About Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle is a co-educational grammar school in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, admitting 120 pupils per year. It is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools and uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 70%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 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 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.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle Admissions Criteria
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle is a co-educational grammar school in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, admitting 120 pupils 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 the QEGS Horncastle 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.
- ✓Approximately the top 25% of the local cohort are deemed to have passed.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children within the designated area who achieve the qualifying score.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by distance.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle)
- 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's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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's Grammar School, Horncastle's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
QEGS Horncastle selects through the Lincolnshire 11+ (GL Assessment), sat once for the county's grammar schools — two electronically marked, age-standardised reasoning papers, with a combined qualifying mark of 220.
- Verbal reasoning: word-based logic, analogies, codes and comprehension.
- Non-verbal / spatial reasoning: visual patterns, shapes and problem-solving.
Note: the Lincolnshire test is reasoning-only — there are no separate English or maths papers.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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
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How to Prepare for the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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
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Academic Performance at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle (QEGS) has a well-established reputation for academic excellence. In a recent year around 56% of pupils achieved grade 7 or above in at least five GCSE subjects, and the school has a long record of results well above the national average; its 2011 Ofsted inspection rated it Outstanding.
- GCSE: around 56% achieving grade 7+ in five or more subjects in a recent year.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with strong A-Level outcomes.
- Specialism: specialisms in maths, science and languages.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Admission to Year 7 is through the Lincolnshire 11+, set and marked by GL Assessment for the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools — so a child sits it once for the county's grammar schools. It is two multiple-choice papers taken on consecutive Saturdays in September: Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning (there are no separate English or maths papers); papers are electronically marked and age-standardised, and the combined score must reach the consortium's standardised qualifying mark of 220 (broadly the top 25%). Families register through Lincolnshire County Council and name the school on the Common Application Form.
The school admits around 120 pupils to Year 7 (four forms of entry) and draws from Horncastle and the surrounding area — including Wragby, Bardney and Woodhall Spa, the Lincolnshire Wolds and Coningsby — using feeder primaries and the free-transport area in its oversubscription criteria after qualified children. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle (QEGS) is a selective co-educational grammar for ages 11–18 on West Street in Horncastle, Lincolnshire (LN9 5AD), with around 880 pupils. It was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571 (on the petition of Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln), though a school had existed in the town for some 250 years before that; the original sealed charter remains in the custody of the school's governors, and it became an academy in 2012.
The school combines high academic standards with a supportive, inclusive ethos and a wide extracurricular programme spanning sport, music, drama, clubs and community engagement. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
How do I apply to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle for Year 7?
Applications to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle?
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle have?
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle's waiting list.
Is Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle a state school or fee-paying?
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 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.