About Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) is a co-educational selective grammar school in Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire, founded in 1703. It is part of Star Academies and admits 180 pupils per year. BRGS uses GL Assessment for its three-paper entrance exam (English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning). Registration closes 12 noon on 14th September 2026. Exam: Saturday 26th September 2026.
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately None Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Lancashire test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (None places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) Admissions Criteria
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) is a co-educational selective grammar school in Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire, founded in 1703. It is part of Star Academies and admits 180 pupils per year. BRGS uses GL Assessment for its three-paper entrance exam (English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning). Registration closes 12 noon on 14th September 2026. Exam: Saturday 26th September 2026.
- ✓Register via the BRGS website — registration opens April/May 2026 and closes 12:00 noon on 14th September 2026.
- ✓Sit three GL Assessment multiple-choice papers on Saturday 26th September 2026: English (~50 min), Mathematics (~50 min), Verbal Reasoning (~50 min).
- ✓Scores are age-standardised. Typically the top 25% qualify for a place.
- ✓Complete the Lancashire LA Common Application Form by 31st October 2026.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children attending Area 1 primary schools (Bacup, Rawtenstall, Waterfoot), ranked by score.
- ✓Children attending Area 2 primary schools (Haslingden, Whitworth, Helmshore), ranked by score.
- ✓Children of BRGS staff for 2+ years.
- ✓All other qualifying applicants, ranked by score.
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the None Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS))
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by school) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Lancashire) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by school). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School administers its own 11+ entrance examination rather than using a shared consortium test, so registration and format are handled directly by the school (see its 'Blue Book' guide). The assessment covers English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning; confirm the current format, timing and any additional components with the school.
- English: reading comprehension and written expression.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 numeracy and problem-solving.
- Verbal reasoning: logic, vocabulary and relationships between words.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) consistently ranks among the leading schools in the country at both GCSE and A-Level, and has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted. In recent years around 21.8% of all GCSE grades were awarded at the very top grade 9, with strong A-Level outcomes.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently high results across a broad curriculum, with particular strength in STEM and success in national science competitions.
- Wider achievement: national recognition in drama, music and public speaking, and many students completing the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award.
- Progression: high rates of entry to top universities in the UK and internationally.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
BRGS is a standalone grammar school that manages its own admissions and entrance examination — it is not part of a wider consortium. Entry to Year 7 is by the school's own 11+ assessment (sat in September of Year 6), covering English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning; the school publishes full guidance in its application booklet, known as 'The Blue Book'. Families register through the school from around June and also name BRGS on the local-authority Common Application Form.
The school does not operate a formally defined catchment area, but it gives priority to pupils from a list of named Rossendale feeder primary schools, with distance from the school used within its oversubscription criteria. As exact arrangements and test format can change, always confirm the current details with the school.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
With roots dating back to the early eighteenth century (it evolved from the historic Newchurch Grammar School), BRGS sits on Glen Road in Waterfoot, in the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire, and educates around 1,300 pupils from Year 7 to the Sixth Form. Its ethos is built on the values of trust, ambition, resilience and respect, fostering a supportive environment in which pupils feel safe to take risks in their learning.
The school offers a varied extracurricular programme — from debating, Astronomy Club, Model UN and a Japanese Club to rugby, hockey, football, athletics and netball, alongside strong music and drama. For the full list of clubs, teams and ensembles, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
How do I apply to Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) for Year 7?
Applications to Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026 (varies by school)), then list Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)?
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of None places.
How many Year 7 places does Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) have?
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) admits None Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)'s waiting list.
Is Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) a state school or fee-paying?
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.