For many Hertfordshire families, choosing between Parmiter’s and St Clement Danes is one of the trickiest decisions in the South West Herts Consortium. Both schools are hugely respected and consistently oversubscribed, producing confident, well-rounded young people.
So, how to choose?
Despite the similarities, these two schools have very different characters. Parmiter’s is known for its expansive green campus in Garston, strong community feel and quietly academic culture. St Clement Danes, perched near Chorleywood Common, feels more formal. It’s a school that blends traditional grammar ambition with a strong sense of values.
In this guide, you’ll find all the insights you need to set these two schools apart: their culture, catchment areas, competition levels, 11+ entry process, and what kind of child thrives at each.
Parmiter’s vs St Clement Danes: Introducing the Two Schools
Parmiter’s was founded in 1681 by a London silk merchant, who left funds for a “free school” for local children. That spirit shapes the school today — a culture of excellence balanced by kindness, service and opportunity. On the other hand, St Clement Danes is another extremely respected South West Herts school. It’s surrounded by fields and woodland, yet only a few minutes from the M25.
St Clement Danes School
The school’s origins date to 1862, when it opened in Houghton Street, London. It relocated to Hertfordshire in 1975, bringing a proud sense of tradition.
Each November, the school marks its London roots with a service at St Clement Danes Church on the Strand — a tradition that connects past and present, even as the school has grown into a busy, forward-looking Hertfordshire community.
The school’s motto, Loyauté m’oblige (“loyalty binds me”), sums up its approach. While that might sound austere, the reality is far from it. Integrity and acts of service run through everything at St Clement Danes. The school is busy, modern and creative, with a huge range of clubs, concerts and drama productions.
It regularly ranks in the top ten Hertfordshire schools for GCSE and A Level performance, and demand for places is intense.
Parmiter’s School
Parmiter’s feels more like a small campus uni than a city school. The grounds are open and green (a luxury for North London!), with modern facilities for science, sport and music. The performing arts centre and excellent facilities show how seriously the school takes extracurricular life — not just academics.
But Parmiter’s is also one of Hertfordshire’s strongest performing schools, both in terms of results and student wellbeing. GCSE and A Level results consistently place it in the top five across the county, and many students go on to Oxbridge or Russell Group universities.
But what makes Parmiter’s stand out is its balance: it manages to be high-achieving without the pressure cooker atmosphere parents associate with fully selective grammars. Families often comment on the school’s warmth and pastoral strength, with alumni (“Old Parmenterians”) returning year after year.
A note on Queen’s School…
Lots of parents also look at Queen’s School in Bushey when weighing up Parmiter’s vs St Clement Danes. It’s also part of the South West Herts Consortium and has a great mix of academics, sport and pastoral care.
It’s not quite as selective as the other two, but it’s still a strong all-round option, especially if you live just outside their main catchment areas.
Parmiter’s vs St Clement Danes: Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Parmiter’s School | St Clement Danes School |
| Location | High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 0UU | Chenies Road, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth WD3 6EW |
| Single Sex or Co-Ed | Co-educational | Co-educational |
| School Size | ~1,460 pupils | ~1,590 pupils |
| Sixth Form Size | ~300 students; co-ed Sixth Form, with 50 external places | ~400 students; co-ed with external entry each year |
| Selective Status | Partially-selective (35% of places) | Partially selective (20% of places) |
| Catchment Area and Distance Cut-Off | Priority catchment area for 95% of Music and Academic places; distance cut-off tight for community places (between 760 and 980 metres in recent years). | Priority area around Chorleywood & Rickmansworth (WD3 postcodes only); in 2025 the furthest distance awarded a place was 2.7km. |
| Competition | Extremely high: Exact numbers aren’t published, but expect around 2,500+ applicants for ~216 places | Very high: Likely 2,000 applicants for ~240 places. In 2025, there were 733 applications for 24 academic ability places. |
| Entry Requirements | 11+ entrance exam and priority area; with some specialist music places | 11+ entrance exam and priority area; with some specialist music places |
| Exam Format | GL Assessment: Maths and Verbal Reasoning (shared Consortium test) | GL Assessment: Maths and Verbal Reasoning (shared Consortium test) |
| 11 + Cut-off Scores (Recent Trends) | Academic entry typically requires around 215–250+ (standardised); Music 40–45+ marks. | Academic entry typically requires around 220+ (standardised). The lowest mark awarded a place in 2025 was 218. Music 40+ marks. |
| Ranking | Ranked 3rd best comprehensive school in the South East. Ranked 93rd best nationally. | Ranked 5th best comprehensive school in the South East. Ranked 117th nationally. |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding in all areas | Outstanding in all areas |
| Reputation | Balanced, high-achieving, with excellent facilities and enrichment. | Academic and aspirational, with strong values and an artistic culture |
| Oxbridge Success | Good: around 5-10 students each year | Fair: around 4-5 students each year |
| Pupil Transport | School coach network with 9 routes from St Albans, Harrow, Hemel Hempstead, Bushey and surrounding areas. | Served by several bus routes covering Watford, Bovingdon, South Oxhey and Hemel Hempstead |
| Fees | Free (state-funded) | Free (state-funded) |
| Religious Affiliation | None (but strongly values based) | None (historic church foundation only) |
Parent FAQs: Your Questions Answered
When choosing between Parmiter’s and St Clement Danes, there are four key factors: academic results, admissions routes, school culture and day-to-day feel. Below, you’ll find the questions parents often ask — drawing on published data and our local insights from working with families across both schools.
Parmiter’s School
What rank is Parmiter’s School?
Parmiter’s is one of Hertfordshire’s top-performing schools, regularly listed among the top five comprehensives in the South East (currently 3rd) and within the top ten nationwide. Among all state schools, Parmiter’s sits at 93rd in the UK.
In 2025, more than 55% of GCSE grades were 9–7, while A Level results saw over 70% of entries graded A*–B. Leavers regularly head to Russell Group unis (including Warwick, Bristol, UCL and Edinburgh), including around 5-10 Oxbridge candidates most years.
What’s the Ofsted rating for Parmiter’s School?
Parmiter’s was inspected in June 2024 and rated Outstanding across every category, including teaching, behaviour, leadership and pupil achievement. Inspectors called it “an exceptional standard of education,” praising how students achieve highly while developing into confident, well-rounded individuals.
They highlighted the school’s strong sense of community, with older pupils mentoring younger ones, clubs that celebrate diversity, and a co-curricular programme that keeps students engaged and happy. Lessons are calm and purposeful, and pupils were described as disciplined, motivated learners who love a challenge.
In short, Ofsted found that Parmiter’s lives its motto Nemo sibi nascitur (“no one is born for themselves alone”), creating a culture where academic excellence and character go hand in hand.
What score do you need to get into Parmiter’s?
To get into Parmiter’s, your child must sit the South West Herts Consortium 11 Plus, which includes Maths and Verbal Reasoning papers. It’s the same test used by St Clement Danes and several other local schools.
In simple terms, academic places usually go to local children scoring around 240–250 once results are standardised.
If you’re wondering what that means in practice, the average score sits at 200, so a result in the high 240s puts your child in roughly the top 3–4% of all applicants. That’s the kind of range you should aim for in practice papers.
Music places tend to start from about 40–45 marks on the aural test. For community places, the final distance cut-off is normally within a kilometre of the school.
Because most selective spots (around 95%) go to pupils living in the priority postcode areas (WD3 to WD25, AL1 to AL3, HP1 to HP3 and HA6), it’s tough for families living further out.
What do you need to get into Parmiter’s Sixth Form?
Parmiter’s Sixth Form has a brilliant reputation. It combines strong results, excellent teaching and a really supportive atmosphere. Getting a place, though, means meeting high entry requirements.
To start Year 12 in 2026, students need at least 33 points across their six best GCSEs, along with grade 4 or above in both English Language and Maths. Most A Level subjects also have their own minimum grade, usually a 6 or 7, so it’s worth checking the full list on the school website.
Each year, around 50 external students join the Sixth Form, so competition is steady but fair. If your child is hardworking, organised and genuinely enthusiastic about their subjects, Parmiter’s offers a fantastic environment to take that next academic step.
Thinking about other local schools? Don’t miss our Watford Grammar vs Parmiter’s, and St Clement Danes vs Watford comparisons, as well as insights into other South West Herts Schools including Habs Boys, Dame Alice Owens and Latymer School.
St Clement Danes School
What rank is St Clement Danes School?
St Clement Danes consistently ranks among the top ten Hertfordshire comprehensive schools. It currently sits at 5th best comprehensive in the South East (by the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide) and 117th nationally.
The school’s academic reputation has grown sharply in the past decade. In 2025, around 46% of GCSE grades were 7–9, while 79% of A Level results were A*–B.
While the school doesn’t publish up-to-date information on exact leaver destinations, around 70% of students progress to further education. In 2025, 4 students went on to Oxbridge.
Parents describe St Clement Danes as “ambitious but grounded” — a place where pupils are expected to work hard but also encouraged to serve their community. The emphasis on leadership and public speaking means students leave confident and articulate.
What’s the religion of St Clement Danes School?
Although its name and early history link back to the London church of St Clement Danes, the school today is non-denominational and welcomes students of all faiths and none. There are no faith-based admissions criteria.
The majority of St Clement Danes places are offered by distance (79 places in 2025) or through the South West Herts Consortium (academic and music routes, 24 places respectively). Other places are allocated according to “Looked After” criteria, siblings and children of staff.
In 2025, no children were accepted outside WD3 postcodes, and the furthest distance awarded a place was 2.7 kilometres. In practice, the highest 11+ scorers (within the school’s WD3 priority area) gain academic places, while community spots go to those living closest to the school gates.
What’s the pass mark for St Clement Danes School?
St Clement Danes uses the same GL Assessment 11 Plus papers in Maths and Verbal Reasoning as the rest of the South West Herts Consortium.
For 2025 entry, scores ranged from 138 to 257, and the lowest offered place had a standardised score of 218. 733 pupils sat the academic test for just 24 places.
So for 2026, aiming for around 220–240 in practice papers puts your child in the right zone.
The music route is equally selective. In 2025, 166 pupils applied. Anyone scoring 45 or more in the aural test was invited to the live performance stage. Again, 24 music places were awarded, with the lowest accepted score 39.
In other words, competition is fierce, but not impossible — especially with steady preparation and strong test technique.
What were the A Level results for St Clement Danes 2025?
St Clement Danes’ 2025 A Level results were exceptional once again, confirming its place among Hertfordshire’s top schools.
42% of all grades were at A or A*, with 14% of entries achieving A*. Nearly eight in ten students (79%) earned exclusively A–B*. Those numbers translate into an impressive set of university destinations: the vast majority secured places at their first-choice universities or prestigious apprenticeships.
Standout successes were four students with offers from Oxford or Cambridge. Five pupils were also singled out for special commendation after achieving a clean sweep of four A* grades — an extraordinary accomplishment by any standard.
So… Which School Might Suit Your Child Best?
Choosing between Parmiter’s and St Clement Danes is, frankly, a good problem to have. Both schools offer an exceptional co-educational education, free of charge, within a few miles of each other.
They each have plenty to recommend, but they suit slightly different kinds of learners.
Parmiter’s might suit your child if:
- You’re looking for a co-ed environment with a warm, community feel.
- Your child has strong academic or musical ability but also values balance.
- You live near Watford, St Albans or Bushey, within the core catchment.
- You like schools that are ambitious but not overly formal.
St Clement Danes might suit your child if:
- You value a strong, community-minded culture with clear expectations and support.
- Your family lives within 2.5 km of the school in a WD3 postcode.
- Your child enjoys structure, high standards and a purposeful atmosphere.
- They’re interested in music, drama or leadership as well as academics.
In the end, both schools are excellent in their own way, providing an environment where children thrive. So make sure to visit in person and really get a feel for the ethos, environment and culture.
Considering other grammars? For more parent-friendly breakdowns, catchment tips and school rankings, 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
Achieve Learning: Helping You and Your Child Prepare for 11+ Exams
Getting into Parmiter’s or St Clement Danes takes more than natural ability. It takes preparation, confidence and a clear understanding of the SW Herts Consortium exams.
At Achieve Learning, we help children master GL Assessment Maths and Verbal Reasoning, develop strong exam technique and stay calm under pressure. Our one-to-one tuition, realistic mock exams and practice materials give students the skills (and self-belief!) to perform at their best.
Get in touch today to see how our friendly, expert tutors can support your child every step of the way.
