A selective co-educational grammar school in Lancaster, Lancashire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,290 pupils on roll.
Lancaster Royal Grammar School
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At a glance
Lancaster Royal Grammar School is one of the distinctive state grammar schools because it combines selective day places with state boarding. It is based in Lancaster, serves ages 11 to 18, and has a recorded Christian character. The school is boys-only up to Year 11 and co-educational in the sixth form, with official data recording around 1,290 pupils on roll.
The academic identity is longstanding and outward-looking. LRGS presents itself as one of the leading state boarding schools in the UK, with GCSE and A-level outcomes consistently placing it among high-performing state schools. Sixth-form admissions are based on GCSE grades rather than a separate entrance exam, and external day and boarding applicants can join at 16+, including girls joining the co-educational sixth form.
Boarding changes the rhythm of the school. School House and Ashton House give senior boarders shared kitchens, recreation rooms and study space, with Ashton House providing accommodation for sixth-form girls. School-life pages point to chess, sport and the house system, while the Old Lancastrian material shows an active alumni culture supporting careers, awards, clubs, sports tours and equipment.
Year 7 admission has 176 places: 164 day places and 12 boarding places. The 2027 entrance test uses three age-standardised multiple-choice GL papers in mathematics, English and verbal reasoning; day-place priority starts with the City of Lancaster priority catchment and then residual catchment categories, with test rank used within categories. Ofsted judged the school Good in October 2021. GOV.UK shows +0.59 Progress 8, 99.4% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 37.9% AAB or better at A level; the school also published 43% A*/A at A level and 65% grades 7-9 at GCSE for 2025.
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.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,290 pupils; 1,265 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 58.3% | White | 752 |
| Indian | 12.1% | Asian | 156 |
| Any other White background | 4.5% | White | 58 |
| Pakistani | 4.3% | Asian | 55 |
| White and Asian | 3.9% | Mixed | 50 |
| Chinese | 3.3% | Asian | 42 |
| African | 3% | Black | 39 |
| Any other Asian background | 2.6% | Asian | 33 |
| Any other ethnic group | 2.2% | Other | 28 |
| Unclassified | 1.9% | Unclassified | 25 |
| Any other mixed background | 1.3% | Mixed | 17 |
| White and Black African | 1.1% | Mixed | 14 |
| Bangladeshi | 1% | Asian | 13 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.5% | Mixed | 7 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 1 |
Year 7 has 164 day places and 12 boarding places. Day-place priority starts with the City of Lancaster priority catchment, then residual catchment categories, with test rank used within categories.
Priority is given to applicants living in the City of Lancaster. A residual catchment area is considered after the priority categories, and applicants outside the residual area are considered only if places remain.
EHCP naming the school
Admitted before oversubscription criteria where the minimum level is met.
Looked after and previously looked-after children
Priority where the minimum level is met, or the score is up to and including 5% below it.
Priority catchment plus Pupil Premium
City of Lancaster priority catchment applicants eligible for Pupil Premium, with the same 5% below minimum-level allowance.
Priority catchment
Applicants living in the City of Lancaster who meet the minimum level.
Residual catchment plus Pupil Premium
Residual catchment applicants eligible for Pupil Premium, with the same 5% below minimum-level allowance.
Residual catchment children of staff
Eligible sons of qualifying permanent staff living in the residual catchment.
The 2027 LRGS entrance test has three age-standardised multiple-choice GL papers: mathematics, English and verbal reasoning.
Paper 1
Maths, English, Verbal reasoning
LRGS 11+ papers
Three age-standardised multiple-choice papers: mathematics, English and verbal reasoning. There is no non-verbal reasoning paper.
English, Maths and Verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Three age-standardised multiple-choice papers: mathematics, English and verbal reasoning. There is no non-verbal reasoning paper.
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Open day
20 June 2026, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm
No booking required.
Registration opens
13 April 2026
PastRegistration closes
7 September 2026
Entrance test
26 September 2026
Results issued
6 October 2026
CAF deadline
30 October 2026
National offer day
1 March 2027
Read the admissions booklet
Check the 2027 11+ booklet and policy for day and boarding routes.
Open bookletRegister for the 11+
Complete the LRGS online registration form between 13 April and 7 September 2026.
Sit the entrance tests
Main day and boarding applicants sit the 11+ at LRGS on 26 September 2026.
Submit the CAF
Return the local authority Common Application Form by 30 October 2026.
Latest 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 | 72.5 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 72.2 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 72 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 74.1 | 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 (44.3 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (41.9 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (41.3 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (42.3 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 | 97% | 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 | 1% |
Latest inspection: 20 October 2021
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Lancashire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Lancashire area and similar co-ed 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 Lancashire
Compare 4 Lancashire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, 11+ admissions, catchment or distance rules, competition, and school profiles.
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
Lancaster Royal Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the admissions booklet: Check the 2027 11+ booklet and policy for day and boarding routes. 2. Register for the 11+: Complete the LRGS online registration form between 13 April and 7 September 2026. 3. Sit the entrance tests: Main day and boarding applicants sit the 11+ at LRGS on 26 September 2026. 4. Submit the CAF: Return the local authority Common Application Form by 30 October 2026.
Open day: 20 June 2026, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm. Registration opens: 13 April 2026. Registration closes: 7 September 2026. Entrance test: 26 September 2026. Results issued: 6 October 2026. CAF deadline: 30 October 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027
Lancaster Royal Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 20 October 2021.