A selective girls grammar school in Boston, Lincolnshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 816 pupils on roll.
Boston High School
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At a glance
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.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Lincolnshire and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Lincolnshire and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Lincolnshire and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 816 pupils; 812 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 62.4% | White | 509 |
| Any other White background | 20.2% | White | 165 |
| Indian | 3.7% | Asian | 30 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.3% | Mixed | 27 |
| Pakistani | 2.9% | Asian | 24 |
| African | 2.1% | Black | 17 |
| White and Asian | 1.3% | Mixed | 11 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.2% | Other | 10 |
| Any other Asian background | 1% | Asian | 8 |
| Unclassified | 0.5% | Unclassified | 4 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.5% | Mixed | 4 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.4% | Asian | 3 |
| White and Black African | 0.4% | Mixed | 3 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.1% | White | 1 |
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.
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.
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.
Siblings already attending the school
Siblings of pupils already attending Boston High School at the time of admission are prioritised next.
Straight-line distance
Remaining qualified applicants are ranked by straight-line distance from home to the school, with those living nearest given priority.
Tie-break lottery
If distance does not separate applicants for the final place, a lottery is used.
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.
Shared exam route
Boston High School uses the shared Lincolnshire route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Lincolnshire practice papersGL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Booklet 1
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Booklet 2
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Booklet 3
Paper 1
Verbal reasoning
Verbal reasoning paper
Verbal Reasoning is a GL Assessment multiple-choice paper, with answers recorded on an OMR sheet.
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.
Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
English, Maths and Science are not listed in the current published format.
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.
English
Maths
Science
11+ registration opens
7 January 2026
Past11+ registration closes
31 March 2026
PastFamiliarisation materials deadline
26 June 2026
Verbal Reasoning test
11 or 12 September 2026
Non-Verbal Reasoning test
18 or 19 September 2026
The second paper includes spatial awareness.
11+ results emailed
9 October 2026
Secondary school application deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
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+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 pageApply 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 routeUse 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 informationLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 57.7 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 55.4 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 59.9 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 58.8 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | C+ average (32.3 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C average (29.4 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | D+ average (24.1 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C average (30.9 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 95% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 2% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 13 March 2018
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Lincolnshire area and similar girls' selective route
Same Lincolnshire area and similar girls' selective route
Same Lincolnshire area and similar girls' selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Grammar Schools in Lincolnshire
Compare 15 Lincolnshire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Lincolnshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Boston High School currently uses GL Assessment.
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.
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
Boston High School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 13 March 2018.