Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School at a glance
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Rossendale for students aged 11 to 18, with about 1090 pupils. It is part of Star Academies. Year 7 places are given through its 11+ entrance test, and the school has a sixth form.
For September 2026 entry it offered 181 places and was the first choice of 219 families — about 1.2 for every place. 36% of all applications came from families in other council areas.
In 2024/25, 97% of its GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths, against 45% across England’s state schools. Its A-level students averaged B per entry, and 31% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects.
Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given
- Test
- Separate tests at each school
- Set by
- Varies: GL Assessment at Lancaster Royal Grammar and Bacup and Rawtenstall; FSCE at Lancaster Girls' Grammar
- What it covers
- Varies by school — English, maths and verbal reasoning, or English and maths only
At this school: GL Assessment papers in verbal reasoning, maths and English.
How places are given
Each school sets its own qualifying standard and admissions criteria.
How to register and apply
Register directly with each school (deadlines run into September), and name the schools on your secondary application by 31 October.
Admissions rules change each year. Check the school’s current admissions policy — area details last checked October 2026.
Scores needed for a place
We have not yet added published entry scores for this school. Many schools publish the lowest score offered a place each year in their admissions pages — check the school’s website, and see how places are given above.
How many families apply
| Entry | Places | 1st choices | 1st choices per place | All applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | 181 | 219 | 1.2 | 385 |
| Sept 2025 | 171 | 210 | 1.2 | 400 |
| Sept 2024 | 147 | 175 | 1.2 | 303 |
Source: DfE, secondary school applications and offers. Places offered on National Offer Day; first preferences are families who put the school first on their council application.
Exam results
GCSE, 2024/25 · 175 pupils
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Grade 4 or above in English and maths
Attainment 8 (average across 8 subjects)
| Year | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | EBacc points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 96.6% | 73.3 | — | 7.15 |
| 2023/24 | 96.6% | 72 | +0.36 | 7.06 |
| 2022/23 | — | — | — | — |
A level, 2024/25 · 94 students
- Average grade
- B
- England: B-
- AAB or better*
- 31%
- England: 18%
- Value added
- +0.08
*AAB or better, with at least two in facilitating subjects. Value added compares students’ results with others who started from similar GCSEs; above 0 is better than expected.
Source: DfE school and college performance tables. England figures are for all state-funded schools. Progress 8 was not published for 2024/25.
Key facts
- Admits at 11
- Co-educational
- Ages
- 11–18
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Pupils
- 1,087 (capacity 1,260)
- Free school meals
- 7.3% of pupils eligible
- School type
- Academy converter
- Trust
- Star Academies
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Constituency
- Rossendale and Darwen
From the Department for Education’s register (URN 150261), October 2026.
Thinking about Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School?
See where your child stands with our free 15-minute 11+ readiness check — a score for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, judged against their year.