Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle at a glance
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle is a co-educational grammar school in Horncastle for students aged 11 to 18, with about 790 pupils. It is part of Horncastle Education Trust. Year 7 places are given through the Lincolnshire 11+, and the school has a sixth form.
For September 2026 entry it offered 118 places and was the first choice of 167 families — about 1.4 for every place. 1% of all applications came from families in other council areas.
In 2024/25, 89% 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 33% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects. 69% of sixth-form leavers went on to university (destinations measured in 2022/23).
Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given
- Test
- Lincolnshire 11+
- Set by
- GL Assessment, for the Lincolnshire grammar schools
- What it covers
- Verbal reasoning and non-verbal (including spatial) reasoning
How places are given
The two standardised scores are added together, and a combined score of 220 qualifies. Oversubscribed schools then apply their own criteria, so popular schools often admit children who scored well above 220.
How to register and apply
Register with the Lincolnshire grammar schools by the end of June of Year 5, 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
| Entry | Measure | Applies to | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2027 | Qualifying score | All applicantsThe qualifying standard shared by the Lincolnshire consortium schools. It makes a child eligible; it does not guarantee a place. | 220 |
Scale: Total standardised score, verbal plus non-verbal reasoning (maximum 282). Source: King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth: admissions FAQs. Scores change every year and depend on how many children apply — treat them as a guide, not a target.
How many families apply
| Entry | Places | 1st choices | 1st choices per place | All applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | 118 | 167 | 1.4 | 293 |
| Sept 2025 | 119 | 156 | 1.3 | 248 |
| Sept 2024 | 119 | 133 | 1.1 | 228 |
| Sept 2023 | 115 | 152 | 1.3 | 231 |
| Sept 2022 | 120 | 168 | 1.4 | 247 |
| Sept 2021 | 120 | 156 | 1.3 | 249 |
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 · 123 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 | 89.4% | 66.2 | — | 6.35 |
| 2023/24 | 81.5% | 62.1 | +0.28 | 5.95 |
| 2022/23 | 90.0% | 66.6 | +0.49 | 6.33 |
A level, 2024/25 · 96 students
- Average grade
- B-
- England: B-
- AAB or better*
- 33%
- 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.
Where students go next
- University
- 69%
- Apprenticeship
- 3%
- Employment
- 20%
- Any sustained destination
- 93%
Source: DfE 16–18 destination measures, students who left after A levels or equivalent, destinations measured in 2022/23 (114 students). Categories overlap slightly and do not sum to 100%.
Key facts
- Admits at 11
- Co-educational
- Ages
- 11–18
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Pupils
- 788 (capacity 920)
- Free school meals
- 11.6% of pupils eligible
- School type
- Academy converter
- Trust
- Horncastle Education Trust
- Local authority
- Lincolnshire
- Constituency
- Louth and Horncastle
From the Department for Education’s register (URN 138665), October 2026.
Thinking about Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle?
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.