,600 students.
The school’s alumni include several notable figures, such as actor and comedian Stephen Fry, former England cricket captain Mike Gatting, and politician Dame Margaret Beckett.
Fact file:
- Address: Dugdale Hill Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 2DU.
- Established: 1613
- Single-sex or mixed: Co-educational (girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 180 Year 7 places
- Results and rankings: Rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. In 2022, 90% of all GCSE students secured a grade 5 or above in English and Maths. Even more impressively, 92% of A Level candidates achieved A*-B grades.
- Specialities: The school has specialist status in music, but also enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence with a wide extracurricular offering.
Dame Alice Owen’s School admissions policy >
Bishops Stortford High School
Bishops Stortford High School is another relatively new institution, founded in 1957 to meet growing demand for places in the area. Today, it’s a large co-educational school with around 1,700 students.
The school’s motto is “Inspiring Excellence, Realising Ambitions”, reflecting its commitment to helping all students achieve their full potential. With this dedicated approach, the school enjoys consistently high academic results and student satisfaction.
Fact file:
- Address: London Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 3LU.
- Established: 1957
- Single-sex or mixed: Co-educational (girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 300 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: Rated “good” by Ofsted. 95% of students achieved 5 or more 9-4 grades at GCSE, while 74% of A Level candidates enjoyed A*-B awards.
- Specialities: The school particularly champions language skills, as well as a “truly all-round” education for their students.
Bishops Stortford High School admissions policy >
Chancellor’s School
Chancellor’s School was established in 1964 and has since become an incredibly popular co-educational secondary school with over 1,200 students.
With the motto “achieve, enjoy, excel”, the school has a strong tradition of academic excellence. They also enjoy a strong partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and other local schools – promoting and supporting the study of STEM subjects.
Fact file:
- Address: Pine Grove, Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7BN.
- Established: 1964
- Single-sex or mixed: Co-educational (girls and boys).
- Places available: Approximately 160 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: Rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted, the school’s 2022 exam results were impressive. 81% of GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths and 57% of A Level candidates secured A*-B awards.
- Specialities: The school has a particular specialism in science and maths, and is a designated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) school.
Chancellor’s School admissions policy >
Hertfordshire and Essex High School
Established in 1906, Hertfordshire and Essex School originally provided education to girls in the local area. The school now accepts boys in sixth form and has a fantastic academic reputation.
As well as a Science College, the school is a “Matrix Maths Hub” School for Hertfordshire. They encourage debate on moral issues linked to mathematical and scientific development, as well as scientific study itself.
Fact file:
- Address: Warwick Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5NJ.
- Established: 1906
- Single-sex or mixed: Girls-only, but sixth form is mixed.
- Places available: Approximately 150 Year 7 places.
- Results and rankings: Rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. Exam results are excellent, with 88% of all GCSE grades at 9-5 and 75% of A Level students achieving A*-B.
- Specialities: The school is a specialist Science College and embodies their mission of “excellence for all” with a wide range of clubs, community and charity work.
Hertfordshire and Essex High School admissions policy >
Grammar schools in Hertfordshire: How to apply
If you’re applying to any school in Hertfordshire, it is important to carefully check the individual school’s latest admissions policy. Admissions criteria differ significantly between schools, and even small changes in the criteria for selection can impact your child’s chances of getting accepted!
We’ve listed all the relevant admissions pages above, so you can apply with confidence – knowing you’ve met all the relevant deadlines and requirements for your child.
Remember, there are no fully selective grammar schools in Hertfordshire. But the application process for partially selective schools is similar. If you aren’t based in the immediate catchment area, admission to Year 7 is usually based on the results of an 11 Plus exam. This typically takes place in September of Year 6, but again, each school will have different dates and testing requirements.
Some schools also use additional tests (for instance, music or sports scholarships) as part of their selection process.
It’s important to start preparations for 11 Plus exams early, as competition for places can be intense. With this in mind, hiring a personal tutor to provide 1-1 guidance for your child is invaluable. A great tutor (like us at Achieve Learning!), will identify your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses and provide targeted support to improve their performance.
Supporting your child’s 11 Plus preparation with Achieve Learning
At Achieve Learning, we have over 18 years’ experience offering dedicated 1-1 tutoring services. We help parents and students in their preparations for 11 Plus Exams, building confidence and key skills.
From mock exam practice to personalised consultancy and 11+ revision plans, your child will be academically challenged and positively supported every step of the way. Book a free consultation today to learn more.