Upton Court Grammar School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted across all five categories (November 2022) and has some of the strongest GCSE results in the country, 82% of grades at 7 or above in 2025, with an Attainment 8 score of 79.8. With 165 Year 7 places and a unique admissions system that includes feeder school priority and 20 Pupil Premium places, understanding how places are actually allocated is essential.
School Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Type | Co-educational grammar school (academy) |
| Age range | 11–18 |
| Number of pupils | ~1,159 (461 in sixth form) |
| Year 7 places (PAN) | 165 |
| Ofsted rating | Outstanding (November 2022), all categories |
| Headteacher | Mr Oliver King |
| Trust | Pioneer Educational Trust |
| Specialisms | Languages and Science |
| Address | Lascelles Road, Upton, Berkshire, SL3 7PR |
| Phone | 01753 522892 |
| Website | uptoncourtgrammar.org.uk |
Founded in 1912 as Slough Secondary School, Upton Court Grammar has over a century of history. The school is part of the Pioneer Educational Trust and serves a diverse, multicultural student body, 46.7% of students have English as a second language.
Academic Results
Upton Court’s results are exceptional and have improved year-on-year.
GCSE (Summer 2025)
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Grades 7–9 | 82% of all entries |
| Grades 8–9 | 62% of all entries |
| Grade 9 | 33% of all entries |
| English & Maths grade 5+ | 100% |
| Attainment 8 score | 79.8 |
GCSE (Summer 2024, for comparison)
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Grades 7–9 | 74% |
| Grades 8–9 | 52% |
| Grade 9 | 25% |
The school’s Progress 8 score has historically been among the highest nationally. A previous figure of +1.19 ranked Upton Court 10th in England among nearly 7,000 schools. The 2023 official figure was +0.56, still well above the national average.
A-Level (Summer 2025)
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| A*–B grades | 76% |
| A*–A grades | 48% |
| Students with 3 A grades or above | 56 |
| Russell Group university places | 60% of leavers |
The Slough Consortium 11+ Exam
Upton Court is part of the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, alongside Herschel Grammar, Langley Grammar, and St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar. Your child sits one exam and the score is shared with all four schools.
Exam Format
The exam uses GL Assessment papers, two papers on the same day:
| Paper | Content | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1, Verbal Skills | Reading comprehension, vocabulary, verbal reasoning | ~60 minutes |
| Paper 2, Non-Verbal Skills | Non-verbal reasoning, mathematics (KS2 curriculum) | ~60 minutes |
All questions are multiple-choice. There is no creative writing section.
Qualifying Score: 111
A standardised score of 111 is required for grammar school eligibility, placing your child in roughly the top 35% of the cohort. Scores are age-standardised so children born at different times in the academic year are compared fairly.
Achieving 111 makes your child eligible, it does not guarantee a place. Upton Court’s oversubscription criteria then determine who receives an offer.
Key Dates for 2027 Entry
| Milestone | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | Thursday 1 May 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Thursday 5 June 2026 |
| 11+ exam day | Saturday 19 September 2026 |
| Results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| Common Application Form deadline | Saturday 31 October 2026 |
| National Offer Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
| Appeals deadline | Late March 2027 |
Register through the Slough Consortium portal when it opens on 1 May. You will need a recent passport-style photograph of your child. Do not register on the final day, the portal slows near the deadline.
Oversubscription Criteria: How Places Are Actually Allocated
Upton Court’s admissions criteria are different from the other consortium schools. Understanding these differences is critical, particularly the feeder school priority and the large Pupil Premium allocation.
Priority 1: Looked-After Children
Children in care or previously in care who achieve the qualifying score.
Priority 2: Pupil Premium, 20 Places
Up to 20 places are reserved for children eligible for Pupil Premium (Free School Meals, or eligible within the last 6 years) who achieve the qualifying score. These places are allocated by exam rank order, then distance if more than 20 qualify.
You must submit Pupil Premium evidence by the December deadline specified in the admissions arrangements.
This is the largest Pupil Premium allocation among the four consortium schools and a meaningful advantage for eligible families.
Priority 3: Children of Staff
Children of permanent staff working at the Pioneer Educational Trust.
Priority 4: Feeder School Priority
Children attending one of two designated feeder schools:
- Foxborough Primary School
- Trevelyan Middle School
If your child attends either of these schools and achieves 111+, they receive priority over children at other schools (except those in higher priority categories). This is unique to Upton Court among the consortium schools.
Priority 5: Rank Order, Up to 120 Places
Up to 120 places allocated strictly by exam score, highest to lowest. This is where the majority of places go.
Priority 6: Distance
Any remaining places are offered based on proximity to the school, measured in a straight line from home address to school.
Tiebreaker
Distance from the school (as the crow flies) is used to break ties within each category.
What This Means for Your Strategy
No formal catchment area. Unlike Herschel Grammar (which has a 4-mile priority zone), Upton Court has no geographical restriction. Families from anywhere can apply.
Exam score matters most. With 120 places allocated purely by rank order, a high score is the primary route to a place for most families. This means preparation should focus on maximising the score, not just hitting the 111 threshold.
Feeder school advantage. If your child attends Foxborough Primary or Trevelyan Middle, they have a genuine advantage, provided they achieve 111+. Families in those school catchments should be aware of this.
Pupil Premium applicants. With 20 reserved places, families who qualify for Free School Meals have a meaningful pathway. Ensure you submit the evidence documentation by the December deadline.
For a side-by-side comparison of all four consortium schools, read our guide to Slough’s grammar schools compared.
Sixth Form Entry
Upton Court’s sixth form has approximately 461 students and accepts external applicants.
Minimum entry requirements:
- 6 GCSE passes: at least 4 at Grade 6 and 2 at Grade 5
- Subject-specific grade requirements vary by A-Level choice
Applications for September 2026 entry opened December 2025 and closed January 2026. The pattern is consistent year-on-year, expect December 2026 for September 2027 entry.
The Sixth Form Open Evening is held in November each year.
Facilities and Extracurriculars
Upton Court holds designations as a Leading Edge School, ICT Focus School, Training School, and International School. The school’s specialisms in Languages and Science are reflected in its curriculum breadth.
The school runs a Super Curriculum extension programme for high-attaining pupils, allowing them to explore topics beyond the standard curriculum. This is particularly valuable for students targeting competitive universities.
Open Evenings
The main Year 7 Open Evening is held annually in late September:
- 2025: Tuesday 23 September 2025, 4:00pm–7:00pm
- 2026: Expected late September 2026 (date TBC)
Open Evenings include a headteacher’s presentation (multiple sessions throughout the evening), department tours, student-led tours, and alumni presentations. No booking is required.
Preparation Timeline
If your child is in Year 4 or 5, here is a structured preparation plan:
Year 4 (Foundation Building)
- Daily reading of varied fiction and non-fiction to build vocabulary naturally
- Mental arithmetic practice, speed and accuracy matter under exam conditions
- Logic puzzles and pattern recognition activities for non-verbal reasoning foundations
Year 5 September–December (Introduce the Format)
- Start GL Assessment familiarisation materials covering all four areas
- Begin untimed practice to build understanding of question types
- Focus on balanced competence, the Slough Consortium exam does not weight one area more heavily than others
Year 5 January–July (Intensive Practice)
- Weekly timed practice papers under exam conditions
- Maintain an error log tracking recurring mistakes
- Aim for 7–10 hours per week including tuition and independent practice
- Summer holidays: consider an intensive course for structured daily sessions
September 2026 (Exam Month)
- Complete 2–3 final papers under strict conditions
- Final week: focus on confidence and routine, not new content
- Arrive early on exam day, bring water, reassure your child
October 2026 (Results and Applications)
- Log into the consortium portal with your saved credentials
- Submit the Common Application Form by 31 October 2026
- List schools in genuine order of preference
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Aiming for 111 and stopping. At Upton Court, 120 of the 165 places are allocated by exam rank. A score of 111 makes your child eligible but may not be enough to secure a rank-order place. Target 120+ in practice to build a comfortable margin.
Using CEM preparation materials. The Slough Consortium uses GL Assessment. CEM-style papers test different skills and will not prepare your child for the actual format.
Missing the Pupil Premium evidence deadline. If your child qualifies for Free School Meals, you must submit documentation by the December deadline. Missing it means losing access to the 20 reserved places.
Not attending the Open Evening. Open Evenings help your child feel confident about their school preferences. They also give you a realistic sense of each school’s culture and whether it is the right fit.
Confusing exam registration with the school application. Consortium registration enters your child for the exam. The Common Application Form (due 31 October to your local authority) is the separate school place application. Both are required.
Is It Too Late to Start Preparing?
If your child is in Year 5 and has not started preparation, there are still approximately five months before the September exam. That is enough time for meaningful progress, but only with structured, consistent work.
At Think Smart Academy, we have helped over 1,000 students get into grammar schools across Slough and Buckinghamshire, with an 85% success rate. Our 11+ programme covers all four subject areas:
- Small groups (maximum 8 students)
- Weekly sessions with qualified tutors
- Termly mock exams under real exam conditions
- Regular progress reports for parents
- Access to our free past papers library
Start with a free diagnostic assessment. We test your child across all four 11+ subjects, identify strengths and weaknesses, and build a targeted preparation plan, no obligation.
Dates are projected from the confirmed 2026 cycle and will be updated when officially published by the Slough Consortium. Academic results sourced from the school’s published performance data and Ofsted reports.