About The King's School, Grantham
The King's School, Grantham is a selective boys' grammar school (co-educational Sixth Form) in Grantham, Lincolnshire, admitting 150 boys per year. Founded in the 6th century, it is one of the oldest schools in the world and counts Sir Isaac Newton among its most famous former pupils. The school is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.
The King's School, Grantham provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 62.6%. A-Level A*–B: 71.5%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for The King's School, Grantham
The King's School, Grantham is a boys state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 174 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.
The King's School, Grantham 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 (174 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 The King's School, Grantham
The King's School, Grantham Admissions Criteria
The King's School, Grantham is a selective boys' grammar school (co-educational Sixth Form) in Grantham, Lincolnshire, admitting 150 boys per year. Founded in the 6th century, it is one of the oldest schools in the world and counts Sir Isaac Newton among its most famous former pupils. The school is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.
- ✓Register for the Lincolnshire 11+ via The King's School 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 deemed eligible.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys within the school's catchment area who achieve the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying boys, ranked by distance from school.
The King's School, Grantham Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 174 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 The King's School, Grantham)
- 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 — The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham
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 The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at The King's School, Grantham
The King's School selects through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ (GL Assessment), sat once for the county's grammar schools — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers with a qualifying standardised score of 220.
- Verbal reasoning: word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Non-verbal & spatial reasoning: pattern recognition and visual problem-solving.
Note: the Lincolnshire test does not include separate English or mathematics papers.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for The King's School, Grantham
The King's School, Grantham 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the The King's School, Grantham 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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Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
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Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
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Academic Performance at The King's School, Grantham (GCSE & A-Level Results)
The King's School, Grantham is a high-performing Lincolnshire boys' grammar with strong GCSE and A-Level results and good progression to leading universities.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form run in partnership with a local girls' school.
- Distinctive: a specialism in business and enterprise, and its own Combined Cadet Force.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for The King's School, Grantham
Admission to Year 7 is through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+, set by GL Assessment and shared across around 15 grammar schools — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers of about an hour: one on verbal reasoning and one on non-verbal and spatial reasoning (there are no separate English or maths papers). Scores are age-standardised and combined, and the consortium qualifying standard is a standardised score of 220 (broadly the top 25%). Families register through the consortium and apply via their local authority.
The school admits around 174 boys to Year 7 and has no formally defined catchment area, though it prioritises children living closer to the school where it is oversubscribed. After looked-after children, places are ranked using the school's oversubscription criteria with distance as a tie-break. Demand is high, with around 185 boys sitting for the school's places. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
The King's School, Grantham is a selective boys' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Brook Street in Grantham, Lincolnshire (NG31 6RP), with around 1,200 pupils. There has been a school in Grantham since the fourteenth century — making it one of the oldest grammar schools in England — and it was refounded in 1528; it became an academy in 2012.
With a specialism in business and enterprise and its own Combined Cadet Force, the school offers a wide co-curriculum spanning sport, music, drama, debating and leadership, supported by a strong house system. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about The King's School, Grantham
How do I apply to The King's School, Grantham for Year 7?
Applications to The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does The King's School, Grantham use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham?
The King's School, Grantham 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 174 places.
How many Year 7 places does The King's School, Grantham have?
The King's School, Grantham admits 174 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 The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham's waiting list.
Is The King's School, Grantham a state school or fee-paying?
The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham 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 The King's School, Grantham's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for The King's School, Grantham 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.