A selective girls grammar school in Spalding, Lincolnshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 948 pupils on roll.
Spalding High School
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At a glance
Spalding High School is a selective 11-18 girls' grammar school on Stonegate, with about 948 pupils and a long South Holland history. The school was founded in 1920 at Welland Hall on London Road, moved into the Stonegate era as numbers grew, operated across split sites for many years, and finally brought the whole school together on one site in 1986 after a new teaching block was completed.
The history page matters because it links buildings to ethos. It records the development of the sports hall, languages block, technology block, sixth-form common room, John Williams Performing Arts Block, Millennium Block, science extensions, library and staff-room improvements, but then stresses the constants: hard work, high expectations, concern for others, courtesy, respect and care for the environment.
That blend still shows in the current profile. Spalding High has named facilities including a sports hall, library, swimming pool and performing arts spaces, and the co-curricular record includes orchestra, choir, drama, sport and student leadership. Sixth form sits within the same 11-18 grammar community, with admissions, curriculum and examination-results material published by the school.
Year 7 entry has 150 places and follows the Lincolnshire grammar route, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests. For 2027 entry, the qualifying standard is an aggregate standardised score of 220 across the two papers; offers then depend on the published admissions arrangements, including looked-after priority, sibling priority and distance. Published measures include Ofsted Outstanding, +0.63 Progress 8, 92.5% grade 5+ in English and maths and 11.1% 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 948 pupils; 946 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 63.5% | White | 602 |
| Any other White background | 11.3% | White | 107 |
| Indian | 6.1% | Asian | 58 |
| Pakistani | 3.9% | Asian | 37 |
| Any other Asian background | 3.5% | Asian | 33 |
| White and Asian | 2.8% | Mixed | 27 |
| African | 2.6% | Black | 25 |
| Any other mixed background | 2.3% | Mixed | 22 |
| Chinese | 1.1% | Asian | 10 |
| White and Black African | 0.8% | Mixed | 8 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.7% | Other | 7 |
| Any other Black background | 0.3% | Black | 3 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.3% | Asian | 3 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.3% | Mixed | 3 |
| Unclassified | 0.2% | Unclassified | 2 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.1% | White | 1 |
No catchment boundary applies; after qualification and higher-priority categories, straight-line distance ranks remaining applicants.
EHCP naming the school
Qualified children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are allocated first.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Qualified looked-after and previously looked-after children, including children adopted from state care outside England, are prioritised.
Sibling priority
Qualified children with a brother or sister on roll at application or expected admission have priority next.
Straight-line distance
Remaining qualified applicants are ranked by straight-line distance from home to school, with an independent lottery if distance cannot separate the final place.
Spalding High School currently uses GL Assessment. The published format currently lists 2 papers. Scores are published as age-standardised.
Shared exam route
Spalding High School 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 11+ paper is verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Non-verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning test
The second Lincolnshire 11+ paper is non-verbal reasoning.
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 11+ paper is verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
The second Lincolnshire 11+ paper is non-verbal reasoning.
English
Maths
Science
Registration opens
7 January 2026
PastRegistration closes
31 March 2026
PastVerbal reasoning test
11 or 12 September 2026
The date depends on the test centre route.
Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness test
18 or 19 September 2026
The date depends on the test centre route.
11+ results
9 October 2026
Results are emailed to parents at midday.
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 tests.
Check key datesSit the two 11+ papers
The Lincolnshire tests take place in September 2026 and cover verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
See test formatSubmit the secondary CAF
The secondary application deadline is 31 October 2026, with places allocated 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 | 67.6 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 64.3 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 65.1 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 63 | 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 (41.0 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (36.6 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | C+ average (34.1 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B- average (37.4 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 | 98% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 96% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 30 November 2023
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Lincolnshire area and similar girls' selective route
Same Lincolnshire area and similar girls' selective route
Same Lincolnshire area and similar girls' 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 Lincolnshire
Compare 15 Lincolnshire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Lincolnshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls 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
Spalding High 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 tests. 2. Sit the two 11+ papers: The Lincolnshire tests take place in September 2026 and cover verbal and non-verbal reasoning. 3. Submit the secondary CAF: The secondary application deadline is 31 October 2026, with places allocated 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 High School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 30 November 2023.