Leicester Grammar School 11+ entry guide

About Leicester Grammar School

Leicester Grammar School (LGS) is an independent day school for boys and girls aged 10 - 18. It’s one of the UK's top-performing independent schools. It’s located in Great Glen, South Leicestershire. The school was opened in 2008 by Queen Elizabeth II.

In 2024, the school was awarded The Times Independent Secondary School of the Year (East Midlands), as well as Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Performance (East Midlands).

At Leicester Grammar School, pupils consistently achieve top academic results. There is also an enriching co-curricular programme for students. In the school’s words, this ‘enhance[s] pupils' physical, cultural and personal development.​’

The school is a purpose-built campus, set in 75 acres. It features state-of-the-art facilities. There are a large number of sport facilities, as well as excellent drama and music studios. The school also has an indoor swimming pool.

LGS fees are very competitive. A range of scholarships and bursaries are also on offer.

Leicester Grammar School 11+ entrance exam

All children applying for 11+ entry to Leicester Grammar School take the CEM Select exam. This is a computer assessment designed by the Centre of Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM). Schools use the exam to get an idea of a child’s academic potential and ability.

The CEM Select exam has a time limit of one hour and is split into six sections. This is a non-adaptive test, so all children see the same questions in the same order. Question types include multiple-choice, drag and drop, and auto-complete.

The core sections in the test are comprehension, missing words, numerical ability and pictures. These sections are often supplemented with one or two more sections which test verbal reasoning.

• Comprehension: the reading comprehension section is one of the longest in the test. Your child will need to read a passage of fiction or non-fiction text, and answer questions to assess their understanding of the text and the extent of their vocabulary.

• Missing words: your child will see two passages of text, one after the other. Both contain missing words. They will need to work out the missing words in each passage.

• Numerical ability: this section of the test assesses your child’s maths skills and knowledge. These questions are aligned to the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum.

• Pictures: the pictures section assesses non-verbal reasoning. For each question, your child will need to choose a picture to complete a set.

In addition to the CEM test, applicants sit papers in English and maths. The English paper consists of comprehension and creative writing. An interview is also conducted at the school.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Leicester Grammar School

Leicester Grammar School is a selective school, and competition for places can be high. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the selection process.

Bitesize learning

It’s important to build a good knowledge base before school entrance exams. Your child should have a good understanding of the content they’ve been taught at school before testing their knowledge with practice tests.

Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.

With Atom Home, you don’t need to worry about creating a study schedule. When you enter your target schools, you’ll get a bespoke learning plan tailored to your schools’ entrance exams. Know exactly what your child needs to do each week to confidently pass.

Read widely

Entrance exams test children’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Looking for reading inspiration? Check out our Key Stage 2 reading list.

Hone curiosity

Selective schools are often looking for children who are interested in learning. You can help by supporting your child’s broader learning, their intellectual curiosity, and their passion for developing an understanding of the world.

Talk to your child about the world we live in and inspire an interest in current affairs with age-appropriate journalism. It’s also a good idea to make sure they’re benefitting from a rich variety of experiences, such as visiting libraries, museums and galleries.

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident with their knowledge of the exam topics, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Mock tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and refine exam technique. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning, while highlighting any knowledge gaps they might want to tackle before exam day.

When you set Leicester Grammar School as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get CEM Select mock tests as part of their learning plan. Know what to expect on exam day.

Celebrate progress

Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.

Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.