Royal Latin School

The Royal Latin School is a grammar school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18 in Buckingham. The school is currently celebrating its 600th anniversary as its extensive history dates back to 1423, making it the oldest school in Buckinghamshire.

The Royal Latin School has high standards for its students, who make exceptional progress and achieve outstanding exam results every year. 'Latin Learning' – a philosophy created in consultation with teachers and students – is the basis of teaching and learning at the school and stands for Leadership, Aspiration, Teamwork, Innovation, and Nurturing. Latin Learning is the focus of the school development plan, individual department plans, staff targets and a balanced curriculum.

Students at the Royal Latin School have access to a variety of enrichment opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom. This includes the Duke of Edinburgh Award, leadership and volunteering opportunities with local primary schools, student council, off-timetable enrichment days, trips and visits, music lessons, house competitions, and extracurricular clubs and teams.

• Address: Royal Latin School, Chandos Road, Buckingham MK18 1AX
• Local authority: Buckinghamshire Council
• School type: mixed grammar
• Headteacher: David Hudson
• Number of pupils: 1,300+
• A level results: 84% A*–B
• GCSE results: 79% 9/8/7

1. Secondary Transfer Test registration

The Royal Latin School is a member of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS). This consortium administers the 11 plus exam (Secondary Transfer Test) for all 13 grammar schools in the county.

Buckinghamshire’s 11 plus registration process is unique as they operate an ‘opt-out’ system. If your child attends a Buckinghamshire primary school, they will automatically be registered to take the test.

If your child's primary school is not in Buckinghamshire and you would like to apply for a place at the Royal Latin School, you will need to register for the Secondary Transfer Test separately. Registration will be open on the Buckinghamshire Council website between 5th May 2023 and 16th June 2023.

2. Apply for a school place

You will receive your child's results in the Secondary Transfer Test on 13th October 2023. If your child has achieved the pass mark in the exam, they will be eligible for a place at the school. You will then be able to list the Royal Latin School on your common application form.

Before listing the Royal Latin School as a preference on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible. Passing the Secondary Transfer Test will not be a guarantee of a place as more children reach the qualifying standard each year than there are places available.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2023. The form must be completed for your home local authority – i.e. if you live in Buckinghamshire you will need to complete the form on the Buckinghamshire Council website. If you live in a different local authority, make sure to apply through the relevant website for that council.

Your child's test papers in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test will be marked and weighted. The English and verbal reasoning test will have a weighting of 50% applied, while the non-verbal reasoning and maths sections will be weighted at 25% each. The total of all scores will then be age-standardised to avoid any potential disadvantage for younger children. This overall mark will be your child's Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS).

The qualifying score in the Secondary Transfer Test is 121. If your child achieves a score of 121 or higher, they will be eligible for entry to the Royal Latin School.

Unlike other grammar schools in the country, children in Buckinghamshire are not ranked in order of their scores. Grammar school entry is entirely dependent on whether or not the child has scored 121, and whether they meet the individual school's admission criteria. We've included the admission criteria for the Royal Latin School below.

There are 174 places available in Year 7 at the Royal Latin School.

Children who achieve a standardised score of 121 or higher and who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school will be allocated places as a priority and the number of remaining places will be reduced accordingly. If the number of children who have achieved a standardised score of 121 exceeds the number of available places, the Royal Latin School will apply oversubscription criteria:

1. Looked after and previously looked after children

2. Children living in the catchment area

3. Siblings of children on roll at the Royal Latin School

4. Qualified children of staff at the Royal Latin School

5. Children who have exceptional medical or social needs that can only be met at the school

6. Children who qualify for pupil premium

7. Up to 6 places are ring-fenced for children whose standardised score in the Secondary Transfer Test is between 110 and 120 and who have not been deemed to qualify following a selection review. These children are defined as looked after or previously looked after, or living in the catchment area and eligible for the pupil premium

8. Siblings of children who have previously attended the Royal Latin School

9. All further places will be offered in distance order, with priority given to children living closest to the school

The Royal Latin School operates a catchment area to prioritise eligible children living close to the school. The catchment area covers North Buckinghamshire and includes the main areas of Buckingham, Steeple Claydon, Marsh Gibbon and Winslow.

A map is available on the school website.