John Hampden Grammar School 11 plus matters most when the practical bits feel clear early. The school is in High Wycombe, on Marlow Hill, and many families are balancing two things at once.
John Hampden Grammar School 11 plus matters most when the practical bits feel clear early. The school is in High Wycombe, on Marlow Hill, and many families are balancing two things at once: a child who can perform strongly in an exam, and a school day that still feels manageable once the commute and homework routine become real.
For 2027 entry, selection in Buckinghamshire runs through the county Secondary Transfer Test, so the timeline is shared across grammar schools. That helps, because it turns an anxious question into smaller steps: register, sit the test, receive the outcome, then use the local authority application form to express preferences.
The calmest approach is to separate admin from preparation. Admin is about not missing dates and keeping evidence tidy. Preparation is about building the skills the Bucks papers reward, without turning Year 5 into constant pressure.
To keep the bigger picture steady, it helps to have your plan in one place, including the Common Application Form window and what happens after results are issued: grammar school application UK timeline.
| Key detail | Information |
| Address | Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1SZ |
| School type | Selective boys grammar school, ages 11 to 18 |
| Year 7 entry size | 180 places |
| Sixth Form entry | 25 places published for September 2026 entry |
| Entry route | Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, then local authority application |
| Admissions priority | Includes a priority area within catchment, then distance rules |
| Local authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Headteacher | Miss Tracey Hartley |
| Contact | office@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk, 01494 529589 |
Registration is completed through the county system, with a published window for 2027 entry shown on the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test timeline for 2027 entry. Keep one simple folder with confirmation details, your child’s legal name as held by their current school, and any evidence needed for access arrangements.
The Bucks test uses two timed papers and aims to measure verbal, non verbal, and mathematical skills. The most useful early goal is familiarity: reading instructions quickly, keeping a steady pace, and staying accurate under time pressure.
A practice test date is published for 2027 entry, followed by the main Secondary Transfer Test. Treat the practice as a rehearsal, not a verdict. It is the best moment to spot nerves, timing issues, and bubbling mistakes before they cost marks.
A qualified result means your child has met the county’s threshold to be considered for grammar places, but it does not automatically guarantee a place at John Hampden Grammar School if it is oversubscribed.
Even with a strong outcome, the school must be listed on your Common Application Form by the published deadline. Preferences are then processed through the local authority allocation system.
Offers are issued through the local authority on national offer day. Waiting list movement is normal. Remaining steady and organised helps, especially if the first outcome is not what you hoped.
If an appeal becomes relevant, it helps to understand what panels can and cannot do, and what evidence carries weight. The rules are set out in the School admission appeals code.
| Key date | What it means |
| 1 May 2026 | Registration opens for 2027 entry |
| 2 June 2026 | Registration closes for 2027 entry |
| 1 September 2026 | Cut off date for address changes for first allocations |
| 8 September 2026 | Practice test date |
| 10 September 2026 | Secondary Transfer Test date |
| 9 October 2026 | Results sent to parents |
| 31 October 2026 | Deadline to submit the Common Application Form |
John Hampden Grammar School has a priority area within its catchment. Some applicants are considered within a defined area before places are allocated by distance, once higher priority categories have been applied.
School specific oversubscription rules are set out in the published admission arrangements. The most recent accessible policy document includes the structure of how places are grouped across categories, including qualifying status and catchment priority: John Hampden Grammar School admissions policy document. For 2027 entry, the safest approach is to use that structure as a guide, then confirm the final September 2027 version once published.
Two practical points tend to matter most:
The Bucks route is exam led. Selection is through the Secondary Transfer Test, which uses two timed papers and multiple choice answering. The strongest preparation usually looks like training for a sport: repeated short sessions, skills built in layers, and enough timed practice that the real day feels familiar.
If your child is anxious, the most effective change is often procedural rather than academic. Knowing exactly how the paper works, how to move on, and how to recover after a tricky question protects marks more than last minute cramming.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor (FYT) focused on John Hampden Grammar School. It benchmarks your child’s current level and gives a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured John Hampden Grammar School Places with Find Your Tutor.
Recent published performance measures for the school include an Attainment 8 score of 75.1, with 98% achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths, and 91% entered for the EBacc. At 16 to 18, the published figures include an average points score of 39.48 and 29% achieving AAB or higher. These figures are shown in the John Hampden Grammar School results summary .
Two useful questions for families when comparing schools:
The published dates for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, including the practice test and main test, are in the Key dates table above.
Entry is through the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, which aims to assess verbal, non verbal, and mathematical skills across two timed papers.
No. Applications can be made from outside the priority area, but oversubscription rules can prioritise applicants within defined areas before distance is applied.
Yes. The key is being registered for the test within the published window and then naming the school on your local authority application.
The published admission number for Year 7 is 180 places.
It means your child has met the county’s qualifying standard in the Secondary Transfer Test and can be considered for grammar places, subject to each school’s oversubscription rules.
The route is exam led. Interview is not typically part of the standard Year 7 admissions process for Buckinghamshire grammar entry.
Preferences are processed through the local authority system. Listing the school is essential, and order matters for your own preferences, but allocation follows the published rules.
Waiting lists can move. It is normal to stay on the waiting list while keeping a realistic backup plan in place.
Yes. Appeals are possible, and they follow the national admissions appeals code, with decisions based on evidence rather than an extra exam.
It matters, but accuracy matters more. A steady pace and strong checking habits usually add more marks than racing.
Misreading instructions, bubbling errors, spending too long on one question, and losing rhythm after a difficult item.
Start early. Evidence and deadlines matter, and it is much easier when paperwork is organised well before the registration deadline.
No. Some children thrive with a calm home routine, while others benefit from structured external feedback. The best choice is the one that keeps progress steady and confidence intact.
The test dates are set centrally. Planning family travel around the published window is usually the safest approach.
