Hertfordshire Selective School Directory
Hertfordshire Grammar SchoolsComplete 11 Plus Guide.
Complete guide to all academically selective schools in Hertfordshire. School details, SW Herts Consortium test information, addresses, entry requirements, and 11 Plus preparation advice.
8
Selective Schools
7
SW Herts Consortium
11+
Entry Age
GL
Assessment
Hertfordshire 11 Plus
Everything You Need to Know About Hertfordshire Selective Schools.
Unlike counties such as Kent or Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire does not have fully selective grammar schools. Instead, it has partially selective schools that reserve 10–35% of their Year 7 places for students selected on academic ability. Seven of these schools form the South West Herts Schools Consortium (SWHSC), sharing a common entrance test administered by GL Assessment.
The SW Herts Consortium test consists of Verbal Reasoning and Mathematics papers, sat in early September of Year 6. Dame Alice Owen’s School runs its own independent entrance exam. At Eleven Ace, we provide personalised 1:1 online tuition and small-group batch classes tailored to both the SW Herts Consortium test and Dame Alice Owen’s exam.
Exam Board
GL Assessment
- 8 Selective Schools
- 7 SW Herts Consortium
- 11+ Entry Age
2027 entry · verified August 2026
Hertfordshire key dates — the SW Herts consortium
Hertfordshire has no county-wide 11+. The partially selective schools of south-west Hertfordshire share one academic ability test; elsewhere in the county, schools run their own arrangements.
SW Herts registration
1 Apr – 5 Jun 2026
Closes 5 June.
Academic ability test
5 Sept 2026
Shared consortium test.
Apply by
31 Oct 2026
National deadline.
School Directory
All Hertfordshire Grammar Schools
Watford Selective Schools
3 SchoolsWatford Grammar School for Boys
Founded in 1704, WBGS is one of the most oversubscribed and academically high-performing state schools in the country. A member of the South West Herts Schools Consortium, 25% of places are allocated on academic ability and 10% on musical aptitude, with the remainder by distance and siblings.
- Address
- Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD18 7JF
- Exam Board
- GL Assessment (VR + Maths)
- Places
- ~220 total (~56 academic, ~22 music)
Watford Grammar School for Girls
Founded in 1704 alongside the boys’ school, WGGS is a high-achieving girls’ school and SW Herts Consortium member. Holds a strong academic reputation and is heavily oversubscribed each year, with 25% of places allocated on academic ability and 10% on musical aptitude.
- Address
- Lady’s Close, Watford, WD18 0AE
- Exam Board
- GL Assessment (VR + Maths)
- Places
- ~210 total (~52 academic, ~21 music)
Parmiter’s School
Originally founded in 1681 as a charity school in Bethnal Green, Parmiter’s relocated to Hertfordshire and is now a highly sought-after co-educational partially selective academy. A SW Herts Consortium member with 25% academic and 10% music selection.
- Address
- High Elms Lane, Garston, Nr. Watford, WD25 0UU
- Exam Board
- GL Assessment (VR + Maths)
- Places
- 186 total (~47 academic, ~19 music)
Bushey Selective Schools
1 SchoolQueens’ School
Queens’ School has the highest proportion of academically selective places (35%) of any SW Herts Consortium school. It is also the only consortium school that selects on sporting aptitude (5%) alongside academic ability (35%) and music (5%), making it uniquely competitive.
- Address
- Aldenham Road, Bushey, WD23 2TY
- Exam Board
- GL Assessment (VR + Maths)
- Places
- ~262 total (~92 academic, ~13 music, ~13 sport)
Rickmansworth & Chorleywood Selective Schools
2 SchoolsRickmansworth School
A large, popular co-educational academy and SW Herts Consortium member serving the Rickmansworth and Croxley Green area. Allocates 25% of places on academic ability and 10% on musical aptitude via the shared consortium test.
- Address
- Scots Hill, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, WD3 3AQ
- Exam Board
- GL Assessment (VR + Maths)
- Places
- ~240 total (~60 academic, ~24 music)
St Clement Danes School
Established in 1862, St Clement Danes is a SW Herts Consortium member and part of the Danes Educational Trust. Allocates 10% of places on academic ability and 10% on musical aptitude. Although it has a lower academic selective proportion, it is a consistently high-performing school.
- Address
- Chenies Road, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 6EW
- Exam Board
- GL Assessment (VR + Maths)
- Places
- ~240 total (~24 academic, ~24 music)
Potters Bar Selective Schools
1 SchoolDame Alice Owen’s School
One of Hertfordshire’s most academically prestigious partially selective schools. Founded in 1613 by Dame Alice Owen, it retains a historic link with the London Borough of Islington, reserving at least 20 Year 7 places for Islington residents. Runs its own entrance exam (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning) — not part of the SW Herts Consortium.
- Address
- Dugdale Hill Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2DU
- Exam Board
- School’s own exam (English, Maths, VR)
- Places
- 200 total (~65 academic, ~10 music)
Eleven Ace Tutoring
Preparing for Hertfordshire Selective Schools with Eleven Ace.
The SW Herts Consortium test covers Verbal Reasoning and Mathematics, while Dame Alice Owen’s tests English, Maths, and Verbal Reasoning. Eleven Ace provides personalised 1:1 online tuition and small-group batch classes tailored to both exam formats — helping your child compete for the limited academic places available.
Hertfordshire 11 Plus
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FAQs
Hertfordshire 11 Plus FAQs.
Hertfordshire does not have fully selective grammar schools like Kent or Buckinghamshire. Instead, it has partially selective schools that reserve 10–35% of their Year 7 places for students selected on academic ability. The most selective are Queens’ School (35% academic), Dame Alice Owen’s (32.5%), and Watford Grammar Boys, Watford Grammar Girls, Parmiter’s, and Rickmansworth School (each 25%).
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