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Colyton Grammar School
Colyton Grammar School is a highly selective mixed grammar school offering around 160 Year 7 places. The 11+ entrance exam consists of two stages, assessed by Independents and Quest Admissions, and there is no interview stage. The school does not have a catchment area, accepting applications nationally, with distance used only as a tie-break for equal scores.
If your child is bright, self-motivated and happiest in a calm, focused room, Colyton is the only state grammar in Devon and a school families travel a long way to reach. It is an ancient institution, founded in 1546 when a group of local yeomen and merchants secured a royal charter and became the Feoffees of Colyton, a charity still running today and one of the oldest in England. The school has sat on its countryside site near the East Devon coast since 1929, and it remains highly selective, with children sitting a demanding test for around 160 Year 7 places. Unusually among grammars, it accepts applications from anywhere in the country, not only its own region.
What people notice most is the atmosphere. The Good Schools Guide describes an overwhelming sense of quiet, industrious learning, and quotes a former head and trustee calling it 'purposeful calm', a phrase parents echo. The school's stated values of scholarship, humility and service run through pupil-led work and a strong sense of community. Art is taught to a high standard and warmly encouraged; the actor Tom Brittney, of ITV's Grantchester, was a pupil and returned in 2022 to open the school's drama studio. Sport is well supported, with extensive grounds and a modern sports centre.
Colyton suits a child who will do well in a calm, academically serious setting and feel proud, as the Guide puts it, to be bright. Tim Harris has been headteacher since 2016, described by families as approachable and dedicated, but it is the sense of a happy, settled child that parents tend to remember.
Key facts
Admissions
Registration form
View registration detailsSibling policy
Unknown
What this school tests
English and Maths
English17 question types
Maths21 question types
Verbal Reasoning2 question types
Writing
English4 question types
Catchment area
Does Colyton Grammar School have a catchment area?
No. Colyton accepts applications from anywhere in the country, and there is no catchment area. Places are offered on test score, with distance from the school used only as a tie-break when scores are equal.
Previous exam results
GCSE results
In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 78.8 across their GCSEs. 98.7% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 84.2% achieved the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
A-level results
In 2025 students achieved an A- average grade per A-Level entry. 58.2% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
Frequently asked questions
What exam boards does Colyton Grammar School use for the 11+?
Colyton Grammar School uses Independents and Quest Admissions for its two-stage 11+ entrance exam.
Does Colyton Grammar School interview as part of the 11+ process?
No, Colyton Grammar School does not include an interview stage in its 11+ admissions process.
Is Colyton Grammar School co-educational or single-sex?
Colyton Grammar School is a mixed school, accepting both boys and girls for Year 7 entry.
How many Year 7 places are available at Colyton Grammar School?
Colyton Grammar School offers around 160 places for Year 7 entry each year.
Does Colyton Grammar School have a catchment area for 11+ entry?
No, Colyton Grammar School does not have a catchment area. It accepts applications from anywhere in the country, using distance only as a tie-break for equal test scores.
What is Colyton Grammar School's website?
The official website for Colyton Grammar School is https://www.colytongrammar.com/.
How do you get a place at Colyton Grammar School?
Your child first needs to reach the required standard in Colyton's own 11+ test, which covers English, maths and creative writing. If more children reach the standard than there are places, they are ranked in order: looked-after and previously looked-after children first; then eligible children on Pupil Premium or Service Premium; then children of staff; then everyone else by test score. Colyton has no catchment area and no sibling priority, so where you live does not affect eligibility. Distance from the school is only used to break a tie.
What happens if my child is ill on 11+ test day at Colyton Grammar School?
Telephone the school as soon as you know your child cannot attend or will be late. An absence on medical grounds must be backed up with a doctor's note or a JCQ medical form within seven days, and the school may also accept a report from your child's current school. If the reason is accepted, your child is offered a catch-up session and is considered alongside those who sat in September. Access arrangements such as extra time can be put in place for children with additional needs, arranged when you register.
Location
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