The King's School, Grantham 11 plus: 2024 entry guide

Are you considering The King's School in Grantham for your son? We've collated all the information you need to know about 2024 entry to Year 7. Keep reading to learn about key dates, the admissions process, and how to prepare for the Lincolnshire 11 plus exam.

About The King's School, Grantham

The King’s School is a selective grammar school in Grantham for boys aged 11 to 18. It has an illustrious history; it was founded in 1529 and attended by Sir Isaac Newton from 1655 to 1660, who went on to become a central figure in the scientific revolution of the 17th century.

The school strives for high academic standards with the provision of a broad education. Students are encouraged to be lifelong learners, with emphasis placed on the importance of work, self-discipline, behaviour and personal achievement.

The King's School, Grantham is the highest-performing state secondary school in Lincolnshire.

• Address: The King’s School, Brook Street, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6RP

• Local authority: Lincolnshire County Council

• School type: boys' grammar

• Headteacher: Simon Pickett

• Number of pupils: 1,100+

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 125

• A level results: 77.7% A*–B

• GCSE results: 62.7% A*/A/9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

• Admissions contact: Louise Bremner – [email protected], 01476 563180

• Number of places in Year 7: 174

• Open day date: 26th June 2023, 6pm–8.30pm

• 11 plus registration opens: 9th January 2023

• 11 plus registration closes: 31st March 2023

• Exam date: 16th and 23rd September 2023

• Exam type: Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools: GL Assessment

• Common application form (CAF) deadline: 31st October 2023

• National school offer day: 1st March 2024

How to apply to The King's School, Grantham

If you would like your son to be considered for a place at The King's School, you will need to register for him to take the 11 plus exam and apply for a school place separately.

1. Register for the 11 plus

The King's School works with the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools to carry out the 11 plus test procedure. You will need to register directly with the school if you would like your child to take the 11 plus exam and be considered for a place.

You can register your son directly on the school website. This must be completed by 31st March 2023.

2. Apply for a school place

All state secondary school places – including grammar schools – must be applied for via your local authority (LA). If you live in Lincolnshire, you will be able to apply via the Lincolnshire County Council website between 1st September and 31st October 2023. If your child lives in a different local authority, you will need to apply using the application form provided by your home LA. This will then be forwarded to Lincolnshire LA.

You will know whether your child has met the qualifying mark in the Lincolnshire 11 plus to be eligible for a place at The King's School before the local authority deadline.

What is the pass mark for The King's School, Grantham?

After your child takes the 11 plus exam, a team of independent professional markers at GL Assessment will double-mark and check the papers. Some scores will be age-standardised and then the results for the school will be ranked in order.

The qualifying level (pass mark) is a total standardised score of at least 220, out of a maximum score of 282, on both papers. Children who meet and exceed this pass mark are normally working within the top 25% of their cohort.

The results of the exam will be emailed to you on Friday 13th October 2023. However, passing the 11 plus and achieving a score of at least 220 does not guarantee that your child will receive a place at the school, as more children normally qualify for a place than there are places available. The lowest score offered a place for entry in 2022 was 234, excluding places allocated using other admissions criteria (see below).

The King's School oversubscription criteria

There are 174 places available in Year 7 at The King's School. If the number of applications from children who achieve the qualifying score of 220 or more exceeds the number of places available, then the school will offer places in the following order of priority:

1. 'Looked after' and 'previously looked after' children who have achieved the minimum standardised qualifying score

2. Children who are eligible for the full Pupil Premium achieve the qualifying score, by rank order of standardised score. There are up to 20 places available for children who fall within this category

3. Children who have achieved above the qualifying standard and live within 30 miles of the school (measured by a straight line distance) at the time of application. Places in this category are prioritised according to the rank order of standardised score

4. All remaining places are then awarded to other children who have qualified for entry in rank standardised score order

The King's School catchment area

There is no defined catchment area at The King's School. However, children who live within 30 miles of the school are prioritised in the school's oversubscription criteria.

Personalised 11 plus prep for your child

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