Lincolnshire / Lincolnshire 11+
Priory Road, Spalding, PE11 2XH
Spalding Grammar School
1
A selective boys grammar school in Spalding, Lincolnshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 995 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Spalding, Lincolnshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 995 pupils on roll. Spalding Grammar School serves boys aged 11-18 and keeps a full sixth form on site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 995 pupils on roll and 150 Year 7 places.
From a family point of view, admissions are likely to be one of the most important parts of the picture. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks moderate 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.
The academic side of the school is backed by enough published data to give families a useful starting point. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.30 and Attainment 8 at 59.8. 75.8% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 15.7% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 58% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Design technology. 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. Taken together, those features make Spalding Grammar School the kind of school that rewards careful research into travel, admissions detail, and day-to-day fit, not just headline outcomes.
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.
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.
EHCP naming the school
Qualified children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted before other allocations.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Qualified looked-after and previously looked-after children have first priority after EHCP admissions.
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.
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.
Distance and random tie-break
Tied aggregate scores are separated by direct distance to the school, then by an independent lottery if required.
Spalding Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment. The published format currently lists 2 papers. Scores are published as age-standardised.
This school uses the shared Lincolnshire consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Lincolnshire guidePaper 1
VR
Verbal reasoning test
The first Lincolnshire 11+ paper is verbal reasoning, answered on an optical mark-reading sheet.
Paper 2
NVR
Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness test
The second Lincolnshire 11+ paper covers non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness.
Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
English, Maths, Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
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.
English
Maths
Science
Creative writing
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
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 pageSit 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 datesSubmit the secondary CAF
The Lincolnshire secondary application deadline is 31 October 2026, with allocations made on 1 March 2027.
Check key datesLatest 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 | 63.7 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 60.9 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 59.8 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 58.8 | 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 (40.8 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (35.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (35.3 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C+ average (34.2 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 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 92% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 2% |
| In employment | 3% |
Latest inspection: 7 February 2024
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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
Best Grammar Schools in Lincolnshire
Compare the best grammar schools in Lincolnshire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Lincolnshire sits within the Lincolnshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
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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 in Lincolnshire
Compare the best grammar schools in Lincolnshire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Lincolnshire sits within the Lincolnshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
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 realistic shortlist options.
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.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Spalding Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
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.
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
Spalding Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 7 February 2024.