Wycombe Abbey School

Wycombe Abbey School, a prestigious girls-only boarding school in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, is well-known for consistently topping league tables and producing highly intelligent and hardworking students. Often referred to as the 'Eton for Girls', Wycombe Abbey ranks at the very top for its academical results and its impressive history and past alumni. From Sally Phillips and Lady Nicholas Windsor to Baroness Howe of Idlicote and Mary Ada Pickford, past Wycombe Abbey girls dominates the Who’s Who of British society. The only girls’ school that arguably can compete is St Paul’s Girls’ School (day school in Hammersmith).

Wycombe Abbey's prime location, an enormous park less than an hour from London and near Heathrow Airport, coupled with its exceptional facilities for Music, Art, and Drama, make it a top choice for parents seeking a high-quality education for their daughters.

Though Wycombe Abbey offers a vast range of opportunities for its students, the focus remains primarily on academics, with a fast-paced learning environment. This makes the school an ideal choice for bright and confident girls who are willing to study hard in a stimulating boarding environment. With its high expectations and impressive track record of students gaining places at Oxford and Cambridge, Wycombe Abbey is a school that truly ticks all the boxes for academic excellence.

Entry into Wycombe Abbey is extremely competitive, with the main entry points at 11+ (about 40 places) and 13+ (about 20 places), with a few places available for 6th form entry at 16+. There is usually between 600 and 1000, generally extremely qualified, applicants and the school can pick those students that it feels best fit its unique academical and competitive environment. In addition to being intelligent, articulate and creative, students at Wycombe Abbey tend to be keen athletes. The main school sports are Lacrosse, a sport that Wycombe generally dominates on a national level, netball and alpine skiing. The latter is dominated by the "know no fear" attitude of its student - and after the rule banning women from competing on the Cresta Run was repealed in 2017, past and present students have broken records and set new standards at this world-famous course.

The application process for Year 7 entry requires early registration, followed by an invitation to an open weekend in the autumn of Year 6. The school used CAT4 tests, but since 2024, candidates must now first sit a ISEB test, followed by the school's own entrance exams for selected candidates (usually those of ISEB average of above 135). Places are offered in December or early January. A similar process is in place for Year 9 entry, with registration towards the end of Year 7. For more information on applying to Wycombe Abbey and other highly selective schools, please contact us for advice.