One of the most challenging things you can be presented with as a parent is helping your children on the way to the best possible start in life. The most important choice you will be presented with is choosing the right school for them.
While the choice is always going to be difficult, it can be especially tough when it comes to choosing a grammar school. Of course, grammar schools are going to offer the best possible start for your young ones, but how do you know which to choose?
The trouble that is often faced is that the information you will receive can be biased and will offer no genuine value to your search whatsoever. The purpose of this article is to take a comprehensive look at the five grammar schools in Slough, and hopefully by the end; you will be better informed as to which option is best for your child.
The aim of the article is not to make an overall recommendation, but to leave you, the reader with a deeper knowledge of the options available provided by a neutral source.
What Are The Advantages Of Attending A Grammar School?
If, like most parents, the success of your child is important to you, then allowing them the opportunity to attend grammar school will give them the best possible opportunities in life. Since the introduction of the modern grammar school in 1944, they have been constantly associated with high levels of success.
The selection process through the eleven plus exam can make entry into a grammar school highly competitive. One of the best advantages of sending your child to grammar school is that social standing will never come into their success at the school.
Grammar school entry is solely based on academic ability and nothing more. It is often thought that grammar schools can provide incredible opportunities for children from poorer backgrounds and help them rise the social ladder.
One of the main reasons that parents should consider sending their children to grammar school is based on the consistently strong exam results. As grammar school pupils are often of the same ability level, this gives teachers the freedom to progress the lessons far more effectively than can be done at a comprehensive school.
Last but by no means least, it is often thought that grammar schools have a very impressive track record when it comes to producing students that go on to have very successful careers in many industries.
So, in the coming section, we are going to take an in-depth look at five grammar schools in the Slough area and hopefully enable you to decide as to which would suit your child the best and line up the best future possible.
Herschel Grammar School
https://www.herschel.slough.sch.uk/
Herschel grammar school is located in Berkshire, Slough and is popular among parents for its vibrant and warm atmosphere.
Herschel grammar school is an incredibly welcoming school, and while some grammar schools in Slough can sometimes appear to show crack and certain class divides, this is not the case at Herschel.
Herschel grammar school has a very simple ethos which is based on mutual trust, the highest academic standards and they are extremely committed to nurturing to developing every one of their pupils.
Ofsted
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody that Ofsted awarded Herschel grammar school outstanding and commented:
“Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning are outstanding and contribute to the calm, purposeful ethos in the school and to their progress in lessons.”
“Pupils thrive in the school’s academic, yet very caring and secure environment.”
“Pupils’ behaviour and attitude to learning are real strengths. Pupils behave politely and with courtesy in lessons and around the school.”
“Arrangements for performance management and appraisal are excellent. Teachers new to the school and to teaching are very well supported. Staff value the process and opportunities for professional development.”
“GCSE results have been consistently well above the national averages over the past five years.”
If there is one thing that really makes Herschel grammar school stand out, it’s their commitment to the wellbeing of their pupils. Herschel understands the level of strain and stress that is placed on pupils nowadays. Herschel has gone the extra mile when it comes to taking care of the mental health of their students, and they have provided a safe environment that encourages young people to talk about their issues and stresses.
Simple Stats
When we look carefully at the details and numbers of Herschel grammar school we can see:
- Number of pupils: 1,258
- Number of boys: 539
- Number of girls: 719
- Age range: 11 - 18 years old
- Gender: mixed
- School type: Academy converter
Facilities
When we look at facilities at Herschel grammar school, they are extremely proud of their sporting facilities. The state of the art sports centre has a large sports hall with six badminton courts, indoor football, basketball, netball and it also has a dance studio.
As well as the indoor facilities, Herschel grammar school is also home to 4 netball courts, four tennis courts, two mini-tennis courts, a basketball court and a full-size Astro-turf pitch for football and hockey.
The Results
In 2024, 49% of students achieved grades 7-9, with an Attainment 8 score of 62 — well above the national average of 46.8. 78% achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. These figures reflect the consistently hard work of both teachers and students at the school.
When it comes to A-Level results, in 2024 23% of entries achieved A*-A grades and 54% achieved A*-B.
Destinations
The most recent destination data for Herschel grammar school shows year 13 leavers attending universities across the country, with popular destinations including:
- Cambridge
- Oxford
- UCL
- King’s College London
- Warwick University
- University of Bristol
- University of Bath
- University of Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Queen Mary University of London
- Brunel University London
These are among the most prominent destinations, and the school publishes updated destinations information on its website.
Final Say
On the whole Herschel, grammar school is a great choice of grammar school and would suit students from all walks of life. The school offers a lot to students, and they offer tons of support to each and every student.
Langley Grammar School
https://www.lgs.slough.sch.uk/
Langley Grammar School in Slough takes much pride in being a forward-thinking and innovative school that shares a similar ethos to that of Herschel. Langley has one main goal, and that is to develop every student into a well-rounded and confident young adult.
Langley Grammar School is proud to be home to a mixed range of students from many backgrounds and equality is very high up on their list of top priorities, which nowadays is an incredible thing.
Ofsted
When it comes to Ofsted, the school was last inspected in 2012 and found to be outstanding. Under the current Ofsted framework, the school is now exempt from routine inspection. Some of the comments from the last Ofsted report read:
“Relationships between students and their teachers are excellent, and there is a vibrant community feeling among the student body.”
“Standards are exceptionally high in all key stages and are improving over time. Students make very good progress, and their achievements are outstanding, both academically and personally. This is because the school’s supportive ethos motivates students to perform to the best of their ability.“
“Students are very proud of their school and enjoy the activities it offers. They are growing into mature and responsible young adults and are very well prepared for their future lives. Relationships are positive, and there is a strong community feel.”
One thing that does seem to be prominent throughout the report is that the school has a great reputation for how it tackles bullying and it is an issue that has never really been a problem at Langley Grammar School.
Simple Stats
We will now take a quick look at some of the available facts and figures in the school and see how it stacks up:
- Number of pupils: 1,342
- Number of boys: 676
- Number of girls: 666
- Age range: 11 - 18 years old
- Gender: mixed
- School type: Academy converter
Facilities
Langley Grammar School is another school that takes immense pride in the sporting facilities it has available for its students. The schools’ state of the art facilities include full-size all-weather Astro-turf pitch, multi-use sports hall, smaller multi-use sports hall, six outdoor courts for tennis or netball, a dance studio and a fitness suite.
Langley Grammar School also runs a Sunday morning badminton club which is extremely popular among students and parents alike. It’s available to everybody, and it’s a great way to keep fit and also get to know the school a little better.
Langley Grammar School continues to invest in innovative teaching methods, helping to cement its reputation as one of the best grammar schools in Slough.
The Results
Now it’s time to take a look at the important stuff; we are going to take an in-depth look at the GCSE and A level results for Langley Grammar School and see just how well they perform.
Langley Grammar School performed exceptionally at GCSE in 2024. An impressive 44% of grades were 8-9, with 75% at grades 7-9. A remarkable 100% of students achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 75.5 is among the highest in the region.
Langley Grammar School continues to excel at A-Level too. In 2024, 43% of entries achieved A*-A grades and 68% achieved A*-B. 28% of all grades were A*, with 11 students achieving three or more A* grades.
With results like this, it’s no wonder that Langley Grammar School is so incredibly popular.
Destinations
The most recent destination data shows that 91% of Langley students went on to higher education in 2024, with 5 students securing places at Oxbridge. The school received 786 offers from 71 universities — some of the most popular destinations include:
- University of Bath
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- UCL
- King’s College London
- University of Warwick
- University of Manchester
- University of Exeter
For the full destinations list, visit lgs.slough.sch.uk/university-destinations.
Final Say
Langley Grammar School has shown improvement year on year and could be one of the most diverse schools in Slough. Langley has a proven track record for being at the forefront of innovation and they also create an impressive and safe environment for their students.
St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School
http://www.st-bernards.slough.sch.uk/
St Bernard’s Grammar School is yet again a superb choice of grammar school in Slough, but it does differ in many ways from the first two schools we have talked about.
The first thing to recognise is that St Bernard’s Grammar School is a Catholic school, so religion is very prominent throughout the school and its teachings. While the thought of a Catholic school may not call to every parent, you should not let this put you off as the school has a fabulous reputation with students from many backgrounds.
St Bernard’s Grammar School takes pride in liberating the potential of every student that walks their halls and offers outstanding guidance to all. The school’s ethos is built around recognising the importance of every pupil as an individual with their own gifts that need to be nurtured.
Ofsted
St Bernard’s achieved its third consecutive Outstanding Ofsted rating in March 2024 — a remarkable achievement and the most recent inspection result of all five schools on this list. Some of the comments from the inspectors read:
“Teachers know how well students are doing and effectively tailor their lessons and marking to the next steps of learning. Students also know how well they are doing and how to do even better, which has a very positive impact on learning and achievement.”
“Many parents and carers wrote on their questionnaires how well the school encourages children to grow into confident and independent individuals ‘as well as being inspired to become caring and responsible young citizens’. “
“The governing body is composed of supportive individuals who bring a useful range of professional expertise to its deliberations.”
Simple Stats
We will now take a brief look at some of the standard numbers and stats of the school before we look at some of the facilities and advantages that St Bernard’s Grammar School has to offer:
- Number of pupils: 879
- Number of boys: 441
- Number of girls: 438
- Age range: 11 - 18 years old
- Gender: mixed
- School Type: Academy converter
Facilities
What St Bernard’s Grammar School may lack in the way of headline sporting facilities, it more than makes up for in the level of attention and care paid to every student.
Overall, St Bernard’s Grammar School keeps its admissions relatively low to ensure that every student gets the individual attention they deserve. To have the opportunity to attend a school with smaller classes is a real advantage, and it shows in the results.
The Results
The results at St Bernard’s Grammar School are exceptional. In 2024, a remarkable 73% of all GCSE grades were at 7-9 (equivalent to A*-A), with 100% of students achieving grade 4 or above in English and Maths. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 72.1 places it among the top performers nationally.
Perhaps most impressive is the school’s Progress 8 score of +0.73 — the highest of all five schools on this list. This means students at St Bernard’s make significantly more progress than at comparable schools.
At A-Level, St Bernard’s continued to impress in 2024. 45% of entries achieved A*-A, and 78% achieved A*-B. Mathematics, Further Mathematics, and Chemistry all achieved 100% A*-B.
Destinations
St Bernard’s has an outstanding track record for university destinations. Over 85% of leavers go on to Russell Group universities. In 2024, 6 students secured Oxbridge places and 8 were accepted to Medical School. Regular destinations include:
- Imperial College London
- UCL
- King’s College London
- LSE
- Durham
- University of Warwick
- University of Bristol
- University of Edinburgh
Final Say
St Bernard’s Grammar School has quietly become the standout performer of all five schools on this list. Its third consecutive Outstanding Ofsted (2024), the highest Progress 8 score in the group, and exceptional university outcomes make it a compelling choice for any parent seeking the very best for their child.
Upton Court Grammar School
http://www.uptoncourtgrammar.org.uk/
What was once known as Slough Grammar School changed its name to Upton Court Grammar School to mark its second century.
Above everything else, the school values excellence and tradition and has an outstanding reputation with parents in and around Slough. Upton Court Grammar School takes pride in not only nurturing the students through their academic lives; they are equally passionate about developing non-academic skills that will help the young adults in their older life.
Ofsted
Upton Court Grammar School was most recently inspected by Ofsted in 2023, which resulted in a Requires Improvement rating — a difficult period for the school. The leadership team took swift action to address the issues raised, and by June 2024 the school had been restored to a Good rating. This is a credit to the school’s resilience and willingness to improve. The original Outstanding inspection from 2008 reflects the school’s longer-term reputation, with some of the comments from that report reading:
“The outstanding teaching provided by staff, along with highly motivated learners, leads to an exciting learning atmosphere. Students said that teachers do a great deal to make lessons interesting and provide work that is challenging. Expectations are very high in lessons, and student attitudes to work are exemplary.”
“The quality of care, guidance and support is outstanding. The school works hard to identify the diverse needs of all students and knows them very well.”
Simple Stats
- Number of pupils: 1,140
- Number of boys: 585
- Number of girls: 555
- Age range: 11 - 18 years old
- Gender: mixed
- School type: Academy converter
Facilities
Over the past decade, Upton Court Grammar School has invested significantly in its facilities. A new English building arrived in 2012, followed by a restaurant and sixth form centre in 2013. Both the performing arts centre and the four-court sports hall — long-planned investments — are now complete. The performing arts centre features a 200-seat auditorium, full-height stage, professional lighting, and dressing rooms.
The school has historically been ranked among the top ten state schools in the UK based on DfE league tables.
The Results
In 2024, 33% of GCSE grades were at 7-9, with 73% of students achieving grade 5 or above in English and Maths and an Attainment 8 score of 59.
At A-Level in 2024, 22% achieved A*-A and 47% achieved A*-B.
Destinations
Upton Court Grammar School has a strong track record for university admissions. Popular destinations include:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- UCL
- King’s College London
- University of Warwick
- University of Bristol
- University of Manchester
- University of Nottingham
Popular courses include Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science, and Law.
Final Say
Upton Court Grammar School remains a strong option for any student from any background. The school went through a challenging period but has returned to a Good rating and has impressive, fully-completed facilities. It is important to remember that the school is popular and the selection process is very tough.
Burnham Grammar School
http://www.burnhamgrammar.org.uk/
Burnham Grammar School sets a clear task for every student: ‘Embrace Challenge.’
Yet again, Burnham Grammar School is set on helping each student progress through education while assisting them to prepare for the outside world. Burnham Grammar School wants each and every student to gain academic and personal success.
Burnham Grammar School has over the last few years managed to develop a reputation for its pursuit of excellence, and this is apparent by looking at the results they achieve.
Ofsted
Burnham Grammar School was confirmed Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2024. Key quotes from the report include:
“The school provides an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum. Pupils achieve well across a range of subjects.”
“Pupils feel safe and happy at school.”
“Leaders have continued to improve the school since the previous inspection.”
Simple Stats
- Number of pupils: 1,118
- Number of boys: 567
- Number of girls: 551
- Age range: 11 - 18 years old
- Gender: Mixed
- School type: Academy converter
Facilities
Burnham Grammar School has completed a major redevelopment programme. The project — which began in early 2020 and concluded in 2021 — has delivered modern science laboratories, additional classrooms, and improved sports facilities, transforming the school’s learning environment.
The Results
In 2024, 37% of GCSE grades were at 7-9, with 81% of students achieving grade 5 or above in English and Maths. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 56.7 sits above the national average.
At A-Level in 2024, 19% achieved A*-A and 43% achieved A*-B.
Burnham Grammar School maintains a strong track record in maths, science, history, French, PE, and business studies.
Destinations
Burnham Grammar School students go on to some of the country’s most competitive universities. Popular destinations include:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- UCL
- King’s College London
- University of Bath
- University of Exeter
- University of Warwick
- University of Nottingham
Popular courses include Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, and Law.
Final Say
Burnham Grammar School is a consistent performer with a fresh Good Ofsted rating and a now fully-completed site redevelopment. The school offers a welcoming environment and strong academic foundations.
In Conclusion
Like we have mentioned previously, these reviews are here to hopefully help you decide on the best school for your children, and we are not here to advise on which is the best. We understand that every child has individual wants and needs, and this is where we can help.
Think Smart Academy has been working with students and helping give them the tools they need to gain entrance to these competitive schools.
When it comes to grammar schools, you should never underestimate just how tough they can be to get into, and without the proper guidance, it can be even tougher. At Think Smart Academy, we understand what it takes to get into a grammar school, and we are here to make the journey as easy as possible for both you and your children.