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Lawrence Sheriff School
Lawrence Sheriff School is a state-funded grammar school for boys in Rugby, West Midlands. It uses the GL 11+ exam for Year 7 entry and does not include an interview stage. Admissions prioritise boys within a defined catchment area based on location and distance.
Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby is a good fit for a boy who works hard but does better in a steady, considerate setting than a hothouse. It is a grammar school for boys carrying the name of Lawrence Sheriff, the Tudor grocer to Elizabeth I whose bequest founded Rugby School in the town. When Rugby School became fee-paying, this school opened in 1878 to carry on Sheriff's original purpose, free education for the boys of Rugby and the villages around it. That sense of why it exists still runs through the place. It is state-funded with no fees, and selects through the Warwickshire 11+.
The school sets out its values plainly as fairness, inclusivity and respect, and describes an ethos that puts people first and asks pupils to listen to one another even when they disagree. It has long sat alongside Rugby High School for Girls, the nearby girls' grammar, so the two share a good deal. Boys here are expected to work hard within a settled, orderly community rather than a pressured one.
Lawrence Sheriff suits an academically able boy who responds to high expectations held in a calm, supportive environment, and a family who values a school with deep local roots. There is a quiet civic pride in being a Rugby school, in the very town whose famous game took its name from the school up the road. It has been led since 2021 by headteacher Teresa Mpofu, who followed a predecessor of more than two decades. For a boy ready to be stretched without being rushed, it is a strong fit.
Key facts
Admissions
Registration form
Sibling policy
No
What this school tests
West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
English13 question types
Maths23 question types
Non-verbal Reasoning14 question types
Spatial Reasoning8 question types
Verbal Reasoning26 question types
Catchment area
Does Lawrence Sheriff School have a catchment area?
Yes, there is a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school.
Previous exam results
GCSE results
In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 75.1 across their GCSEs. 96% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 73.3% achieved the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
A-level results
In 2025 students achieved a B average grade per A-Level entry. 28.5% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
Frequently asked questions
What exam board does Lawrence Sheriff School use for the 11+?
Lawrence Sheriff School uses the GL Assessment 11+ exam for its Year 7 entry.
Does Lawrence Sheriff School interview as part of the 11+ admissions?
No, an interview stage is not part of the 11+ admissions process at Lawrence Sheriff School.
Is Lawrence Sheriff School a single-sex or co-educational school?
Lawrence Sheriff School is a single-sex grammar school for boys.
Does Lawrence Sheriff School have a catchment area for 11+ entry?
Yes, Lawrence Sheriff School operates a catchment area, with priority given based on a candidate's location and distance from the school.
What is the official website for Lawrence Sheriff School?
The official website for Lawrence Sheriff School is http://www.lawrencesheriffschool.net/.
How do you get a place at Lawrence Sheriff School?
Your son first needs to reach the required standard in the entrance test, which is run as part of the West Midlands grammar schools consortium by Warwickshire Admissions. Places are then offered in priority order: looked-after and previously looked-after children first, then a set number of places for children eligible for Pupil Premium and then Service Premium living in the catchment, children of long-serving staff, then boys living in the Eastern Area of Warwickshire, then those in the wider Priority Circle, then children outside the catchment. A child with an EHCP naming the school is admitted first. Within each group, the highest test scores come first, with distance used to settle ties. There's no fixed pass mark; it depends on demand each year.
What happens if my child is ill on 11+ test day at Lawrence Sheriff School?
If your son is ill and can't sit the test on the day, you must tell Warwickshire Admissions (or whichever organisation you registered with) by 23:59 on the test day, then send proof of the illness by the deadline in your testing pack. An alternative session can then be arranged, with a main supplementary date in September, so his results come through with everyone else's. For a disability or specific need, you can request reasonable adjustments such as extra time using the Special Testing Requirements form, with supporting medical or professional evidence, by 30 June 2026.
Location
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