What makes a grammar school super-selective, which schools qualify, and what it takes to gain a place
Super-selective grammar schools are the most academically competitive state secondary schools in England. They admit students purely on 11+ exam score, with no catchment area, drawing the highest-performing children from wide geographic areas. London and the surrounding counties contain the greatest concentration of super-selective grammars in the country. This guide explains what qualifies a school as super-selective, which schools are in that category, and what it takes to be a realistic candidate for a place.
The term "super-selective" is not an official designation but is widely used to describe grammar schools that operate with no catchment area and admit solely on the basis of the 11+ examination score. At a standard selective grammar school, distance from the school plays a significant role once a child has passed the 11+ qualifying threshold. At a super-selective school, distance plays little or no role -- only the score matters, which means competition is drawn from a much wider pool.
The practical consequence is that super-selective schools require a much higher score than standard selective grammars. While most grammar schools set a qualifying threshold of around 111 standardised, super-selectives typically offer places only to children scoring 118 to 121 or above. At the most competitive schools, only the top 2 to 3% of the national age cohort are offered places.
Tiffin Girls' School is one of the most academically outstanding state schools in England, consistently appearing in the top five nationally for A-Level results. It receives approximately 1,200 applications for 120 places each year. The examination uses GL Assessment papers (Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English, and Mathematics). A score in the region of 118 to 121 standardised is typically needed for a realistic chance of an offer.
Tiffin School shares the super-selective model of its sister school, with similar application numbers and score requirements. Both Tiffin schools draw applicants from across south and west London and the home counties -- meaning children from Kingston itself have no advantage over children from farther afield. The school uses the same GL Assessment papers as Tiffin Girls.
Queen Elizabeth's Boys' School, Barnet is consistently ranked as one of the top two or three state schools in England. It receives approximately 2,000 applications for 120 places -- one of the highest competition ratios of any grammar school in the country. QE Boys is part of the London Consortium, which uses a shared registration and common GL Assessment examination.
Henrietta Barnett School is widely regarded as the most competitive girls' grammar school in England. It receives approximately 1,500 applications for just 93 places and has been ranked first nationally for GCSE and A-Level performance in multiple consecutive years. Like QE Boys, it is part of the London Consortium and uses GL Assessment papers.
KEGS is one of England's highest-performing state schools, using the CSSE Essex examination. It draws applicants from across Essex and beyond with no catchment area. Read more on our KEGS Chelmsford school guide.
Wallington High School for Girls is part of the Sutton Consortium and consistently performs at a level comparable to the London Consortium schools.
Wilson's School is consistently ranked among the top 10 state schools nationally and is part of the Sutton Consortium.
Nonsuch High School is one of the most academically outstanding girls' schools in England, with an excellent record of Oxbridge and Russell Group offers.
Sutton Grammar School is among the highest-performing boys' state schools in England, part of the Sutton Consortium using GL Assessment papers.
The difference between preparing for a standard selective grammar school (score needed: around 111+) and a super-selective (score needed: 118 to 121+) is qualitative, not just a matter of working harder.
| Factor | Standard Selective | Super-Selective |
|---|---|---|
| Score target | 111+ standardised | 118-121+ standardised |
| Recommended start | September Year 5 | Year 4 foundations; Year 5 formal |
| Margin for error | Several marks across papers | Very small; careless errors are disqualifying |
| Speed requirement | Important | Critical; near-automatic on standard questions |
Super-selective preparation demands more consistent practice over a longer period, with specific work on speed and accuracy alongside content knowledge. Read our GL Assessment parent guide for a detailed breakdown of what each paper tests, and our preparation timeline guide for when to begin.
External resource: GL Assessment official 11+ information
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