About Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Grantham, Lincolnshire, admitting 120 girls per year. It is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools and uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test.
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) is a girls state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 120 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 Lincolnshire Consortium test consists of two one-hour, multiple-choice reasoning papers — Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning — sat on consecutive Saturdays in September. There are no separate English or Mathematics papers. 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.
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 (120 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) Admissions Criteria
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Grantham, Lincolnshire, admitting 120 girls per year. It is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools and uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test.
- ✓Register for the Lincolnshire 11+ via KGGS or Lincolnshire LA website.
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers on consecutive Saturdays in September.
- ✓Paper 1 — Verbal Reasoning (80 questions, 50 min); Paper 2 — Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning.
- ✓Top 25% of local cohort are deemed eligible.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls within the catchment area who achieve the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying girls, ranked by distance.
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 120 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS))
- 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 — Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)
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 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)
KGGS selects through the Lincolnshire Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment) — two one-hour, multiple-choice reasoning papers taken on consecutive Saturdays, age-standardised, with an aggregate qualifying standardised score of 220.
- Verbal reasoning: word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Non-verbal & spatial reasoning: visual pattern recognition and problem-solving with shapes and diagrams.
Note: the Lincolnshire route does not include separate English or mathematics papers.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) is a long-established and high-achieving Lincolnshire grammar, judged Outstanding by Ofsted, with strong GCSE and A-Level results and many students progressing to Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: its own sixth form with strong university progression.
- Heritage: a notable history as the school of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Lincolnshire Consortium 11+, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the county's grammar schools — so a child sits it once. Distinctively, it is two one-hour multiple-choice papers in verbal reasoning and non-verbal (and spatial) reasoning only — there are no separate English or maths papers — taken on consecutive Saturdays in September with practice questions beforehand. The papers are age-standardised, and a child needs an aggregate standardised score of 220 (the common Lincolnshire qualifying standard, broadly the top 25%).
The school does not operate a catchment area. After children with an EHCP, priority runs through siblings, then Pupil Premium pupils living within 12 miles, then staff children, with remaining qualified girls ranked by straight-line distance (and a lottery only if a final place is tied). Note that Lincolnshire's registration closes early — for September 2027 entry it opened on 7 January 2026 and closed on 31 March 2026. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) is a selective girls' grammar (with its own sixth form) in Grantham, Lincolnshire, with around 1,000–1,200 pupils. Founded in 1910 by H. Gladys Williams, growing out of the earlier Grantham Institute, it is an academy and holds an Outstanding Ofsted judgement, with a notable history as the school of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was head girl in her final year.
The school combines a long academic tradition with a broad enrichment programme designed to give pupils a global perspective. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
How do I apply to Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) for Year 7?
Applications to Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 20 September 2026 (Verbal + Non-Verbal Reasoning). The test covers Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)?
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 120 places.
How many Year 7 places does Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) have?
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) admits 120 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)'s waiting list.
Is Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) a state school or fee-paying?
Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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 — Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) 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.