Are there grammar schools for boys only or girls only?

Yes. England has state grammar schools that admit boys or girls separately at Year 7, alongside schools with mixed intake. The important question is which pupils can enter the particular year group. A boys’ school may admit girls to its sixth form while remaining boys-only in Years 7–11.

Examples of boys’ and girls’ state grammar schools

Sources: Colchester Royal Grammar School’s introduction, Chelmsford County High School and Bexley Council’s selection-test guide. The Bexley page currently covers tests in 2026 for entry in September 2027. Use it to understand those examples, not to assume 2027 test dates or 2028 entry rules.

Why “mixed” in a directory can be misleading

A whole-school label can describe everyone on roll, including sixth form. It may not tell you who can enter Year 7. Photographs of boys and girls at a sixth-form open evening are also insufficient evidence of a mixed lower school. Colchester Royal Grammar School makes the distinction explicit: its co-educational sixth form does not make Year 7 mixed.

Use three separate questions when reading a school website: who enters Year 7, who can join in Years 8–11, and who can apply at 16? Then check the actual admission policy for that route. For a family seeking mixed education from the start of secondary school, see our co-educational grammar-school guide.

Can a school change from single-sex to mixed?

Yes, and changes can be introduced one intake at a time. Holcombe Grammar School’s official announcement says it began admitting both boys and girls to Year 7 from September 2026. It already welcomed girls into sixth form; existing older lower-school cohorts were not changed by that announcement.

This illustrates why an old prospectus or a familiar description can be wrong for a new applicant. Check whether a change is a proposal or a confirmed arrangement, the first affected intake, and whether the policy for your intended start year reflects it. An announcement about sixth form alone is not an announcement about Year 7.

Does single-sex entry change the 11 Plus requirements?

The school still applies its published selection and admission rules. Single-sex status does not tell you which subjects are tested, which provider sets the paper or whether places are allocated mainly by rank or geographical priority. Nor does a nearby boys’ and girls’ school necessarily share the same exam.

• Read each school’s test-registration instructions and entry-year policy.
• Check whether any test or score sharing needs a separate consent or school selection.
• Look at academic qualification and oversubscription rules separately.
• Check access-arrangement deadlines early if your child needs support.
• Submit the school application as instructed; taking an exam is not itself applying for a place.

Are boys’ and girls’ schools better for particular children?

The label alone cannot settle school fit. Avoid assuming that all boys learn competitively or that all girls prefer collaborative subjects. Ask about the curriculum, how children choose clubs and subjects, how teachers challenge stereotypes, and what happens when a pupil needs help. A result table cannot show how comfortable your child will feel in lessons or at break time.

At a visit, invite your child to describe what they noticed before sharing your own verdict. Useful prompts include: “Could you picture asking a teacher for help?”, “Which activities would you want to join?” and “How would the journey feel every day?” Compare answers across all realistic schools, including non-selective ones.

Questions to ask before shortlisting

1. 1For September 2028 Year 7 entry, what does your determined policy say about eligibility, and are any changes confirmed?
2. 2Is the sixth form single-sex or mixed, and are its admission requirements separate?
3. 3How do pupils access the full range of subjects, sport, music and leadership opportunities?
4. 4What pastoral support is available when friendships, workload or confidence become difficult?
5. 5What does a normal school day and journey look like for a child living at our address?

Keep a dated copy of the policy alongside your shortlist. Our school-choice guide can help you compare practical fit. Also distinguish state and independent schools: “grammar” in the name does not establish whether tuition is free or which admissions process applies.