Milton Keynes has no grammar schools of its own. Its state secondary schools are all non-selective. Neighbouring Buckinghamshire, however, has a fully selective system, and some Milton Keynes families choose to put their children forward for the Buckinghamshire 11 plus. This guide explains how that works, which grammar schools are within reach and what to think about before deciding.
Does Milton Keynes Have Grammar Schools?
No. Although Milton Keynes is part of the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire, it has its own council, Milton Keynes City Council, and its secondary schools are comprehensive. Children do not sit an 11 plus to get into them.
Buckinghamshire Council, on the other hand, runs 13 grammar schools, with entry through the Secondary Transfer Test.
Can Milton Keynes Children Sit the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus?
Yes. Children who live outside Buckinghamshire, including in Milton Keynes, can sit the Secondary Transfer Test. The key difference from Buckinghamshire state primary pupils is that Milton Keynes children are not entered automatically. Parents must register them, usually during the summer term of Year 5.
Key dates
The dates change each year, so always check Buckinghamshire Council’s website. As a guide, for entry in September 2027:
- Registration: 1 May to 2 June 2026 (Year 5)
- Test: 10 September 2026 (Year 6)
- Results: 9 October 2026
- Secondary school application deadline: 31 October 2026
What Does the Test Involve?
The Secondary Transfer Test is set by GL Assessment. Children sit two multiple-choice papers of around an hour each:
- Paper 1: verbal skills, including comprehension, grammar, punctuation, spelling and verbal reasoning
- Paper 2: maths, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning
Scores are age-standardised, and a score of 121 or above means a child qualifies for a Buckinghamshire grammar school.
Qualifying Is Not the Same as Getting a Place
This is the most important point for Milton Keynes families. Qualifying makes your child eligible, but each grammar school allocates places using its own oversubscription criteria, which often include catchment areas and distance. Some schools may have few or no places left for children living outside their catchment.
Before registering, read the admissions policies of the grammar schools you are interested in, and look at how places have been allocated in previous years.
Grammar Schools Within Reach of Milton Keynes
Families in Milton Keynes most often look at grammar schools in the north and centre of Buckinghamshire, including:
- The Royal Latin School, Buckingham: co-educational
- Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, Aylesbury: co-educational
- Aylesbury Grammar School: boys
- Aylesbury High School: girls
Think carefully about the daily journey, as travel from Milton Keynes to Buckingham or Aylesbury can be significant.
How to Apply for a Grammar School Place
Milton Keynes residents apply for all secondary school places, including Buckinghamshire grammar schools, through Milton Keynes City Council, their home local authority. You list your preferences in order, and the test result is known before the 31 October deadline.
Is the 11 Plus Right for Your Child?
Consider:
- whether your child enjoys challenge and would thrive in a selective school
- whether they are likely to be offered a place, given the admissions criteria
- the journey and its impact on family life
- the strength of local non-selective and independent alternatives
Our guide to choosing a senior school from Milton Keynes compares all the options.
How Broughton Manor Prep Supports the 11 Plus
At Broughton Manor Preparatory School, we prepare children for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test and independent school entrance exams, with many pupils receiving multiple offers. Our pupils have gone on to grammar schools including The Royal Latin School and Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, as well as independent and local state schools.
Our small classes build the reading, reasoning and maths skills the test rewards throughout a child’s time with us, so preparation feels natural rather than rushed. Learn more about what a prep school is.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Milton Keynes secondary schools are non-selective. The nearest grammar schools are in Buckinghamshire.
Yes. You must register your child for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test during the summer term of Year 5.
A standardised score of 121 or above qualifies a child. Places are then allocated using each school’s admissions criteria.
Not necessarily. Many grammar schools prioritise children in their catchment area, so check each school’s admissions policy.
