About Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) in Penrith is the only grammar school in Cumbria, founded in 1564 by Royal Charter. It is a selective co-educational school using the FSCE (Future Stories) test for its 11+ entrance examination. QEGS operates a defined catchment area covering Penrith and surrounding regions of Eden District, Cumbria. It is the northernmost grammar school in England.
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 50%. A-Level A*–B: 75%.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith Admissions Criteria
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) in Penrith is the only grammar school in Cumbria, founded in 1564 by Royal Charter. It is a selective co-educational school using the FSCE (Future Stories) test for its 11+ entrance examination. QEGS operates a defined catchment area covering Penrith and surrounding regions of Eden District, Cumbria. It is the northernmost grammar school in England.
- ✓Register directly with QEGS Penrith (check school website for registration window).
- ✓Sit the FSCE 11+ entrance exam — three papers covering English, Maths and Creative Writing.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standard to be eligible.
- ✓QEGS has a defined catchment area — priority given to children within the Eden District catchment.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children within the catchment area who achieve the qualifying score.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by distance.
- ✓Apply via your Local Authority CAF by 31st October.
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith 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 FSCE 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith)
- 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 — Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by school) |
| 📌 FSCE 11+ Entrance Test | September 2026 (English, Maths and Creative Writing) |
| 📌 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the FSCE 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Cumbria) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by school). There is no fee to sit the FSCE 11+ test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
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 FSCE 11+ Entrance Test
Your child sits the FSCE 11+ in September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics and Creative Writing, 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
Subjects Tested at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
QEGS Penrith selects through its own entrance examination. From 2027 entry the test moves to three Key Stage 2-based papers, computer-marked and age-standardised (the school has used a different test provider in recent years — confirm the current provider with the school).
- Adventure Paper: Key Stage 2 curriculum subjects, multiple-choice.
- Beacon Paper: Key Stage 2 curriculum subjects, short written responses.
- Compass Paper: Key Stage 2 curriculum subjects, multiple-choice.
Note: the entrance test format changed for 2027 entry onwards — confirm the current format and provider with the school.
Independent 11+ Practice Papers for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith uses the FSCE 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) Penrith delivers high academic standards, with pupils performing well above the local-authority average — in recent figures around 90% achieved grade 5 or above at GCSE — supported by a broad, ambitious curriculum and strong personal development.
- GCSE: around 90% achieving grade 5+ in recent figures, above the local average.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with progression to higher education.
- Specialism: particular strengths in maths and computing.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
Admission to Year 7 is by the school's own entrance examination. For 2027 entry onwards the test moves to a new three-paper format, sat in any order and based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum (with no unfamiliar material): an Adventure Paper (multiple-choice), a Beacon Paper (short written responses) and a Compass Paper (multiple-choice), all computer-marked and age-standardised. QEGS has used a different test provider in recent years, so always confirm the current provider and format with the school.
As the only grammar school in Cumbria, QEGS is heavily oversubscribed (around four or more applicants per place). It admits roughly 160 pupils to Year 7: after children with an EHCP naming the school, around 32 places (about 20% of the year) go to the highest scorers regardless of address, with the remaining places prioritising children in the defined Penrith catchment (using reasoning scores and then straight-line distance). Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) Penrith is a selective co-educational grammar for ages 11–18 on Ullswater Road in Penrith, Cumbria (CA11 7EG), with around 1,040 pupils. Founded by Royal Charter in 1564, it is the only grammar school in Cumbria and the northernmost in England; it became an academy in 2011 and joined the Changing Lives Learning Trust in 2023, carrying the ethos 'Preparing our students to succeed in tomorrow's world'.
The school combines traditional values with a broad, ambitious curriculum and wide enrichment in music, drama and sport, with a four-house system (Blencowe, Lowther, Tudor and Strickland) fostering teamwork and belonging. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith for Year 7?
Register with the school for its entrance test (sat in September) and name QEGS Penrith on your Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) by 31 October 2026.
What entrance test does Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith use?
Its own entrance examination. For 2026 entry onwards QEGS moves to the FSCE (Future Stories) three-paper format, sat in any order and based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum — an Adventure Paper (multiple-choice), a Beacon Paper (short written responses) and a Compass Paper (multiple-choice), computer-marked and age-standardised, with no verbal or non-verbal reasoning. QEGS used a different test provider in recent years, so confirm the current provider with the school.
Is Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith selective, and is it free?
Yes. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith is a selective state grammar school (co-educational) and, as a state-funded school, charges no fees.
When does the entrance test take place?
In September. For September 2027 entry it falls in the autumn of 2026. The papers are sat in any order on the test day; confirm the exact date with the school.
When are the results released?
In October 2026, before the Local Authority application deadline, so you can list QEGS Penrith on your CAF in time.
When is National Offers Day in 2027?
National Offers Day is 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities tell families which secondary school place their child has been allocated.
Does Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith have a catchment area?
As Cumbria's only grammar school, QEGS draws applicants from a wide area and offers places by test score; distance features in tie-breaks. Confirm the current catchment with the school.
How many Year 7 places does Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith offer?
About 160 places.
How can my child prepare for the QEGS Penrith entrance test?
Because the FSCE test is built on the Key Stage 2 curriculum (up to the end of Year 5) and avoids verbal and non-verbal reasoning, focus on applying English and maths skills and timed creative writing rather than drilling reasoning. No past papers are published and the format changes yearly, so practise broadly. ExamTutor offers practice papers with full video explanations.