Bourne Grammar School 11+ Guide

About Bourne Grammar School

Bourne Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Lincolnshire. For children to get into Bourne Grammar School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Bourne Grammar School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Lincolnshire, Bourne Grammar School is a beacon of academic excellence and holistic education. This co-educational grammar school has a rich history spanning several centuries, during which it has nurtured generations of students, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world.

At Bourne Grammar, students benefit from a comprehensive and well-balanced curriculum that encompasses a wide array of subjects, from languages and sciences to technology and social studies. The school's commitment to academic rigour is evident in its consistently impressive exam results, solidifying its position as one of the top-performing schools in the East Midlands region. Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to explore their passions through a diverse range of extracurricular activities, including sports, performing arts, and community engagement.

The school's dedication to providing an exceptional learning environment is reflected in its state-of-the-art facilities, which include a £4 million science block housing 15 cutting-edge laboratories. This investment in infrastructure ensures that students have access to the resources and tools necessary to excel in their studies and pursue their intellectual curiosity. Bourne Grammar's ethos is centred on nurturing resilience, resourcefulness, and reflective learning, empowering students to face challenges head-on and emerge as confident, well-rounded individuals prepared for the demands of higher education and beyond.

With a long-standing tradition of academic achievement, character development, and community engagement, Bourne Grammar School continues to set the standard for excellence in education. Its commitment to fostering a love for learning, coupled with its supportive and inclusive environment, makes it an ideal choice for students seeking to unlock their full potential and make a positive impact on the world around them.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Bourne Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

Bourne Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,708 pupils attend Bourne Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Alastair Anderson.

Bourne Grammar School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Bourne Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Lincolnshire 11+ Information

In order to get into Bourne Grammar School, children need to pass the Lincolnshire 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Lincolnshire 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Lincolnshire 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-verbal Reasoning
• Spatial Reasoning

To secure a place at Bourne Grammar School, prospective students must sit the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11 plus exam. This assessment consists of two separate papers, each focusing on different areas of reasoning ability.

The first paper, Verbal Reasoning, comprises 80 questions divided into 15 sections. Students are allotted 50 minutes to complete this paper, which evaluates their ability to analyze and interpret written information.

The second paper assesses both Non-verbal and Spatial Reasoning skills through 70 questions split across 5 individually timed sections. This paper examines a student's capacity to recognize patterns, solve problems, and visualize spatial relationships. All questions in the Lincolnshire 11 plus are presented in a multiple-choice format, with answers recorded on separate sheets for electronic marking.

Other Schools using Lincolnshire 11+

As well as Bourne Grammar School, several other schools also use Lincolnshire 11+. These are:

• Boston High School
• Carre's Grammar School
• Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
• Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
• King Edward VI Grammar School
• Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy
• Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
• Skegness Grammar School
• Spalding Grammar School
• Spalding High School
• The Boston Grammar School
• The King's School, Grantham
• The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

Lincolnshire 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Bourne Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Lincolnshire 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Lincolnshire 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Bourne Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Lincolnshire 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Lincolnshire 11+ tests (to get into Bourne Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Bourne Grammar School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Bourne Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 11/10/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 04/12/2022, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

Bourne Grammar School was inspected by Ofsted on 11 October 2022 and received an overall rating of Good. The school demonstrated Outstanding performance in several areas, including Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, and Sixth form provision.

The school's Personal development and Leadership and management were both rated as Good. This indicates that the school provides a well-rounded education, focusing not only on academic achievement but also on the personal growth and well-being of its students.

The Outstanding ratings in key areas such as Quality of education and Sixth form provision showcase Bourne Grammar School's commitment to providing high-quality teaching and learning experiences for its students, preparing them for success in their future academic and professional endeavors.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Bourne Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Bourne Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use our 11+ practice papers to help your child prepare.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Lincolnshire 11+ Ensure you double-check with Bourne Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.