Grammar Schools Without a Catchment Area: Your Complete List

Last updated: July 2026 — updated with current school list and 2026 admissions information.

If you’re searching for an excellent secondary education for your child, you won’t go far wrong with Grammar Schools.

But let’s face it, securing a coveted spot can be a lottery. They aren’t spread evenly throughout the country.

While some areas are spoiled for choice, others draw the short straw. For parents living in areas without Grammar Schools, your options can feel limited.

Of course, you can cast your net wider and explore schools elsewhere. But there’s a catch – literally, catchment areas. Even if your child aces their 11 Plus exams, local candidates are prioritised.

So, what can you do?

Here’s your complete list of Grammar Schools in England awarding places outside a catchment area. For those outside the local area, entry is solely based on 11 plus performance, unlocking a top-tier education for the very brightest students.

Table of Contents

Do all Grammar Schools have catchment areas?

In short, no.

Out of 163 Grammar Schools in England, 43 offer places outside their local area.

A catchment area just refers to the geographic area from which a school draws its students. It’s essentially the designated neighbourhood or region surrounding the school.

Catchment areas are often established by local educational authorities or school boards to manage enrolment and ensure schools can effectively serve their local communities.

The presence (or absence) of catchment areas varies depending on factors such as local educational policies, population density, school capacity and historical practices.

Which Grammar Schools don’t have a catchment area?

43 Grammar Schools in England offer places outside a catchment area. This means any child, no matter where they live, is free to apply and sit their entrance exams. Some schools have no catchment area at all. Others have a mixed approach, where a certain number of places are reserved for local students.

Here’s the full list of Grammar Schools without a catchment area (or those reserving a certain percentage of places for high-performing pupils outside the catchment area), broken down by region.

For more information on catchment policies, head to each school’s website and read their admissions criteria.

South West

Did you know? Pate’s Grammar School is one of the top ten Grammar Schools in the entire country. For the full list, explore our guide to the Best Grammar Schools in the UK.

South East

Commonly Asked: Do Kent Grammars have a catchment area?

Most Grammar Schools in Kent have a catchment area of some kind. There are 38 Grammar Schools in Kent, making it the county with the most Grammars in England.

For instance, Dartford Grammar School for Boys reserves 90 places for children living outside the catchment area. But the remaining spots go to children living near the school.

Other schools operate a “priority” system. So the Weald of Kent Grammar School (for instance) gives priority entrance to students living within their catchment area. If these places aren’t filled, places are awarded to “priority B” applicants, living elsewhere.

For more information on Grammar Schools in Kent, including the format of the Kent and Medway Tests and the top ten ranked Grammars in the county – read our in-depth guide.

Greater London

Commonly Asked: Does Sutton Grammar School have a catchment area?

Because of its outstanding reputation, many parents ask if Sutton Grammar School has a catchment area.

Well technically yes. Most of the places at Sutton Grammar are reserved for students within the catchment area.

Even so, up to 60 places are allocated for students (passing their 11 Plus exams) who live outside this area. For these students, admission is based on academic merit, no matter their home address.

As a result, the school attracts students from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities, fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.

If you’re searching for Grammar Schools in London, read our complete list of Grammars in the capital as well as the top ten best Grammar Schools in London.

The East of England

The Midlands

Commonly Asked: Do Birmingham Grammar Schools have a catchment area?

Some do, and some don’t!

As you can see from the list above, both Bishop Veseys’ Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School don’t exclusively use a catchment area.

Nonetheless, other Grammar Schools in Birmingham (such as King Edward’s School, regularly ranked among the top Grammar Schools in the country) do have a catchment area.

If you’re unsure, check with the individual school on their admissions criteria and catchment area rules. They’ll happily clarify.

The North of England

Why don’t some Grammar Schools have catchment areas?

Before we wrap up, it’s worth explaining why some Grammars have catchment areas and some don’t. It does appear a bit random after all!

Well, this quirk is due to the complex history of secondary education in England.

Today’s grammar school system (as we know it) stemmed from the 1944 Education Act. This landmark legislation made free secondary education accessible to all.

But in the 1960s, some voices (mainly championed by Labour politicians) argued academically-selective education deepened class divisions and favoured the middle classes. In response, by 1965 the government nudged local authorities to phase out Grammar Schools in favour of a comprehensive system.

Some counties (like Kent, Medway, the Midlands, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire) clung to selective systems while others like Gloucestershire, Trafford and Slough opted for a mixed bag.

So in counties with a higher percentage of Grammar Schools, it made sense to keep catchment areas – to ensure fair access and serve the local community. In areas with less density of Grammars, it didn’t make sense that only a small percentage of the local population had access to a Grammar education. So in many cases, catchment areas were scrapped.

Nonetheless, you will find anomalies. Many Grammars stay true to their historical roots – whether that means admissions using a strict catchment area or not!

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Created by 11+ content specialists with over 22 years of experience preparing children for competitive grammar school entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many grammar schools in England have no catchment area?
43 out of 163 grammar schools in England offer places outside a strict catchment area — either with no catchment at all, or by reserving a set number of places for high-scoring applicants from anywhere.

Which is the most competitive grammar school without a catchment area?
Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet is widely regarded as the most competitive fully open-entry grammar school in the country, with over 3,500 applicants for 180 places and no geographic restrictions whatsoever.

Do grammar schools without a catchment area still favour local children?
It depends on the school. Some schools, such as QE Boys, have no catchment area and allocate places by entrance test performance. Others reserve a number of places for local children while still allowing high-scoring applicants from outside the area to compete for remaining places. Parents should always check the latest admissions policy for each school.

Can my child apply to multiple grammar schools without a catchment area?
Yes. Families sometimes apply to more than one highly selective grammar school, but this only makes sense where the admissions rules and commute are realistic. For example, QE Boys has no catchment area, while other schools may use priority areas, local places or distance-based criteria.

Is it worth applying to a grammar school far from home?
It depends on the commute and your child’s resilience. Schools like QE Boys run dedicated coach services from several areas, which can make a distant school more practical than it first appears. Always factor in daily journey time when weighing up a school that’s a genuine stretch geographically.

What is the difference between a catchment area and a priority area?
A catchment area typically restricts eligibility to children within a defined boundary. A priority area, used by some partially selective schools, gives preference to local children without excluding others entirely — meaning children outside the area can still apply and be considered if they score highly enough.

Grammar Schools Without a Catchment Area: Your Complete List

Do all Grammar Schools have catchment areas?