About Bourne Grammar School
Bourne Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Bourne, Lincolnshire, with one of the largest published admission numbers in the county at 240 places. Founded in 1636, it is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools and uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test — two papers taken on consecutive Saturdays in September of Year 6.
Bourne Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 52.7%. A-Level A*–B: 65.4%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Bourne Grammar School
Bourne Grammar School is a co-educational state grammar school in England that selects pupils through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ (a shared test set using GL Assessment papers) for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 240 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 Lincs 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 Saturday 20 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.
Bourne Grammar School 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 (240 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 Bourne Grammar School
Bourne Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Bourne Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Bourne, Lincolnshire, with one of the largest published admission numbers in the county at 240 places. Founded in 1636, it is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools and uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test — two papers taken on consecutive Saturdays in September of Year 6.
- ✓Register for the Lincolnshire 11+ via the Bourne Grammar School website or Lincolnshire County Council.
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers on consecutive Saturdays in September (Year 6): Paper 1 — Verbal Reasoning (80 questions, 15 sections, 50 min); Paper 2 — Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning (70 questions, 5 timed sections).
- ✓Approximately the top 25% of the local cohort are deemed to have passed the test.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children who achieve the qualifying standard and live within the school's priority area.
- ✓Children of staff employed at the school for 2+ years.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by distance from school.
- ✓Apply via Lincolnshire LA CAF by 31st October.
Bourne Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 240 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 Bourne Grammar School)
- 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 — Bourne Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Lincolnshire 11+ portal |
| 📌 Registration closes | mid-July 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 20 September 2026 (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 Bourne Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Lincs) when registration opens. Closes mid-July 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Bourne Grammar School
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 Saturday 20 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 Bourne Grammar School 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 Bourne Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Bourne Grammar School
Bourne Grammar School selects through the Lincolnshire Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment). Note that this test assesses only verbal reasoning and non-verbal/spatial reasoning — there are no separate English or mathematics papers — across two multiple-choice papers sat on consecutive Saturdays in September, with age-standardised scoring and a qualifying score of 220 or above.
- Verbal reasoning: word relationships, analogies, codes and logical deduction (around 80 questions).
- Non-verbal & spatial reasoning: visual patterns, sequences and relationships between shapes.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Bourne Grammar School
Bourne Grammar School 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 Bourne Grammar School 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 Bourne Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Bourne Grammar School consistently achieves some of the best results in the county. In recent years around 68–69% of GCSE grades were 9–7 and about 72–73% of A-Level grades were A*–B, with many students progressing to leading universities including Oxbridge and the Russell Group.
- GCSE: consistently strong results across a broad, modern curriculum.
- Sixth form: a large and popular co-educational sixth form with a wide subject choice.
- Progression: high rates of entry to Russell Group and other leading universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Bourne Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools (LCGS) 11+, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the county's grammar schools — so a child sits it once for several schools. Importantly, the Lincolnshire 11+ assesses Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning only — there are no separate English or mathematics papers. It is two multiple-choice papers sat on consecutive Saturdays in mid-September of Year 6, with each component contributing equally; a standardised score of 220 or more (broadly the top 25% locally) is required to qualify.
The school does not operate a fixed catchment area; instead, where oversubscribed, places go to qualifying children living closest to the school (the Lincolnshire Consortium publishes a map of the usual area), after priority for looked-after children, in-area qualifiers and a number of Pupil Premium places. Registration typically opens in early January and closes in late March. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Bourne Grammar School is a well-established co-educational grammar in the market town of Bourne, in south Lincolnshire, educating pupils from Year 7 to a large and popular sixth form. It combines a traditional grammar-school education with a modern outlook, offering a broad curriculum alongside an extensive programme of activities.
Beyond the classroom, pupils take part in a wide range of sport, music and other extracurricular opportunities that support their confidence and all-round development. For the full list of clubs, teams and ensembles, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bourne Grammar School
How do I apply to Bourne Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Bourne Grammar School 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 mid-July 2026), then list Bourne Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Bourne Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Bourne Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 20 September 2026 (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 Bourne Grammar School?
Bourne Grammar School 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 240 places.
How many Year 7 places does Bourne Grammar School have?
Bourne Grammar School admits 240 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 Bourne Grammar School 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 Bourne Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Bourne Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Bourne Grammar School 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 Bourne Grammar School 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 Bourne Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Bourne Grammar School 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.