Lawrence Sheriff School 11+ Guide

About Lawrence Sheriff School

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

Nestled in the heart of Rugby, Warwickshire, Lawrence Sheriff School (LSS) is a distinguished boys' grammar that has been nurturing young minds for well over a century. This esteemed institution, which now operates as an academy, caters to more than 800 students between the ages of 11 and 18. The school has recently benefited from significant investment in its facilities, boasting expansive rugby pitches and a state-of-the-art table tennis centre that serves both regional and local communities.

At LSS, the academic programme is designed to be both comprehensive and engaging, offering a wide array of subjects including modern foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, and technology. The curriculum is carefully crafted to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for their future pursuits, instilling in them the values of consistency and perseverance. Beyond the classroom, Lawrence Sheriff School takes immense pride in providing a plethora of opportunities in sports, the arts, and community engagement. From medical science and robotics clubs to wind bands and eco-committees, the diverse range of activities ensures that students develop a well-rounded skill set, preparing them to thrive in their chosen paths.

The school's philosophy is rooted in the belief that true happiness and satisfaction stem from embracing and conquering challenges. This ethos permeates every aspect of teaching and learning at LSS, where the focus is on intellectually stimulating pupils rather than promoting simplistic learning or mediocrity. The school's commitment to fostering a balance between expectations and achievements has yielded impressive results, with a remarkable 76% of Year 11 students attaining grades 7-9 in their recent GCSE exams.

As one of the three selective schools in Rugby, alongside Rugby High and Ashlawn, Lawrence Sheriff School is renowned for its outstanding academic performance. The school's vertical tutoring policy allows for flexibility in student progression, enabling them to advance based on their individual performance rather than age. This unique approach has seen some students sit their GCSEs in Year 9 and A Levels in Year 11, testament to the school's commitment to nurturing each student's potential. With its ethos firmly grounded in fairness, inclusivity, and respect, Lawrence Sheriff School continues to be a beacon of educational excellence in the region.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Lawrence Sheriff School together with their admissions contact details.

Lawrence Sheriff School is a boys only 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 1,079 pupils attend Lawrence Sheriff School and it's led by the Headmaster, Mrs Teresa Mpofu.

Lawrence Sheriff 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 Lawrence Sheriff School for the 2022-23 academic year.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Information

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

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Subjects & Structure

The West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English comprehension
• Maths
• Verbal reasoning
• Non-verbal reasoning

The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is the examination used by Lawrence Sheriff School for their 11+ admissions process. This test is designed to assess a child's aptitude across a range of subjects, including English comprehension, mathematics, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.

The entrance test consists of two papers, each lasting one hour. These papers are further divided into smaller sections, with each section having its own allocated time limit. This format allows for a comprehensive evaluation of a student's abilities in various areas.

Throughout the test, students will encounter multiple-choice questions. They will be provided with separate answer sheets on which they will indicate their chosen answers. These answer sheets are then electronically marked to ensure accuracy and efficiency in the grading process.

Other Schools using West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+

As well as Lawrence Sheriff School, several other schools also use West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. These are:

• Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
• King Edward VI Aston School
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
• King Edward VI Five Ways School
• King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
• King Edward VI Handsworth School
• Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
• Haberdashers' Adams
• Newport Girls' High School Academy
• Queen Mary's Grammar School
• Queen Mary's High School
• Alcester Grammar School
• King Edward VI School
• Rugby High School
• Stratford Girls' Grammar School
• Wolverhampton Girls' High School

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Lawrence Sheriff 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!

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 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 Lawrence Sheriff School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ tests (to get into Lawrence Sheriff 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 Lawrence Sheriff School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Lawrence Sheriff School was last inspected by Ofsted on 29/03/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 23/05/2022, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

Lawrence Sheriff School was inspected by Ofsted on 23/05/2022 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional quality of education, with students consistently achieving high standards across the curriculum. The behaviour and attitudes of pupils were also deemed outstanding, creating a positive learning environment throughout the school.

The school's personal development provision was highly commended, offering a wide range of opportunities for students to grow and develop beyond the classroom. Leadership and management were found to be outstanding, with a clear vision and effective strategies in place to drive continuous improvement.

Additionally, the sixth form provision at Lawrence Sheriff School was rated as outstanding, preparing students exceptionally well for their future education and careers. Overall, the school has demonstrated an exemplary level of education and support for its students.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Lawrence Sheriff 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, Lawrence Sheriff School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

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