Admissions Process

Dr Challoner’s High School welcomes applications for admission, please see Policy section.

For further information about the test and the testing process please refer to the information on The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) website and the Admissions pages on the Buckinghamshire Council website.

website: https://www.thebucksgrammarschools.org/  and the Bucks Admissions website pages:  https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/

Moving up to Secondary School in September 2025

Secondary Transfer Test

Parents whose children attend a Partner or out of county primary school can find all the relevant information here.

"I really like this school because everyone here is very kind and welcoming.  I hope I can come here to learn and make new friends"

MOVING UP TO SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 2025

Children sit two test papers in the Autumn of the year prior to proposed admission.  Children sit both papers on the same day.  Each test paper is approximately 60 minutes in length: including an introduction and practice examples.  The STT assess verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills.  The child’s scores in each of the three skills areas are age-standardised to ensure children are placed on an equal footing regardless of when their birthday falls in the year.  The three age-standardised scores are then added together to give the child’s Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS).  Children need an STTS of 121 or more in order to automatically qualify for a grammar school place.  As clarified in our Admissions Policy, however, the school will make available up to 12 places to girls, within the existing PAN of 180, resident in the catchment area, who are in receipt of Pupil Premium, or who are LAC/Post-LAC, IAC, or IAPLAC, at the time of application, and who have achieved a standardised score of at least 115 in the admissions tests.  If not all 12 places are filled, then up to six of these 12 places will be made available to girls, resident in the catchment area, who are in receipt of Pupil Premium, or who are LAC/Post-LAC, IC, or IAPLAC, at the time of application, and who have achieved a standardised score of between 110-114 in the admissions tests, and whose score would not otherwise qualify them for admission.  Documentary evidence, e.g. a signed letter from your primary school, confirming eligibility for Pupil Premium funding on the most recent school census date, must be submitted with the application for inclusion in this category and notified to the school using the email address [email protected]

Supplementary Information Form 2 (SIF2) – Year 7 Entry 2025

Applicants who wish to be considered under the criteria referring to the School’s catchment area, are required to complete a SIF to confirm their residency qualification.  Please click here for SIF2.

The electronic link for this will be available and open on our website from 1^st October 2024 and in order for us to accurately process applications in time for the first round of allocations on National Offer Day, these should be received by 30^th November 2024.

If you would prefer to complete a paper copy of the SIF2, then a copy can also be found at the end of our 2025 Admissions Policy.  Please note this should not be returned to us prior to 1^st October 2024.

Who needs to register for the Secondary Transfer Test?

Registration for testing is automatic for children who attend Buckinghamshire Primary schools unless the parent expressly withdraws their child from testing. In all other cases, including where children attend independent schools in Buckinghamshire and non-Buckinghamshire Primary schools, an application for testing should be made to Buckinghamshire Council, the Test Administrator for of all the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools, by date published on Buckinghamshire Council website.  In addition, all applicants must notify their home Local Authority of their preference for the school prior to the closing date of 31 October 2024.

How do parents register for Testing?

The registration window opened in early May 2024 and closed on 14 June 2024 with information found on the Buckinghamshire Council website with enquires directed to the Admissions Team at Buckinghamshire Council via the Contact Us form on their website.

This year parents registered their child for testing on the online portal, designed specifically for testing registration and this will be accessed on the Grammar Schools and Transfer Test page on our website. Those parents that need to register their child should use this route no matter where they live. If a family has difficulty in accessing the internet, we would recommend they ask a friend or relative, visit their local library or ask their child’s school if they can assist

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact The Admissions and Transport Team at Bucks Council.

MOVING UP TO SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 2026

Supplementary Information Form (SIF2) - Year 7 Entry 2026

Please note that applicants who wish to be considered under the criteria referring to the School’s catchment area will be required to completed a SIF to confirm their residency qualification.  The electronic link for this will be available on our website from 1^st October 2025 and the deadline for inclusion in the first round of allocations will be by the end of the school day on 30^th November 2025.

A copy of this SIF2 will also be available on our 2026 Admissions Policy.

All students applying for late entry into Dr Challoner's High School will be required to sit a transfer test.

The process for gaining admission is different for each year group and specific guidance is offered below.  Should you have any queries please contact the School’s Admissions Officer.

LATE TRANSFER PROCESS FOR ADMISSION SEPTEMBER 2025

Dr Challoner’s High School administers its own Late Transfer Testing and admissions into Year 8 and 9 (Year 7 from January 2025) are handled in accordance with the school’s Late Transfer Procedure.  Please see section 4 of the 2025 Admissions Policy for full details.

The academic suitability of girls seeking admission under the school’s Late Transfer procedure will be assessed through curriculum based tests in English and Maths.  Girls will be required to achieve a minimum standard in each of the tests in order to qualify.  We do not provide sample papers. 

Testing does not mean that there are places available, but allows the school to establish a waiting list of qualified candidates should a place become available in the relevant year group.  The waiting list is ranked in accordance with the school’s Late Transfer Over-Subscription Criteria as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the Admissions Policy.  If an applicant qualifies but cannot be allocated a place because the school is full they will have their name placed on the waiting list for the relevant year.

Timeline 

Late Transfer Test Application Form

From Monday 8th July 2024.  An electronic application form will be added to website, parents can register and submit address evidence. 

13^th January 2025, 4.00pm - Closing date for submitting the application form to register for the Late Transfer Test for September 2025 entry and providing the address evidence. 

Monday 3^rd March 2025 – Testing takes place at school from 4.00pm. 

Results from the testing will be sent via post in late April 2025.

Parents have the right to lodge an appeal against a decision, setting out their grounds for appeal in writing.  This should be emailed to the Independent Appeals Clerk [email protected]. 

Application for Immediate Transfer Test for waiting list place for Years 8 and 9 for the academic year commencing September 2024 and for Year 7 from January 2025.  Please note prior to January 2025 all Year 7 enquiries will be handled via Buckinghamshire Council.

Link to Application for Immediate Transfer Test

In accordance with our 2024 Admissions Policy we offer an Immediate Transfer Test to girls who have moved into the catchment area of the school since the deadline for applying for the last Annual Testing round, provided they have not already taken the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test that school year, or a test under the Late Transfer Procedure in the preceding academic year.

Please refer to Section 3 of the School’s 2024 Admissions Policy, Immediate Admission, with regards to the criteria. 

Should the necessary criteria as outlined in our Admissions Policy be met and evidence provided then you can apply for an Immediate Transfer Test for a place on the waiting list and will be tested as soon as possible.

Testing does not mean that there are places available, but allows the school to establish a waiting list of qualified candidates should a place become available in the relevant year group.  The waiting list is ranked in accordance with the school’s Over-Subscription Criteria as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the Admissions Policy.

Applicants will be notified of either the date of their test or of the reason for refusal to administer such a test within 15 school days of receipt of their application. Parents have a statutory right of appeal against the refusal of a place, which would be outlined in any letter refusing admission, which states the reason for the refusal, including the deadline for lodging an appeal with grounds.

Sixth Form Admissions 2025

For entry into Year 12, in addition to students from the school's Year 11 who have fulfilled the entry  requirements, the Sixth Form Admission Number is 20.  If more than 20 external candidates successfully meet the entry requirements, use of the Sixth Form oversubscription criteria (paragraph 5.3 of Admissions Policy) will determine which applicants are allocated the number of external places after qualifying internal candidates are allocated their places.

Current Year 11 students are not required to complete a Sixth Form Application, as they are already on roll.  Their conditional place in our Sixth Form will be confirmed, once they are in receipt of their GCSE/iGCSE grades and have met the minimum academic entry criteria, as outlined within our Policy.

Minimum entry requirements (which are the same for both internal and prospective applicants) are as follows:

Girls are required to achieve a minimum of 48 points from their best 8 GCSE or iGCSE subjects, including a minimum of 5 points in both English Language or English Literature and Mathematics. Short course GCSE qualifications and GCSEs or iGCSEs achieved after re-sits will not be considered as part of the entry criteria. In addition, girls must meet the entry requirements for each of the A Level courses for which they have applied. Admission is also dependent upon there being space in the classes for the chosen courses and that the combination of courses fits the school’s timetable.

Sixth Form Entry Application Process

We welcome applications to our Sixth Form for September 2025 entry. The application window is open from 1st October 2024– 20th January 2025 (closing at 5pm).

Sixth Form Application Form 2025 Entry

Subject Entry Requirements 2025

My name is Kalyani, and I’m studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A-Level. Although I’ve been at Challoners’ since Year 7, my experiences in Sixth Form have been completely different to what I expected. For my content-heavy subjects, the smaller classes and clear set teaching styles have been amazing, as I’ve felt that support for consolidating content and revision resources have always been offered by staff. Whilst lockdown learning was an unforeseen struggle, the transition to digital learning was managed smoothly, and the Sixth Form Team were still available for me to contact for help with post-18 planning. Their continuous support, as well as that offered from the Careers Advisors and my Form Tutor, have helped me in refining my personal statement, as well as reaffirming my decision to study Neuroscience at university. My advice to students coming into Sixth Form is to make the most of every opportunity to be part of the school community, and if you have a passion for something there will always be an opportunity to share it.

Year 7 2024 Appeals Timetable

Late Transfer 2024 Appeals Timetable

Sixth Form 2024 Appeals Timetable

Please email the Independent Appeals Clerk to request information about the appeal process.

Following Immediate Transfer Testing and Late Transfer Testing, any appeals regarding the outcomes should be submitted within 20 school days from the date of the decision letter.