Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith 11+ Guide

About Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith

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

Nestled in the heart of Penrith, Cumbria, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) stands as a beacon of academic excellence and rich heritage. As the sole grammar school in Cumbria and the northernmost grammar in England, QEGS has been nurturing young minds and shaping futures for over four centuries. With a student body of over 1,000 pupils, the school maintains an optimal balance between its size and its commitment to providing individualised attention and support to each student.

At QEGS, the curriculum is meticulously crafted to ensure a comprehensive and well-rounded education. Students receive a robust foundation in core subjects such as English, mathematics, computer science, and art, while also being encouraged to explore their passions through a wide array of elective courses. The school's dedication to staying at the forefront of educational practices is evident in its continuous incorporation of the latest pedagogical findings and technological advancements, such as the recently added suite of interactive foreign language classrooms.

Beyond the realm of academics, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School places great emphasis on character development and personal growth. The school actively promotes traditional values of respect, honesty, responsibility, and self-discipline, which are seamlessly integrated into every aspect of student life. Through an extensive extracurricular programme, pupils have ample opportunities to showcase their talents in sports, music, drama, and various clubs and societies. The school's commitment to holistic education is further exemplified by its provision of pastoral care, ensuring that each student's mental health and well-being are prioritised.

The academic achievements of QEGS students are a testament to the school's unwavering pursuit of excellence. Year after year, pupils consistently surpass national averages in both GCSE and A-Level examinations, with an impressive proportion of students securing top grades. This remarkable performance has earned Queen Elizabeth Grammar School an "Outstanding" rating from Ofsted, solidifying its position as a premier educational institution in the region.

As a school that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School continues to inspire and empower its students to become confident, well-rounded individuals ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow's world. With its rich history, exceptional academic programme, and dedication to character development, QEGS remains a shining example of educational excellence in the United Kingdom.

School Information

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

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith 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 1,038 pupils attend Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith and it's led by the Headteacher, Headteacher David Marchant.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith for the 2022-23 academic year.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ Information

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

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Maths
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-verbal Reasoning

The Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) utilizes the 11 plus exam papers from GL Assessment, a leading provider of entrance assessments in England. The exam consists of two papers, each lasting approximately 50 minutes, and covers a range of subjects designed to evaluate a child's academic abilities and potential.

The English section assesses reading comprehension skills, along with proficiency in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The Maths portion tests the child's grasp of concepts from the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum. Verbal Reasoning challenges the child to solve problems using written information, such as letters, words, symbols, and numbers, while Non-verbal Reasoning involves problem-solving with visual information, including shapes, diagrams, and pictures.

As Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning are not typically taught in primary schools, children may be less familiar with these question types. Incorporating reasoning questions into a child's 11 plus preparation can help boost their confidence and performance on the actual exam day. All questions in the QEGS 11 plus exam are multiple-choice, with separate answer sheets that are electronically marked.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith 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!

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ tests (to get into Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith) 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith was last inspected by Ofsted on 24/01/2023 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 28/03/2023, 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

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith was inspected by Ofsted on 24 January 2023 and received an overall outcome of Good. The school was rated Good in all areas, including Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, and Sixth form provision.

This inspection result demonstrates that Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith provides a high-quality education to its students, with a strong focus on their personal development and well-being. The school's leadership and management team have effectively implemented strategies to ensure that students receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for their future endeavors.

The Good rating in all areas showcases the school's commitment to maintaining high standards across all aspects of education, from academic performance to student support and extracurricular activities. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith should be proud of this achievement and continue to strive for excellence in the future.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith 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, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith 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 Queen Elizabeth Grammar School 11+ Ensure you double-check with Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.