Before the 11+

1. How do I apply for a place at Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School (KGGS)?

There are 2 distinct procedures. Both must be completed. You will need to register to sit the 11+ at KGGS (or another school in the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools). You will also need to apply for a place in Secondary Education through your Local Authority by 31 October.

 

2. Can I sit the 11+ at more than one school in Lincolnshire?

No.

Each school in the consortium uses the same 11+ tests. We liaise between all the Lincolnshire Grammar Schools after testing so we can check that students have only been tested once.

 

3. Can I apply to more than one Lincolnshire Grammar School?

Yes.

Each school administers the same tests, and the results are shared between the schools.

 

4. How do I check my registration to sit the tests?

You will be given the opportunity to save your answers in the Registration form. Please ensure your daughter’s surname and forename are the correct way around and that her DOB is accurate. Please only contact the school if there is an error.

 

5. What if parents do not live together?

We ask that there is only one registration per child and that the parent named on the registration communicates any information received to the parent not named on the registration.

 

6. What if my daughter’s legal and known by name are different?

Please register your child with the legal name. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to match up your daughter’s 11+ score with her application through the local authority.

 

7.  Do you have a catchment area?

We do not have a ‘catchment area’. Please click here for our Admissions Policy and details of our oversubscription criteria.

 

8. What are your entry criteria?

Please click here for our Admissions Policy

 

9. What was the furthest home-to-school distance accepted for admissions last year?

In the last four years the furthest straight-line distance between home and school (oversubscription criterion 5) that has secured an offer of a place, on National Offer Day, is listed below. As you will appreciate, the distance varies year to year and we cannot predict what will happen in the future.

 

2026 Entry - 11.025 miles

2025 Entry – 17.666 miles

2024 Entry – 12.328 miles

2023 Entry – 10.769 miles

 

 

10. My daughter has changed primary school since registering.

Please let us know as we try and seat students with their peers on the 11+ days.

 

On the day

11. My daughter is ill or not 100% – what should I do?

Please notify us by e-mail (11plus@kggs.org) as soon as possible and we can then re-arrange a sitting in the weeks following the 11+. Please do not send your daughter for testing if she is not feeling at her best.

 

12. What is in the tests?

The LCGS website grammarschools.lincs.sch.uk   gives details on what is contained in the Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Awareness (NVR) tests as well as links to and information on familiarisation materials. The VR is one continuous paper which is usually around 50 minutes.  The NVR is usually slightly shorter and divided into distinct sections, but the number of sections can vary each year. The NVR paper also includes some types of spatial awareness questions.

 

13. Can my daughter bring a drink?

Yes, but it needs to be in a clear bottle. Please be aware that toilet facilities are limited and if breaks are taken during the test, the time is lost.

 

14. Do you provide blank paper for working out?

Yes.

 

15. What should my daughter bring with her on the test days?

All students should wear their primary school uniform so they are easily identifiable.  Students should bring 2 HB pencils and an eraser for the tests. No calculators or other writing tools, e.g. highlighter pens are permitted. Please note that our 11 + exams are conducted according to JCQ guidelines (see IFC document at foot of this page on our website Entry to Year 7 Sept 2027 )

As part of these guidelines, we would like to draw your attention to the rule that students are not permitted to take a watch into these examinations. Countdown or 'count up' clocks are NOT allowed either. A reliable clock will be visible to each candidate in the examination room. Students must not be in possession of the following: AirPods, earphones/earbuds, iPods, mobile phones, MP3/4 players or similar devices, watches, smart glasses or any other smart devices.

 

After the results

 

16. What is the pass mark and what is the maximum score?

The required standardised score for entry to KGGS is 220. The maximum standardised score is 282. This has been standardised according to age.

 

17. My daughter didn’t pass, can I still apply to your school?

Yes, you can still include KGGS amongst your preferences for Secondary Education when you apply through your Local Authority, but you will receive a refusal. After the allocation of places by your home Local Authority on 1 March you will then have the right of appeal against a refusal of a place at this school to an independent appeal committee.

 

18. Can I have a breakdown/copy of my daughter’s tests?

We only provide the breakdown of the VR and NVR standardised scores. As the scores are standardised by age, we do not release raw scores, nor can we release a copy of any materials from testing as these are live examinations.

 

19. My daughter didn’t pass. Can I appeal?

After the allocation of places by your home Local Authority on 1 March you will have the right of appeal against a refusal of a place at this school to an independent appeal committee if you include this school amongst your preferences on the Local Authority parental preference form. Irrespective of your home Local Authority you may appeal online after 1 March through our website KGGS Appeals. You may only appeal if you have included KGGS on your preference form.

 

20. What percentage did my daughter score?

The maximum standardised score is 282. This has been standardised according to age so a percentage is irrelevant data.

 

21. My daughter passed but was refused a place. Can I appeal?

After the allocation of places by your home Local Authority on 1 March you will have the right of appeal against a refusal of a place at this school to an independent appeal committee if you include this school amongst your preferences on the Local Authority parental preference form. Irrespective of your home Local Authority you may appeal online after 1 March through our website KGGS Appeals. You may only appeal if you have included KGGS on your preference form.

 

22. Can my daughter resit the 11+?

No. Students cannot re-sit the 11+. The next opportunity for your daughter to sit an entrance exam for KGGS will be in the September of Year 8.

 

23. How do the Local Authority know what my daughter's score is?

We liaise with Lincolnshire County Council on School Admissions. You do not need to let LCC know your daughter’s scores.

 

24. Should I put KGGS as first choice?

You should fill in the preferences in the order of which school you would like your daughter to attend.

 

25. Will my daughter’s score affect her being offered a place?

No – everyone who scores 220 or above is deemed to have qualified for a place, irrespective of the score. The other admission criteria will then take effect but the overall score does not matter as long as they have qualified