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Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle

School typeGrammar
Also known asQEGS Horncastle
AddressWest Street, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, LN9 5AD

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle is a mixed grammar school that uses the GL 11+ exam as part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools. The school does not have an interview stage for its 11+ admissions. Applications are handled through Lincolnshire County Council, and there is no fixed catchment area.

If your child would settle better in a small, warm school than a large or high-pressure one, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Horncastle is worth a close look. The school describes its success as resting on strong relationships and support, with students who enjoy learning and staff who enjoy working with them, and that settled feel is the first thing most families notice. It is one of the oldest schools in Lincolnshire, granted its royal charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571 on the petition of the Earl of Lincoln, and that charter, seal and all, is still held by the school's governors today.

Originally a boys' day and boarding school, it began admitting girls in 1908 when it moved to its present West Street site, and it now teaches boys and girls together from 11 to 18. The school says its main aim is to give every student first-class teaching so they can aim high, whatever their starting point. It holds specialist status in science and modern foreign languages, and music threads through ordinary school life, including a termly open mic lunch where pupils can get up and play.

It suits a child who will thrive in a smaller, historic grammar with a warm, settled feel and strong pastoral support, the kind of place where staff know who each child is and what they need. Led by headteacher Mr Simon Furness, Queen Elizabeth's is a school where a quieter, curious child can take their time, find their footing and grow into themselves rather than be lost in the crowd.

Key facts

Gender
Mixed
Year 7 places
120
Annual fees
None

Admissions

Open day
Oct
Registration opens
Jan
Registration closes
Mar
CAF deadline
Oct
Admissions contact
enquiries@qegs.lincs.sch.uk
Admissions phone
0150 752 2465

Registration form

View registration details

Sibling policy

No

What this school tests

The 11 Plus

Non-verbal Reasoning14 question types
Extended Figure SeriesFigure AnalogiesFigure MatricesFigure OperationsFigure SeriesGrid MatricesHorizontal CodesMost Like Three FiguresMost Like Two FiguresOdd Figure OutStar MatricesTriangle MatricesTriangle SeriesVertical Codes
Spatial Reasoning8 question types
2D RotationsBlock CountingCombining ShapesFold and PunchFolding CubesHidden ShapesMissing Face of CubeShape Completion
Verbal Reasoning26 question types
AnagramsCompound WordsEmbedded WordsForm a WordInsert a LetterLetter AnalogiesLetter CalculationsLetter CodesLetter GridsLetter SequencesMove 1 / 2 LettersNumber AnalogiesNumber CalculationsNumber SequencesRelated WordsRhyming SynonymsShuffled SentencesSynonymsWord / Logic PuzzlesWord AnalogiesWord CompletionWord MatchWord OppositesWord PairsWord RelationshipsWords and Codes

Catchment area

Does Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle have a catchment area?

The school does not operate a fixed catchment area, but it does have a designated transport area and selects through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ tests. Applications are handled with Lincolnshire County Council.

Previous exam results

GCSE results

In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 66.2 across their GCSEs. 89.4% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 53.7% 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. 33.3% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

Frequently asked questions

What exam board does Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle use for the 11+?

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle uses the GL exam board for its 11+ tests.

Does Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle interview as part of the 11+?

No, there is no interview stage for 11+ admissions at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle.

Is Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle co-educational or single-sex?

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle is a mixed-gender school.

What is Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle's official website?

The official website for Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle is https://www.qegs.lincs.sch.uk/.

Does Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle have a catchment area for 11+ admissions?

The school does not operate a fixed catchment area, but it does have a designated transport area. Admissions are handled through the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ tests via Lincolnshire County Council.

How are 11+ applications handled for Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle?

Applications for 11+ entry to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle are handled with Lincolnshire County Council.

How do you get a place at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle?

Your child first needs to reach the required standard in the 11-plus, sat in the autumn term. Horncastle is part of the Lincolnshire grammar schools' consortium and uses its two reasoning tests to identify children in the top 25% of ability. Sitting the tests isn't itself an application, and qualifying doesn't guarantee a place. If the school is oversubscribed, qualifying children are offered places in priority order. A child with an EHC plan naming the school is admitted first. Then looked-after and previously looked-after children, then children eligible for Pupil Premium or the service premium, then children living in the school's designated free-transport area, then children from all other areas, each ranked by test score. There's no fixed pass mark; it depends on demand each year.

What happens if my child is ill on 11+ test day at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle?

The 11-plus is run through the Lincolnshire grammar schools' consortium, so reasonable adjustments and what happens if your child is ill are handled through that testing process rather than by the school alone. Horncastle's own admissions policy doesn't set out a separate reserve-test procedure for a child who falls ill on the test day itself. If that happens, contact the school as early as you can so they can advise on access arrangements or a possible alternative testing date through the consortium. The school can offer late testing up to the start of the school year, so the sooner you get in touch, the better.

Location

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