Lancashire / Lancashire 11+
York Street, Clitheroe, BB7 2DJ
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
1
A selective co-educational grammar school in Clitheroe, Lancashire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,475 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective co-educational grammar school in Clitheroe, Lancashire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,475 pupils on roll. Based in Clitheroe, Lancashire, the school serves boys and girls aged 11-18 and includes sixth-form study as part of the offer. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,475 pupils on roll and 150 Year 7 places.
Admissions are central to understanding whether this school is the right fit and realistic shortlist option. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. It is not defined by a tight formal catchment in the same way some selective schools are, although distance and oversubscription rules can still become relevant later in the process.
Academically, the published picture is strong and easier to judge than reputation alone. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Outstanding. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.55 and Attainment 8 at 72.8. 97.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 19% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 60% moving into higher education.
The wider offer currently includes Drama. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. That mix of selective entry, published outcomes, and school life is what will matter most to families deciding whether Clitheroe Royal Grammar School belongs on a serious shortlist.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Lancashire and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Lancashire and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Lancashire and England.
The entrance route has moved to FSCE for September 2027 entry. The determined policy, admissions handbook, and familiarisation guides are available from the admissions page.
Immediate and wider catchment areas are set out in the determined policy appendices. Within each catchment band, applicants are ranked by entrance-test score, with distance used only to separate tied scores.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Priority first goes to looked after children, previously looked after children, and children who appear to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be so because of adoption or a related order.
Immediate catchment with pupil premium
Qualified children living in the immediate catchment area who are entitled to Pupil Premium are prioritised next.
Other immediate catchment children
Other qualified children living in the immediate catchment area are then considered.
Wider catchment with pupil premium
Qualified children in the wider catchment area who are entitled to Pupil Premium are prioritised next.
Other wider catchment children
Other qualified children living in the wider catchment area are then considered.
Outside catchment with pupil premium
Qualified out-of-catchment children in receipt of Pupil Premium are prioritised next.
The 2027 route has two age-weighted FSCE papers in English and maths. No non-verbal reasoning paper is included in this format.
Paper 1
English, Maths
Paper 1
Paper 1 is a multiple-choice paper covering English and maths up to the end of Year 5.
Paper 2
English, Maths
Paper 2
Paper 2 is a short-written-answer paper covering English and maths up to the end of Year 5.
English and Maths are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Creative writing
Registration opens
1 June 2026
Open evening
1 July 2026
Registration closes
4 September 2026
Entrance examination
26 September 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
Read the policy and admissions handbook
Use the determined 2027 policy and handbook to check the 180-place intake, the immediate and wider catchment rules, and the current FSCE route.
Open admissions handbookComplete the online registration
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School opens applications at noon on 1 June 2026 and closes them at noon on 4 September 2026.
Open admissions pagePrepare for and sit the entrance test
Read the FSCE familiarisation guides and sit the entrance exam on Saturday 26 September 2026 at the Chatburn Road site.
Open familiarisation guideSubmit your Common Application Form
If you want a school place, submit the local-authority secondary application by 31 October 2026 after completing the school's own test registration.
Review admissions handbookLatest 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 | 74.9 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 72.5 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 72.8 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 74.4 | 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 | B+ average (43.3 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (37.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (37.5 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B- average (38.1 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 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 100% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 2% |
Latest inspection: 23 November 2022
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
Same Lancashire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Lancashire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Lancashire
Compare the best grammar schools in Lancashire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. This page brings together the main Lancashire clusters, where catchment, competition for places, and school-specific admissions rules can vary from one area to another.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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.
Best Grammar Schools Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
Explore grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the UK and narrow them by GCSE strength, county, and school type before you compare a realistic shortlist.
Best Grammar Schools in Lancashire
Compare the best grammar schools in Lancashire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. This page brings together the main Lancashire clusters, where catchment, competition for places, and school-specific admissions rules can vary from one area to another.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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.
Best Grammar Schools Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
Explore grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the UK and narrow them by GCSE strength, county, and school type before you compare a realistic shortlist.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the policy and admissions handbook: Use the determined 2027 policy and handbook to check the 180-place intake, the immediate and wider catchment rules, and the current FSCE route. 2. Complete the online registration: Clitheroe Royal Grammar School opens applications at noon on 1 June 2026 and closes them at noon on 4 September 2026. 3. Prepare for and sit the entrance test: Read the FSCE familiarisation guides and sit the entrance exam on Saturday 26 September 2026 at the Chatburn Road site. 4. Submit your Common Application Form: If you want a school place, submit the local-authority secondary application by 31 October 2026 after completing the school's own test registration.
Registration opens: 1 June 2026. Open evening: 1 July 2026. Registration closes: 4 September 2026. Entrance examination: 26 September 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 23 November 2022.