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School profile Verified 11 September 2026

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire 11+

Spalding Grammar School

Priory Road, Spalding, PE11 2XH

A selective boys grammar school in Spalding, Lincolnshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 995 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Boys Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment
UK rank
UK Rank #157
Year 7 places
150
Competition ?
Moderate
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
GL Assessment
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank
UK Rank #157
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
GL Assessment
Places in Year 7
150
Competition ?
Moderate
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Good

Overview

Spalding Grammar School is a boys' selective grammar in Lincolnshire with about 995 pupils and a sixth form. Its public motto language is direct: inspire, challenge, enrich, respect, responsibility and resilience. The school presents itself as a community where academic success is important because it opens up next steps, not as an end in itself.

The curriculum aims to develop skills, knowledge, understanding and intellectual curiosity, with sixth-form study, enrichment, careers education, drama, music, trips, student leadership and design and technology all part of the school picture. The sixth form has its own overview, admissions criteria, academic and personal development work, UCAS support and destinations information.

Year 7 admission uses the Lincolnshire 11+ process: verbal reasoning, followed by non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness. The published admission number is 150 and the qualifying level is a total standardised score of at least 220 across the two papers, with priority-area and score-order rules relevant when demand exceeds places.

Spalding comes across as a selective school with a measured but positive outcomes record: Ofsted Good, positive Progress 8, high grade 5+ English and maths performance and a sixth form that supports progression beyond the town as well as into local routes.

Key points
Assessment route
GL Assessment across a 2-stage process, covering Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
150 places in Year 7 and Moderate
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
92.4% grade 5+ in English and maths and 58.8 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 15.7% AAB or better and 58% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Lincolnshire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Spalding Grammar School, Lincolnshire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
58.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
92.4%
EBacc APS
5.32
EBacc entry
62.8%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Lincolnshire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Spalding Grammar School, Lincolnshire, and England. 70 60 50 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Lincolnshire and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Spalding Grammar School, Lincolnshire, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headmaster
Mrs Michele Anderson
Pupil roll
995 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Spalding Grammar School
FSM ?
8.4%
EAL ?
9.9%
EHCP ?
0.9%

Facilities

Design technology

Extracurriculars

Drama

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 995 pupils; 994 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 71.6% Asian 15.7% Mixed 4.2% Black 3% Other 5.3% Unclassified 0.1%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Priory Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire
Postcode
PE11 2XH
Area
Lincolnshire
Exam area
Lincolnshire 11+

School leadership

Headmaster
Mrs Michele Anderson

School contact

School email
enquiries@spaldinggrammar.lincs.sch.uk
School phone
01775765800

Admissions contact

Admissions team
11+ admissions
Admissions email
dhaslam@spaldinggrammar.lincs.sch.uk
Admissions phone
01775765800
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
150 places (2025 entry)
Applications listed
262 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences
151 first preferences (2025 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate
Who can apply
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Pass mark note
The qualifying level is a total standardised score of at least 220 across the two Lincolnshire 11+ papers. This is a qualifying threshold, not an offer cut-off score.

A designated transport area has priority before outside applicants; if qualified demand exceeds 150 within that area, the qualifying score can rise to control admissions.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    EHCP naming the school

    Qualified children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted before other allocations.

  2. 2

    Looked-after and previously looked-after children

    Qualified looked-after and previously looked-after children have first priority after EHCP admissions.

  3. 3

    Designated transport area priority

    If more than 150 pupils qualify, applicants living in Spalding and the listed feeder parishes are considered before applicants outside that area.

  4. 4

    Score order where needed

    If qualified demand still exceeds 150 within the priority area, the aggregate score can be raised; outside-area applicants are then considered by score where places remain.

  5. 5

    Distance and random tie-break

    Tied aggregate scores are separated by direct distance to the school, then by an independent lottery if required.

Admissions policy

Spalding Grammar admissions criteria page

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

Spalding Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment. The published format currently lists 2 papers. Scores are published as age-standardised.

Assessment route
GL Assessment
Papers and stages
2 papers
Format
Multiple-choice papers
Age standardisation
Published as age-standardised

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Lincolnshire test guide

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    Verbal reasoning

    Verbal reasoning test

    The first Lincolnshire 11+ paper is verbal reasoning, answered on an optical mark-reading sheet.

  2. Paper 2

    Non-verbal reasoning

    Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness test

    The second Lincolnshire 11+ paper covers non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness.

What the test includes

Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.

English, Maths and Science are not listed in the current published format.

Included

  • Verbal reasoning

    The first Lincolnshire 11+ paper is verbal reasoning, answered on an optical mark-reading sheet.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    The second Lincolnshire 11+ paper covers non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness.

Not listed

  • English

  • Maths

  • Science

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Registration opens

    7 January 2026

    Past

  2. Registration closes

    31 March 2026

    Past

  3. Verbal reasoning test

    11 or 12 September 2026

    The date depends on the test centre route.

  4. Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness test

    18 or 19 September 2026

    The date depends on the test centre route.

  5. 11+ results

    9 October 2026

    Results are emailed to parents at midday.

  6. Secondary CAF deadline

    31 October 2026

  7. National offer day

    1 March 2027

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register for the Lincolnshire 11+ tests

    Registration opens on 7 January 2026 and closes on 31 March 2026 for the September 2026 test cycle.

    Open registration page
  2. 2

    Sit the two Lincolnshire 11+ papers

    Verbal reasoning is tested on 11 or 12 September 2026, followed by non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness on 18 or 19 September 2026.

    Check key dates
  3. 3

    Submit the secondary CAF

    The Lincolnshire secondary application deadline is 31 October 2026, with allocations made on 1 March 2027.

    Check key dates

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Spalding Grammar admissions criteria page

Key dates

11+ testing letter for Year 7 September 2027 entry

2027 entry

Key dates

Lincolnshire Consortium 11+ key dates for 2027 entry

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 7 February 2024

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Spalding Grammar School was rated Good overall. Pupils achieve well, study a broad academic curriculum and benefit from many activities, but inspectors also noted that some pupils did not feel fully part of a supportive community and had concerns about minority behaviour.
  • Quality of education: The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with important knowledge clearly sequenced in most subjects. Pupils usually learn securely, but the report found that a small number of subjects still needed development so all pupils gain the depth expected.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Most pupils are polite, respectful and try hard in lessons. Inspectors also recorded a more mixed picture: some pupils did not enjoy school as much as they should, and a minority of peers' behaviour affected how supported they felt.
  • Personal development: Pupils have access to sport, games, performing arts, outdoor activities, foreign visits and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The active school council gives pupils a voice in decisions that affect school life, and sixth-formers model responsibility for younger pupils.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders have secured a well-sequenced curriculum and identify support for pupils with SEND effectively. The report also points to work still underway: in some lessons, checks on new learning and the level of challenge were not consistent enough.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth-form provision was judged Good. The evidence links older students to role-model responsibilities and support for the school community, while the wider curriculum and destinations work help pupils and students prepare for aspirational next steps.

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Shortlist comparisons

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What assessment types does Spalding Grammar School use?

Spalding Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to Spalding Grammar School?

1. Register for the Lincolnshire 11+ tests: Registration opens on 7 January 2026 and closes on 31 March 2026 for the September 2026 test cycle. 2. Sit the two Lincolnshire 11+ papers: Verbal reasoning is tested on 11 or 12 September 2026, followed by non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness on 18 or 19 September 2026. 3. Submit the secondary CAF: The Lincolnshire secondary application deadline is 31 October 2026, with allocations made on 1 March 2027.

When are the key dates for Spalding Grammar School?

Registration opens: 7 January 2026. Registration closes: 31 March 2026. Verbal reasoning test: 11 or 12 September 2026. Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness test: 18 or 19 September 2026. 11+ results: 9 October 2026. Secondary CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Spalding Grammar School?

Spalding Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 7 February 2024.