Head: Joanne Rockall
A highly competitive co-educational grammar school in Slough with an Outstanding Ofsted rating.
0
Year 7 Places
0.0:1
Applicants/Place
Pass Mark
0
Pupils
Max Score
282
Qualifying Score
111
39% of max
Applications
1,170
Offers Made
146
Distance (after pass)
All who pass qualify. Places then by distance.
Sibling Priority
Pupil Premium
Appeals Deadline
2026-03-30
Process
Applications for appeals must be made by Monday 30th March 2026 and timely appeals will be heard by the Independent Appeals Panel in April, May and June 2026.
1. Register
1 May 2026
2. Take Test
Slough Consortium
3. Results
19 Oct 2026
4. Offer Day
1 Mar 2027
A shared 11+ entrance exam used by 3 grammar schools, administered by GL Assessment, testing Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning. Two GL Assessment papers. Max score: 282 (2 × 141). Standardised scores with top ~35% qualifying. Part of the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools consisting of Herschel Grammar School, Langley Grammar School, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School and Upton Court Grammar School. The consortium operates a shared 11+ entrance examination process. The eligibility score is set at 111 on a standardised scale, with pupils scoring 111 or above being in the top 35% of the cohort. Pupil premium eligible children can access free online materials through partnership with Atom Learning. School currently over-subscribed with no places available in any year group for in-year admissions.
Max
282
Qualifying Score
111
39% of max
Registration Opens
Registration opens for the 11+ exam
1 May 2026
Registration Deadline
Final day to register for the 11+ exam
15 Jul 2026
Exam Date
11+ entrance exam
19 Sep 2026
9:00am
Results Released
11+ results released to parents
19 Oct 2026
CAF Deadline
Common Application Form deadline (all LAs)
31 Oct 2026
National Offer Day
National Offer Day — places confirmed
1 Mar 2027
75.7
Attainment 8
Average achievement across 8 qualifications
99%
English + Maths 5+
Grade 5 or above in both
99%
English + Maths 4+
Grade 4 or above in both
78%
EBacc Entry
Entered the English Baccalaureate suite
7.23
EBacc APS
Average points across EBacc subjects
B+
Avg A-Level Grade
Average grade achieved across all A-Level entries
Bar shows this school. Ticks mark the England state-funded average (grey) and the typical grammar-school average (indigo).
Grammar median computed from up to 163 grammars.
| Metric | Disadvantaged | Non-Disadvantaged | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 | 75.3 | 75.7 | +0.4 |
| E+M grade 5+ | 100% | 99% | -1pp |
| EBacc entry | 83% | 78% | -6pp |
Disadvantaged = pupils eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years, looked-after, or adopted from care. A small or zero gap is the goal — it means the school helps every pupil reach the same outcomes.
99%
continued to sixth form
% of pupils who stayed on after GCSEs
High retention is a positive sign — pupils choose to stay and the sixth form supports them through. Low retention can indicate weaker post-16 provision or curriculum mismatch.
DfE breakdown, 2024/25
Eng+Maths 9-5
EBacc entry
41.7avg points / entry
Average grade: B+
DfE doesn't publish the % at each grade band at school level — this is the school-wide average instead.
71%
Continued in education
HE + FE + other
69%
Higher Education
≈1pp vs grammar avg
44%
Russell Group
Cohort destination breakdown
Destinations trend
Strongest at
English Language
150 entries
100%
+6.6pp vs school
Mathematics
150 entries
100%
+6.6pp vs school
Physics
131 entries
100%
+6.6pp vs school
Watch list
Combined Science
19 entries
0%
-93.4pp vs school
Physical Education
28 entries
89%
-4.1pp vs school
Strongest at
Biology
59 entries
100%
+0.2pp vs school
Economics
38 entries
100%
+0.2pp vs school
Physics
37 entries
100%
+0.2pp vs school
Watch list
Maths
103 entries
98%
-1.7pp vs school
Entry Requirements
Minimum 6 GCSEs at grade 6 or above including English and Mathematics at grade 6. For specific A-level subjects, grade 7 or above in that subject or related subjects is typically required.
Subjects Offered
Largest group: Asian (78.7%)
England avg ≈ 24%
≈ 17 pts below the England average — proportion of pupils whose family qualifies for free school meals (a measure of catchment affluence).
England avg ≈ 18%
≈ 22 pts above the England average — proportion of pupils whose first language is not English.
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form
Outstanding
Per-pupil funding
2025/26≈ £260 (-4%) below the English average
Most English state secondaries spend 75–80% of their budget on staff. Higher figures usually mean smaller class sizes; lower figures mean more spent on premises, supplies, or capital projects.
£4,650
Teaching Staff / pupil
£415
Educational Supplies / pupil
£321
Premises / pupil
Revenue reserve / pupil
£848
The school holds a surplus per pupil — money set aside that can absorb unexpected costs or fund future projects without affecting day-to-day teaching.
Total grant: £5,078,308 · 750 pupils funded
How the 2025/26 allocation broke down. Each stream is a signal about the school's intake — bigger deprivation / EAL / SEN top-ups indicate a school serving a more challenging cohort.
Basic entitlement
£4,535,493
Core per-pupil funding before any top-ups.
Pupil Premium
£61,275
Targeted funding for 57 disadvantaged pupils.
Deprivation top-up
£189,442
Aggregates FSM, FSM6 and IDACI deprivation bands.
EAL top-up
£18,480
English-as-additional-language premium — paid for pupils whose first language isn't English.
Prior attainment top-up
£8,914
Funding for pupils arriving below age-related expectations.
Notional SEN
£221,033
Earmarked SEN budget inside the schools block.
Lump sum
£152,754
Fixed per-school grant — size-independent.
Schools budget support grant
£48,866
Government pay-and-pension support grant.
National Insurance grant
£63,085
Compensation for the increase in employer NI contributions.
1,056 / 900(117%)
Subjects Offered
Entry Requirements
Minimum 6 GCSEs at grade 6 or above including English and Mathematics at grade 6. For specific A-level subjects, grade 7 or above in that subject or related subjects is typically required.
1:18.9
Staff:Pupil Ratio
96.54%
Qualified Teachers
3.19%
Absence Rate
4.85%
Persistent Absence
The school has indoor and outdoor sports facilities, classrooms, IT suites and large hall venues available for community lettings.
Sports
Indoor and outdoor sports facilities managed through external lettings partnership with Active in the Community (AITC)
STEM
IT suites available
Arts
Drama facilities with dedicated spaces for theatrical productions including Pantomime, Kabuki Theatre and Elizabethan Theatre
Library
Modern library and learning resource centre with extensive book collection, digital resources, computer access, quiet study areas, and group work spaces. Open before school, during breaks and after school.
Capital Projects
Recent completion of new science block with state-of-the-art laboratories. Ongoing refurbishment of main teaching blocks and planned development of new sixth form centre.
The school offers a range of activities including Drama with topics like Pantomime, Kabuki Theatre, and Elizabethan Theatre, with strong student engagement and positive feedback.
Sports
Music & Performing Arts
Clubs & Societies
Duke of Edinburgh
true
Trips & Exchanges
School theatre trips linked to Drama curriculum, with previous trips related to productions like 'Bugsy Malone' and 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'
Community Service
Students participate in various community service activities including charity fundraising, local elderly home visits, environmental projects, and partnerships with local primary schools for reading support.
Uniform
Boys: Navy blazer with school badge, white shirt, school tie, grey trousers, black shoes, navy pullover (optional). Girls: Navy blazer with school badge, white blouse, school tie, navy skirt or grey trousers, black shoes, navy cardigan or pullover (optional). PE kit includes navy shorts, white polo shirt, navy rugby shirt, white socks, trainers.
School Meals
The school uses a cashless catering system. Free school meals eligible children have an allowance allocated to their cashless catering account each day sufficient for them to purchase a balanced meal.
Homework Policy
Homework is set regularly across all subjects. Years 7-9: approximately 1 hour per subject per week. Years 10-11: 1.5-2 hours per subject per week. Sixth Form: independent study expectations of 4-5 hours per subject per week.
Behaviour Policy
The school operates a positive behaviour policy with clear expectations, rewards system including house points, and sanctions including detentions and isolation for serious breaches. Emphasis on respect, responsibility and excellence.
Mobile Phone Policy
Mobile phones must be switched off and kept in bags during school hours. They may only be used in designated areas at break and lunch times with permission.
SEND Provision
Parents with children who have an EHCP should consult with their local authority team regarding grammar school applications.
Enter your postcode to see directions to Herschel
["Dedicated school bus services operate from various locations including Feltham, Hounslow, Richmond, Twickenham, and surrounding areas. Multiple routes available - contact school directly for specific route details and booking."]
Nearest Station: Slough
Transport Info
The school is located on Northampton Avenue in Slough, Berkshire. Contact details available for transport enquiries through the main office.
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