Westmorland and Furness Westmorland and Furness 11+
Ullswater Road, Penrith, CA11 7EG
A selective co-educational grammar school in Penrith, Cumbria, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,036 pupils on roll.
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith
1
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At a glance
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith is a Royal Charter school founded in 1564, now a selective 11 to 18 grammar of about 1,040 students. Its location gives it a distinctive role in Cumbria: academically selective, but also closely tied to Penrith and the rural communities around it.
The school frames its work through Aiming High, Thinking Beyond and Striving Together. That translates into a curriculum for academically able pupils, a strong emphasis on initiative and responsibility, and opportunities beyond the classroom that include sport, the arts, enterprise, trips, societies and community activity.
The sixth form is described by the school as large and thriving, with a broad academic course offer, pastoral support and social, cultural and sporting activities. QEGS points to a long record of academic success while still emphasising individual talents, curiosity and confidence.
Year 7 entry has 160 places. The admissions route uses the FSCE entrance test, which covers Key Stage 2 knowledge and skills through multiple-choice and written-response questions; papers are computer-marked and age-standardised. Thirty-two places are ranked directly by aggregate test score, with remaining eligible applicants considered through the published oversubscription criteria.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Westmorland and Furness and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Westmorland and Furness and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Westmorland and Furness and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,036 pupils; 1,034 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 83.7% | White | 867 |
| Any other White background | 4.2% | White | 43 |
| Indian | 2.7% | Asian | 28 |
| White and Asian | 2.7% | Mixed | 28 |
| Any other mixed background | 1.3% | Mixed | 13 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.1% | Asian | 11 |
| Chinese | 1% | Asian | 10 |
| White and Black African | 0.9% | Mixed | 9 |
| African | 0.8% | Black | 8 |
| Pakistani | 0.6% | Asian | 6 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.5% | Other | 5 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.4% | Mixed | 4 |
| Unclassified | 0.2% | Unclassified | 2 |
| Any other Black background | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 1 |
A hybrid allocation applies: 32 places are awarded by entrance-test rank, then remaining qualified applicants are prioritised through oversubscription criteria including the designated catchment area and straight-line distance.
EHCP naming the school
Applicants with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming Queen Elizabeth Grammar School are admitted before other applicants if they have reached the required standard.
32 places by entrance-test rank
Twenty percent of places, 32 of the PAN of 160, are awarded by ranked aggregate entrance-test score before the remaining oversubscription criteria are applied.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Looked-after and previously looked-after children are prioritised within the oversubscription criteria after they meet the required entrance-test standard.
Current family association
Applicants with a sibling attending the school at the time the child starts are prioritised next.
Up to 10 Pupil Premium or Service Premium places
Up to 10 places are prioritised for applicants eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Premium, with the supplementary information form due by 31 October 2026.
Children of permanent staff
Children of qualifying permanent members of staff are prioritised after the Pupil Premium and Service Premium category.
The FSCE entrance test covers KS2 curriculum knowledge and skills through multiple-choice and written-response questions. Papers are computer-marked and age-standardised.
Paper 1
English, Maths, Science, Other
FSCE entrance test
The FSCE test covers KS2 curriculum knowledge and skills through multiple-choice and written-response questions; papers are computer-marked and age-standardised.
English, Maths and Science are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Science
The FSCE test covers KS2 curriculum knowledge and skills through multiple-choice and written-response questions; papers are computer-marked and age-standardised.
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Entrance-test registration opens
1 May 2026
PastEntrance-test registration closes
12 July 2026
Entrance test
17 September 2026
Secondary school application deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Read the admission arrangements
Check the 2027 entry arrangements before registering so eligibility, oversubscription, and evidence requirements are clear.
Open policyRegister for the entrance test
Registration opens on 1 May 2026 and closes on 12 July 2026.
Open test guideSit the FSCE entrance test
The entrance test is scheduled for 17 September 2026.
Open test guideSubmit the Common Application Form
List the school on the local authority application by the national deadline.
Open policyLatest 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 | 68.4 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 64.1 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 65 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 64.8 | 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 | B+ average (43.0 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (36.5 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (37.4 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B- average (37.1 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 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 2% |
Latest inspection: 25 January 2023
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
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Best Grammar Schools in Westmorland and Furness
Compare 1 Westmorland and Furness grammar school 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
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith currently uses FSCE.
1. Read the admission arrangements: Check the 2027 entry arrangements before registering so eligibility, oversubscription, and evidence requirements are clear. 2. Register for the entrance test: Registration opens on 1 May 2026 and closes on 12 July 2026. 3. Sit the FSCE entrance test: The entrance test is scheduled for 17 September 2026. 4. Submit the Common Application Form: List the school on the local authority application by the national deadline.
Entrance-test registration opens: 1 May 2026. Entrance-test registration closes: 12 July 2026. Entrance test: 17 September 2026. Secondary school application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 25 January 2023.