A selective boys grammar school in Grantham, Lincolnshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,216 pupils on roll.
The King's School, Grantham
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At a glance
The King's School, Grantham is a selective boys' grammar school for ages 11 to 18 in Lincolnshire. It describes itself as modern and forward-looking while remaining close to the values on which it was re-endowed in 1528. The public values - courage, friendship, honour, humility, perseverance and responsibility - sit alongside a headmaster's message about a friendly, focused academic atmosphere where boys' interests and talents are recognised.
The academic offer is built around a long grammar-school tradition of high expectations. The school has a large sixth form of about 300 boys, with around 10% joining from other schools in Year 12, and it stresses induction into A-level study as well as the wider post-16 environment. Subject pages and the history curriculum material point to classrooms and resources shaped for specialist teaching rather than a generic secondary-school offer.
King's has a strong enrichment culture. The official enrichment page lists educational visits, fieldwork, language exchanges and visitors, alongside jazz ensembles, orchestras, choirs, bands and regular sport in rugby, cricket and football. It also names a flourishing Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise, chess, quiz teams, language clubs, community service, fundraising and arts clubs. That breadth matters because it shows how the school develops character as well as examination performance.
Year 7 entry is through the Lincolnshire Consortium tests, with 174 places. Boys sit GL Assessment verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning/spatial awareness papers, and the same consortium tests can be taken only once in the school year. The stored admissions record notes a minimum standardised qualifying score of 220 and a 30-mile priority area before open score ranking. Official benchmarks record Ofsted Good, +1.10 Progress 8, 98.3% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 38.5% 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 1,216 pupils; 1,212 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 68.3% | White | 830 |
| Any other mixed background | 6.6% | Mixed | 80 |
| Indian | 6.4% | Asian | 78 |
| Any other White background | 5.4% | White | 66 |
| Any other Asian background | 2.9% | Asian | 35 |
| White and Asian | 2.4% | Mixed | 29 |
| Chinese | 2.1% | Asian | 26 |
| African | 1.6% | Black | 20 |
| Pakistani | 1.2% | Asian | 15 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.7% | Other | 9 |
| White and Black African | 0.5% | Mixed | 6 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.4% | Asian | 5 |
| Irish | 0.4% | White | 5 |
| Any other Black background | 0.3% | Black | 4 |
| Unclassified | 0.3% | Unclassified | 4 |
| Caribbean | 0.2% | Black | 2 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.2% | Mixed | 2 |
For 2027 entry there are 174 Year 7 places. Boys need a minimum standardised qualifying score of 220; a 30-mile priority area applies before open score ranking.
A 30-mile straight-line priority area applies. Full pupil premium boys within 30 miles can take up to 20 places, then other qualified boys within 30 miles are ranked by score before boys outside the area are considered.
Children with an EHCP naming King's
Boys whose Education, Health and Care Plan names the school are admitted first.
Looked after and previously looked after boys
Looked after, previously looked after, and internationally adopted previously looked after boys are ranked by standardised score.
Pupil premium boys within 30 miles
Up to 20 places are reserved for full pupil premium boys who live within 30 miles of the school and are ranked by standardised score.
Qualified boys within 30 miles
Other qualified boys living within 30 miles are then ranked by standardised score.
All other qualified boys
Remaining qualified boys are ranked by score regardless of address, with distance and then lottery used if scores tie.
The Lincolnshire Consortium multiple-choice tests use OMR answer sheets. The same consortium tests can only be taken once, even if a family is considering more than one Lincolnshire grammar school.
Shared exam route
King's School, Grantham 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 test
The first Lincolnshire Consortium paper is a verbal reasoning test.
Paper 2
Non-verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness test
The second paper combines non-verbal reasoning with spatial-awareness questions.
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
The first Lincolnshire Consortium paper is a verbal reasoning test.
Non-verbal reasoning
The second paper combines non-verbal reasoning with spatial-awareness questions.
English
Maths
Science
Results emailed
9 October 2026
Parents receive results at 12:00 and primary schools receive them later the same day.
Local authority application deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Second 11+ test
18 or 19 September 2026
This paper covers non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness.
First 11+ test
11 or 12 September 2026
This is the verbal reasoning paper.
11+ registration opens
9 January 2026
Past11+ registration closes
31 March 2026, midnight
PastRead the 2027 entry guidance
Check the King's entry page and policy for the qualifying score, the 30-mile priority rule, and the late-registration route.
Open Year 7 entry guidanceRegister for the King's test
Complete the school's 11+ registration by 31 March 2026. Late registration reopens on 1 May 2026 for families who missed the main window.
Check registration detailsSit the two 11+ tests
Candidates sit the verbal reasoning paper first, then the non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness paper on the published September test dates.
Open key datesSubmit your local authority preferences
Add King's on your home local authority secondary application by 31 October 2026. Test registration does not replace the local authority application.
Read LA guidanceLatest 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 | 72.3 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 69.7 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 70.7 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 72.7 | 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 | A- average (46.0 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (42.5 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B+ average (44.3 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (43 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 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 14 December 2022
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Lincolnshire area and similar boys' selective route
Same Lincolnshire area and similar boys' 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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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 in Lincolnshire
Compare 15 Lincolnshire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Lincolnshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best boys 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
King's School, Grantham currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the 2027 entry guidance: Check the King's entry page and policy for the qualifying score, the 30-mile priority rule, and the late-registration route. 2. Register for the King's test: Complete the school's 11+ registration by 31 March 2026. Late registration reopens on 1 May 2026 for families who missed the main window. 3. Sit the two 11+ tests: Candidates sit the verbal reasoning paper first, then the non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness paper on the published September test dates. 4. Submit your local authority preferences: Add King's on your home local authority secondary application by 31 October 2026. Test registration does not replace the local authority application.
Results emailed: 9 October 2026. Local authority application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027. Second 11+ test: 18 or 19 September 2026. First 11+ test: 11 or 12 September 2026. 11+ registration opens: 9 January 2026. 11+ registration closes: 31 March 2026, midnight
King's School, Grantham is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 14 December 2022.