Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough 11 plus: a parents’ guide for 2022

Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough is a co-educational grammar school that has a timeline dating back to 1589.

The school was originally for boys only and was based in All Saints Church. After another move, it then relocated in 1940 to sit next to the Technical College and the girls’ school at the time. In 1984, both the boys’ and girls’ schools merged and became the Queen Elizabeth’s High School of today.

Students at Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough learn a core body of knowledge through their ‘Knowledge Book’ programme in Year 6, which is further developed in Year 8 with projects including an Extended Project. The school also works in harmony with the Lincolnshire Music Service, with many of its students achieving high grades in their chosen musical instruments.

The school was last inspected by Ofsted in September 2021 and was rated as ‘Requires Improvement'.

11 plus information for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

• Address: Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2ST

• County: Lincolnshire

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01427 612354

• School type: co-educational grammar

• Number of pupils: 1,231

• Number of places in Year 7: 187

• Open day: Weekly school tours (available to book through Eventbrite) and a virtual tour are available

• 11 plus exam date: Saturday 17th and Saturday 24th September 2022

• Exam board: GL Assessment (Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools)

Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough term dates

The term dates for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough in 2022-23 are:

• Autumn term: 6th September – 16th December

• Half term: 24th – 28th October

• Spring term: 4th January – 31st March

• Half term: 13th – 17th February

• Summer term: 18th April – 21st July

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June

Admissions process for 11 plus at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough welcomes 186 pupils into Year 7 each year. These places are granted to children who achieve the qualifying standard in the 11 plus entrance tests.

To apply for Year 7 at the school, parents need to complete the school’s own application form and name Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough when completing the Common Application Form on their Local Authority website.

In accordance with the 1996 Education Act and the Children and Families Act 2014, Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough allocates places for children with a statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan first. After this, the following oversubscription criteria will be applied:

1. Looked after and previously looked after children

2. Children with a brother or sister on roll at the school at the time of application

3. Children of staff employed at the school

4. Children who live within 9 miles or less by driving distance from the school

5. Children registered as Ever6FSM at the time of application (pupil premium)

6. Children who live more than 9 miles from the school, by driving distance

Letters that state the outcome of the 11 plus exam (i.e. whether or not your child has qualified for a place) will be sent to parents on Friday 13th October 2022.

How and when to apply to Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

The deadline for the 11 plus exam for entry to Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough closed on 25th March 2022. However, you will also need to apply for a school place on the Lincolnshire County Council website before 31st October.

The 11 plus exam format at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

As with the other schools in the Lincolnshire Grammar Schools Consortium, applicants to Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough will take two 11 plus tests on separate dates in September:

• Verbal reasoning test. Take a look at our complete guide to 11 plus verbal reasoning

• Non-verbal reasoning test. Take a look at our complete guide to 11 plus non-verbal reasoning

Practice papers for verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning tests will be made available to Lincolnshire feeder primary schools in June. These are representative of the actual tests, but not identical.

How to prepare for the 11 plus at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

The most effective way to prepare for the 11 plus is by starting early and breaking down the different sections of the test into smaller, manageable parts. Encourage your child to get familiar with the different exercises, celebrate their progress, and work with them to improve any weaker areas. It’s also a good idea to prepare your child for exam day as this gets closer, with online mock tests to help them practise time management.

Your child may encounter different questions on the 11 plus to the ones they’re used to from school, so it’s vital to introduce them to sample questions and familiarisation materials that use the same format as the Lincolnshire 11 plus. Some free 11 plus exercises are available online, but these won’t all be in the same style as the Lincolnshire 11 plus, so make sure you’re choosing ones that will give your child an accurate idea of what to expect.

Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough has also released guides to the 11 plus verbal reasoning test and non-verbal reasoning test courtesy of its Head Boy and Head Girl:

• 11 plus verbal reasoning guide from the Head Boy

• 11 plus non-verbal reasoning guide from the Head Girl

How Atom Learning can help your child prepare for the 11 plus at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

We have over 90,000 teacher-written practice questions, video tutorials, live exam preparation courses and unlimited mock tests that mirror the format of the 11 plus at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough, all designed to help your child feel prepared and confident on exam day.

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We know how crucial this time is, so our team is on hand to support you and your family every step of the way. You can book a call with one of our Education Experts to ask any questions you may have about Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough or the Lincolnshire Grammar Schools 11 plus:

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