If you’re searching for an excellent secondary education for your child, you won’t go far wrong with Grammar Schools.
But let’s face it, securing a coveted spot can be a lottery. They aren’t spread evenly throughout the country.
While some areas are spoiled for choice, others draw the short straw. For parents living in areas without Grammar Schools, your options can feel limited.
Of course, you can cast your net wider and explore schools elsewhere. But there’s a catch – literally, catchment areas. Even if your child aces their 11 Plus exams, local candidates are prioritised.
So, what can you do?
Here’s your complete list of Grammar Schools in England awarding places outside a catchment area. For those outside the local area, entry is solely based on 11 Plus performance, unlocking a top-tier education for the very brightest students.
Do all Grammar Schools have catchment areas?
In short, no.
Out of 163 Grammar Schools in England, 43 offer places outside their local area.
A catchment area just refers to the geographic area from which a school draws its students. It’s essentially the designated neighbourhood or region surrounding the school.
Catchment areas are often established by local educational authorities or school boards to manage enrollment and ensure schools can effectively serve their local communities.
The presence (or absence) of catchment areas varies depending on factors such as local educational policies, population density, school capacity and historical practices.
Which Grammar Schools don’t have a catchment area?
43 Grammar Schools in England offer places outside a catchment area. This means any child, no matter where they live, is free to apply and sit their entrance exams. Some schools have no catchment area at all. Others have a mixed approach, where a certain number of places are reserved for local students.
Here’s the full list of Grammar Schools without a catchment area (or those reserving a certain percentage of places for high-performing pupils outside the catchment area), broken down by region.
For more information on catchment policies, head to each school’s website and read their admissions criteria.
South West
- Colyton Grammar School, Devon
- Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham
- The Crypt School, Gloucester
- Denmark Road High School, Gloucester
- Ribston Hall High School, Gloucester
- Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Gloucester
- Stroud High School, Stroud
- Marling School, Stroud
Did you know? Pate’s Grammar School is one of the top ten Grammar Schools in the entire country. For the full list, explore our guide to the Best Grammar Schools in the UK.
South East
- Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent
- Dartford Grammar School for Boys, Kent
- Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, Medway
- The Skinners’ School, Tunbridge Wells
- The Judd School, Tonbridge
- Herschel Grammar School, Slough
- Langley Grammar School, Slough
- St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, Slough
- Upton Court Grammar School, Slough
Commonly Asked: Do Kent Grammars have a catchment area?
Most Grammar Schools in Kent have a catchment area of some kind. There are 38 Grammar Schools in Kent, making it the county with the most Grammars in England.
For instance, Dartford Grammar School for Boys reserves 90 places for children living outside the catchment area. But the remaining spots go to children living near the school.
Other schools operate a “priority” system. So the Weald of Kent Grammar School (for instance) gives priority entrance to students living within their catchment area. If these places aren’t filled, places are awarded to “priority B” applicants, living elsewhere.
For more information on Grammar Schools in Kent, including the format of the Kent and Medway Tests and the top ten ranked Grammars in the county – read our in-depth guide.
Greater London
- Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet
- Beths Grammar School, Bexley
- Bexley Grammar School, Bexley
- Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, Bexley
- Townley Grammar School, Bexley
- St. Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington
- Wilson’s School, Sutton
- Wallington County Grammar School, Sutton
- Wallington High School for Girls, Sutton
- Sutton Grammar School, Sutton
- Nonsuch High School for Girls, Sutton
- Greenshaw High School, Sutton
Commonly Asked: Does Sutton Grammar School have a catchment area?
Because of its outstanding reputation, many parents ask if Sutton Grammar School has a catchment area.
Well technically yes. Most of the places at Sutton Grammar are reserved for students within the catchment area.
Even so, up to 60 places are allocated for students (passing their 11 Plus exams) who live outside this area. For these students, admission is based on academic merit, no matter their home address.
As a result, the school attracts students from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities, fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.
If you’re searching for Grammar Schools in London, read our complete list of Grammars in the capital as well as the top ten best Grammar Schools in London.
The East of England
- Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Chelmsford
- King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
- Colchester Royal Grammar School
- Colchester County High School for Girls
The Midlands
- Bishop Veseys’ Grammar School, Birmingham
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, Birmingham
- Haberdashers’ Adams, Newport
- Newport Girls’ High School, Newport
- Wolverhampton Girls’ High School, Wolverhampton
Commonly Asked: Do Birmingham Grammar Schools have a catchment area?
Some do, and some don’t!
As you can see from the list above, both Bishop Veseys’ Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School don’t exclusively use a catchment area.
Nonetheless, other Grammar Schools in Birmingham (such as King Edward’s School, regularly ranked among the top Grammar Schools in the country) do have a catchment area.
If you’re unsure, check with the individual school on their admissions criteria and catchment area rules. They’ll happily clarify.
The North of England
- Loreto Grammar School, Altrincham
- Saint Ambrose College, Altrincham
- The North Halifax Grammar School, Halifax
- The Crossley Heath School, Halifax
- Urmston Grammar School, Urmston
Why don’t some Grammar Schools have catchment areas?
Before we wrap up, it’s worth explaining why some Grammars have catchment areas and some don’t. It does appear a bit random after all!
Well, this quirk is due to the complex history of secondary education in England.
Today’s Grammar system (as we know it) stemmed from the 1944 Education Act. This landmark legislation made free secondary education accessible to all.
But in the 1960s, some voices (mainly championed by Labour politicians) argued academically-selective education deepened class divisions and favoured the middle classes. In response, by 1965 the government nudged local authorities to phase out Grammar Schools in favour of a comprehensive system.
Some counties (like Kent, Medway, the Midlands, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire) clung to selective systems while others like Gloucestershire, Trafford and Slough opted for a mixed bag.
So in counties with a higher percentage of Grammar Schools, it made sense to keep catchment areas – to ensure fair access and serve the local community. In areas with less density of Grammars, it didn’t make sense that only a small percentage of the local population had access to a Grammar education. So in many cases, catchment areas were scrapped.
Nonetheless, you will find anomalies. Many Grammars stay true to their historical roots – whether that means admissions using a strict catchment area or not!
Are you preparing your child for 11 Plus exams?
If you’re preparing your child for 11 Plus exams, explore our expert tuition services.
With a fantastic track record of success, we offer individual 11 Plus tuition (starting as early as Year 4 or Year 5), specialised academic consultancy (to assess your child’s 11 Plus readiness) and realistic mock exams to ensure your child is comfortable with the exam format.
Get in touch today and find out how we can help your child achieve their academic goals.