Burnham Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school for pupils aged 11 to 18, on Hogfair Lane in Burnham, Buckinghamshire. As a member of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) partnership, it selects its Year 7 intake through the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test. Its results are consistently strong and it takes pupil wellbeing seriously, so it stays one of the most sought-after schools in the area, and competition for places is tight.
Because Burnham sits right alongside Slough, many families applying live just over the border. Think Smart Academy supports those families from its Slough centre at Brooklands Business Centre, Petersfield Avenue, SL2 5DY, only minutes from Burnham, and through online tuition for households further afield. This guide walks through how the admissions process works, the scores to aim for, and a sensible plan for getting your child ready.
School overview
Burnham Grammar School (URN 137564) is part of the Beeches Learning & Development Trust. Its most recent Ofsted visit was an ungraded (Section 8) inspection on 6–7 December 2022, which confirmed that the school “continues to be a good school”. An ungraded inspection does not issue a fresh overall grade; the school’s last formally graded inspection, in November 2012, judged it Good (Ofsted reports).
The headline academic results sit at GCSE. In 2024/25, Burnham recorded an Attainment 8 score of 70.1, with 94.4% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and maths, well above national norms. The EBacc average point score was 6.16, and 42.5% of pupils entered the full English Baccalaureate (DfE performance data). Progress 8 was not calculated for 2024/25, so it is not reported here. A-level outcomes are not published from a primary source we can cite, so we have left them out rather than guess.
The school also puts real weight on positive mental health, with pupil-led Mind ambassadors and mental-health champions, and a curriculum that is particularly strong in English and maths.
The entrance exam: Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
Entry to Burnham Grammar is decided by the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT), produced by GL Assessment and used across all TBGS grammar schools. Children sit two papers of roughly 60 minutes each. Between them, the papers assess three skills: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and maths.
This is a single, shared test. Your child does not sit a Burnham-specific paper. They sit the Buckinghamshire test once, and the resulting standardised score is used by every Bucks grammar they have named. The STT is the gateway to Burnham and to its partner schools alike.
Pass mark and realistic score targets
The qualifying standard for the Buckinghamshire test is a standardised score of 121 or above. A child who reaches 121 has qualified for grammar school admission.
But qualifying is not the same as securing a place at an oversubscribed school. Burnham Grammar is consistently popular, so reaching the 121 threshold is the minimum, not the goal. We do not have a verified published figure for the score that places have actually gone to in recent years, so we will not quote one. Aim comfortably above 121 and build a margin of safety rather than scraping the line.
Key dates for September 2027 entry
For children starting in September 2027, the timetable is:
- Registration opens: 10am on 1 May 2026
- Registration deadline: approximately 2 June 2026
- Test dates: 8 and 10 September 2026
Registration is handled through Buckinghamshire Council, and the deadline is strict: children who are not registered in time cannot sit the test. Mark the 1 May opening date in your diary and register early; leaving it to the final days is an avoidable risk.
Competition and catchment
Burnham Grammar has a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 180 for Year 7, as set out in its determined Admissions Policy 2027. With far more qualified applicants than places, the order in which children are offered places matters a great deal.
After looked-after and previously looked-after children, the policy gives priority in this order: catchment children eligible for Pupil Premium; siblings of pupils currently at the school, then siblings of former pupils; children with an exceptional medical or social need to attend; children of staff; other catchment children; and finally all other qualified children outside catchment. Where a category is oversubscribed, the tie-breaker is straight-line distance to the nearest school gate, with closer addresses given priority.
For families in Slough and the surrounding area, two points follow. Qualifying in the test is essential but does not by itself guarantee a place. And because distance settles the close calls, where you live can be decisive when categories fill up. We do not have a verified catchment cutoff distance to publish, so check your specific address against the current catchment map and the determined admissions policy before applying.
Preparation timeline and strategy
The most common reason able children miss out is starting too late. The Buckinghamshire test rewards consistent, well-paced preparation far more than a last-minute push.
Year 4 is the best starting point. Beginning in Year 4 gives a child time to build reasoning skill, particularly in non-verbal reasoning, which many children meet for the first time, without the pressure of cramming in the final months of Year 5. It also leaves room to address gaps calmly as they appear.
Prepare the four areas separately. The test draws on verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths, and the literacy and comprehension that supports verbal work. Treating these as distinct strands, rather than one undifferentiated “11+” subject, lets you see where a child is strong and where they need attention. A child who is fluent in maths but shaky on non-verbal reasoning needs targeted work, not more of everything.
At Think Smart Academy, classes are capped at eight pupils, so every child gets real attention and the teaching can be pitched to their actual needs. We also offer a free diagnostic assessment, which gives an honest, early read on where a child stands against the standard the test demands. That is worth a lot when planning the months ahead. For Burnham families, our Slough centre is only minutes away, and online tuition is available for those who prefer to learn from home or live further out.
A realistic rhythm looks like steady weekly work through Year 4 and into Year 5, with timed practice introduced once the core skills are secure, so that exam technique and pacing are second nature by the September test.
Common mistakes to avoid
A handful of mistakes account for most disappointments:
- Treating 121 as the target. It is the qualifying line, not the bar for an oversubscribed school. Aim higher.
- Missing the registration window. Registration opens at 10am on 1 May 2026 and closes around 2 June 2026. Miss it and your child cannot sit the test, full stop.
- Neglecting non-verbal reasoning. Because it is unfamiliar, it is often under-practised, and it is exactly where well-prepared candidates pull ahead.
- Cramming. Intensive last-minute work raises stress and rarely builds the lasting reasoning the test measures. Start early and pace it.
- Ignoring catchment and distance. Qualifying is only half the picture. Check your address against the current map and admissions policy so there are no surprises.
- Skipping timed practice. A child who knows the material but cannot finish within roughly 60 minutes per paper will underperform on the day.
Next step
Burnham Grammar School is academically strong, serious about wellbeing, and right on Slough’s doorstep. A place is well within reach for a child who prepares properly and starts in good time.
Book a free consultation with Think Smart Academy to discuss your child’s readiness, or read more about how we prepare children for this school on our Burnham Grammar School page. With our Slough centre minutes away and online tuition available, getting started is easy, and the earlier you do, the stronger your child’s chances.