RGS High Wycombe vs John Hampden Grammar
How the two compare on Ofsted, GCSE results, places and entrance test — and specialist 11+ tuition for both.
The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and John Hampden Grammar School are both selected through the The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools. In 2024/25, RGS High Wycombe recorded a GCSE Attainment 8 of 73.9 (97.6% grade 5+ in English and maths), against John Hampden Grammar's 72.3 (97.8%). RGS High Wycombe admits about 182 pupils to Year 7 each year and John Hampden Grammar about 180. RGS High Wycombe's latest Ofsted outcome is Good (2019); John Hampden Grammar's is Outstanding (2022).
The two boys’ grammars in High Wycombe itself — the most direct comparison for High Wycombe families with a son.
| RGS High Wycombe | John Hampden Grammar | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire |
| Type | Boys | Boys |
| Ofsted (latest) | Good (2019)† | Outstanding (2022) |
| GCSE Attainment 8 (2024/25) | 73.9 | 72.3 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 97.6% | 97.8% |
| A-level (2025) | 86% A*–B | 75% A*–B |
| Year 7 places | 182 | 180 |
| Entrance test | GL Assessment, Bucks Secondary Transfer Test (TBGS) | GL Assessment, Bucks Secondary Transfer Test (TBGS) |
| Qualifying score | 121 (standardised) | 121 (standardised) |
RGS High Wycombe or John Hampden Grammar: how to choose
Because both schools select through the Bucks Secondary Transfer Test (TBGS), your child sits one test that counts for both — so you do not have to choose before the 11+. The decision comes later, when you list preferences. Weigh three things: which school your child is realistically in catchment for (each ranks qualified applicants differently — see each school's allocation rules), the results and ethos that suit your child, and the practicalities of the daily journey.
On the hard numbers, the two are closely matched: RGS High Wycombe posted a GCSE Attainment 8 of 73.9 and John Hampden Grammar 72.3 in 2024/25. RGS High Wycombe edges it on that measure, but the gap is small and both sit far above the national average. For most families the deciding factor is access — the score needed in practice and the catchment rules — rather than a fraction of an Attainment 8 point.
RGS High Wycombe vs John Hampden Grammar: Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources
School data is taken from authoritative sources, last verified 26 May 2026: Ofsted (RGS High Wycombe, John Hampden Grammar); the Department for Education’s Compare school and college performance service (GCSE 2024/25); and each school’s own admissions arrangements. A-level figures are each school’s published 2025 results where available. Progress 8 is not shown because the DfE cannot calculate it for 2024/25 (no Key Stage 2 baseline after Covid-19). † Most recent inspection was ungraded, so Ofsted issued no new overall grade (overall grades were dropped for state schools in September 2024). The grade shown is from the previous graded inspection, with its year.
