About Spalding High School
Spalding High School is a selective girls' grammar school in Spalding, Lincolnshire, admitting 150 girls per year. It is the girls' counterpart to Spalding Grammar School and is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools, using the shared GL Assessment entrance test.
Spalding High School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 42.3%. A-Level A*–B: 61.4%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Spalding High School
Spalding High School 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 150 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.
Spalding High 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 (150 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 Spalding High School
Spalding High School Admissions Criteria
Spalding High School is a selective girls' grammar school in Spalding, Lincolnshire, admitting 150 girls per year. It is the girls' counterpart to Spalding Grammar School and is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools, using the shared GL Assessment entrance test.
- ✓Register for the Lincolnshire 11+ via Spalding High School or Lincolnshire LA website.
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers on consecutive Saturdays in September.
- ✓Paper 1 — Verbal Reasoning; Paper 2 — Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning.
- ✓Top 25% of local cohort deemed eligible.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls within the school's catchment area who achieve the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying girls, ranked by distance.
Spalding High School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 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 Spalding High 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 — Spalding High 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 Spalding High 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 Spalding High 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 Spalding High 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 Spalding High School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Spalding High School
Spalding High selects through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools (LCGS) test (GL Assessment), shared across the county — two reasoning-only, age-standardised multiple-choice papers selecting roughly the top 25%.
- Verbal reasoning: word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Non-verbal & spatial reasoning: visual patterns and spatial problem-solving.
Note: the Lincolnshire test is reasoning-only, with a qualifying standardised score of 220.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Spalding High School
Spalding High 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 Spalding High 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 Spalding High School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Spalding High School is a long-established Lincolnshire girls' grammar with strong GCSE and A-Level results and good progression to higher education.
- GCSE: a high proportion achieving strong passes in English and maths in recent years.
- Sixth form: a sixth form with strong university progression.
- Setting: a popular grammar serving Spalding and the wider county.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Spalding High School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools (LCGS) test, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the county's grammar schools — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers taken on separate days: a verbal reasoning paper and a non-verbal/spatial reasoning paper, with no separate English or maths papers. Scores are age-standardised and combined, with a qualifying standardised score of 220 (selecting roughly the top 25%). Families register for the Lincolnshire 11+ and apply via their local authority by 31 October.
The school admits around 150 girls to Year 7 and has no formal catchment — it is accessible to families across Lincolnshire — with priority in oversubscription, after children with an EHCP and looked-after children, given to those living closest to the school. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Spalding High School is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a sixth form, on Stonegate in the market town of Spalding, Lincolnshire (PE11 2PJ). A long-established and popular Lincolnshire grammar, it is a member of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.
The school offers a broad curriculum, strong pastoral care and a wide co-curricular programme across sport, music, drama and clubs. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spalding High School
How do I apply to Spalding High School for Year 7?
Applications to Spalding High 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 Spalding High School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Spalding High School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Spalding High 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 Spalding High School?
Spalding High 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 150 places.
How many Year 7 places does Spalding High School have?
Spalding High School admits 150 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 Spalding High 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 Spalding High School's waiting list.
Is Spalding High School a state school or fee-paying?
Spalding High 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 Spalding High 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 Spalding High School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Spalding High 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.