School profile Verified 11 September 2026

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire 11+

Boston High School

Spilsby Road, Boston, PE21 9PF

A selective girls grammar school in Boston, Lincolnshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 816 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment
Year 7 places
108
Competition ?
Moderate
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
GL Assessment
Compare Official website Map

At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank
UK Rank #158
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
GL Assessment
Places in Year 7
108
Competition ?
Moderate
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Ofsted ?
Good

Overview

Boston High School is a selective girls' grammar school for Years 7 to 11, with a mixed sixth form from 16 to 18. Its own homepage sets out that dual character plainly: girls enter the grammar school at 11, while the sixth form welcomes a broader intake. The school traces its story to 1921, when it opened at Allan House on Carlton Road, and its leadership presents BHS as a community built around excellence, diversity, academic and personal growth, and the motto Non nobis solum, now carried in the language of leading, learning and together.

The curriculum emphasis is practical as well as academic. The sixth-form pages describe 23 subjects, A Level and vocational-style Level 3 routes, a dedicated sixth-form tutoring structure, external speakers, university preparation and volunteering. That gives the school a more varied post-16 identity than its selective lower-school structure might suggest. At 11 to 16, the school positions itself as ambitious and supportive, with pupils talking about sport, music groups, trips and a curriculum that helps them build confidence and skills.

The wider school offer is strongest where it shows pupils taking part in house life, sports clubs, music, trips, student support and the library. The site is less expansive on named specialist facilities than some larger grammar schools, but the sixth-form material points to supervised study space, evolving sixth-form facilities and a dedicated Key Stage 5 team. BHS is selective for girls at entry to Year 7, then becomes more open and co-educational in the sixth form.

Year 7 has 108 places. The 2027 route is live, while the full 2027/28 policy was still marked as coming soon in the admissions material, so the latest detailed route uses the 2026/27 policy alongside the school admissions page. The test uses GL-style verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning papers, and applicants must meet the minimum required standardised score on both papers; no numeric cutoff is given on the school page. If there are more eligible applicants than places, priority runs through looked-after and previously looked-after children, Pupil Premium applicants, siblings, straight-line distance and then a lottery tie-break. Public measures show Ofsted Good from the 2018 inspection, +0.37 Progress 8, 91.6% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 12.2% AAB or better at A level.

Key points

Assessment route
GL Assessment across a 2-stage process, covering Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
108 places in Year 7 and Moderate
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Results
91.6% grade 5+ in English and maths and 58.8 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 12.4% AAB or better and 70% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Lincolnshire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Boston High School, Lincolnshire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
58.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
91.6%
EBacc APS
5.26
EBacc entry
37%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Lincolnshire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Boston High School, Lincolnshire, and England. 70 60 50 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Lincolnshire and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Boston High School, Lincolnshire, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details

Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mrs Anne-Marie Franks
Pupil roll
816 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Boston High School
FSM ?
11.9%
EAL ?
22.7%
EHCP ?
0.4%

Facilities

Library

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 816 pupils; 812 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 82.7% Asian 8% Mixed 5.5% Black 2.1% Other 1.2% Unclassified 0.5%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Spilsby Road, Boston, Lincolnshire
Postcode
PE21 9PF

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Anne-Marie Franks

School contact

School phone
01320232026

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions phone
01205 310505

Admissions

Year 7 places
108 places (2027 entry)
Applications listed
224 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences
142 first preferences (2025 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate
Who can apply
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Pass mark note
The Lincolnshire qualifying level is a total standardised score of at least 220 across both papers. A qualifying score does not guarantee a place; places still follow the published admissions policy.

The current Year 7 2027 route is live, but the full 2027/28 admissions policy is still marked as coming soon. Until that appears, the latest detailed policy document on the admissions route is the 2026/27 policy.

No Year 7 admissions catchment boundary is published. The current entry page refers to a designated transport area for where children may sit the Lincolnshire 11+ locally, but oversubscription for school places is still handled through published priority groups and straight-line distance.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Priority goes first to looked after children and previously looked after children, including children previously in state care outside England who were later adopted.

  2. 2

    Pupil Premium applicants

    Girls registered for Pupil Premium, defined here as free school meals at any point in the last six years excluding Key Stage 1 universal free school meals, are ranked next.

  3. 3

    Siblings already attending the school

    Siblings of pupils already attending Boston High School at the time of admission are prioritised next.

  4. 4

    Straight-line distance

    Remaining qualified applicants are ranked by straight-line distance from home to the school, with those living nearest given priority.

  5. 5

    Tie-break lottery

    If distance does not separate applicants for the final place, a lottery is used.

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

The 11+ uses GL Assessment multiple-choice verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning papers. The qualifying standard is separate from the final allocation of school places.

Assessment route
GL Assessment
Papers and stages
2 papers
Format
Multiple-choice papers
Age standardisation
Published as age-standardised

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Lincolnshire test guide

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    Verbal reasoning

    Verbal reasoning paper

    Verbal Reasoning is a GL Assessment multiple-choice paper, with answers recorded on an OMR sheet.

  2. Paper 2

    Non-verbal reasoning

    Non-verbal reasoning paper

    Non-Verbal Reasoning is a GL Assessment multiple-choice paper; the 2027 timetable describes the second test as non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness.

What the test includes

Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.

English, Maths and Science are not listed in the current published format.

Included

  • Verbal reasoning

    Verbal Reasoning is a GL Assessment multiple-choice paper, with answers recorded on an OMR sheet.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    Non-Verbal Reasoning is a GL Assessment multiple-choice paper; the 2027 timetable describes the second test as non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness.

Not listed

  • English

  • Maths

  • Science

Application

Find open days and plan a visit
  1. 11+ registration opens

    7 January 2026

    Past
  2. 11+ registration closes

    31 March 2026

    Past
  3. Familiarisation materials deadline

    26 June 2026

    Past
  4. Verbal Reasoning test

    11 or 12 September 2026

  5. Non-Verbal Reasoning test

    18 or 19 September 2026

    The second paper includes spatial awareness.

  6. 11+ results emailed

    9 October 2026

  7. Secondary school application deadline

    31 October 2026

  8. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register for the 11+ through Boston High School

    Complete Boston High School's online 11+ registration form by 31 March 2026. Registration does not itself count as an application for a school place.

    Register for the 11+
  2. 2

    Check the test outcome

    Results are emailed in mid October. To be eligible for a place, applicants must meet the minimum required standardised score on both papers.

    Open Year 7 entry page
  3. 3

    Apply for the school place through your local authority

    If your daughter has met the required standard and you want her to attend Boston High School, submit the secondary school application through your home local authority.

    Open Lincolnshire application route
  4. 4

    Use the appeals route if needed

    If you need to challenge the outcome, use the school's published 11+ appeals information and forms after allocations.

    Open appeals information

Results

Inspection

Good

Latest inspection: 13 March 2018

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Boston High School continued to be graded Good. Inspectors described an inclusive, welcoming school where pupils feel safe, behave and attend well, and EAL pupils perform especially strongly, while some pupils and sixth-formers could achieve more highly.
  • Quality of education: The curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, with subjects such as sociology and business studies and popular French, art and history courses. Reading support has improved, but pupils are sometimes unsure how to use feedback to deepen written work.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Behaviour and attitudes were graded Outstanding. Pupils are friendly, polite and attend well, and they know who to talk to with worries. Sixth-form students, including those joining from other settings, feel happy and settled.
  • Personal development: A well-planned enrichment course is supported by clubs, visits and the Greenpower engineering project for girls. Pupils learn about healthy relationships, social media, online safety, British values and protected characteristics, with careers guidance supporting future choices.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders have strengthened assessment and support staff well through professional development. Morale is positive, and the weekly pulse survey helps pastoral staff identify pupils who may need extra mental health or well-being support.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.

Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What assessment types does Boston High School use?

Boston High School currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to Boston High School?

1. Register for the 11+ through Boston High School: Complete Boston High School's online 11+ registration form by 31 March 2026. Registration does not itself count as an application for a school place. 2. Check the test outcome: Results are emailed in mid October. To be eligible for a place, applicants must meet the minimum required standardised score on both papers. 3. Apply for the school place through your local authority: If your daughter has met the required standard and you want her to attend Boston High School, submit the secondary school application through your home local authority. 4. Use the appeals route if needed: If you need to challenge the outcome, use the school's published 11+ appeals information and forms after allocations.

When are the key dates for Boston High School?

11+ registration opens: 7 January 2026. 11+ registration closes: 31 March 2026. Familiarisation materials deadline: 26 June 2026. Verbal Reasoning test: 11 or 12 September 2026. Non-Verbal Reasoning test: 18 or 19 September 2026. 11+ results emailed: 9 October 2026. Secondary school application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Boston High School?

Boston High School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 13 March 2018.