The Boston Grammar School 11+ Guide

About The Boston Grammar School

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

Nestled in the heart of Boston, Lincolnshire, Boston Grammar School (BGS) is a distinguished selective grammar school renowned for its unwavering commitment to academic excellence and holistic student development. This esteemed institution welcomes boys aged 11-18 and extends its educational offerings to girls in the Sixth Form, fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

At the core of BGS's ethos lies a robust house system, which serves to cultivate a strong sense of belonging, healthy competition, and comprehensive pastoral support. The four houses—Muston, Laughton, Gannock, and Parry—are named after influential figures in the school's rich history, inspiring students to embrace the legacy of excellence and camaraderie that has defined the institution for centuries.

BGS boasts a meticulously crafted curriculum that spans a wide array of subjects, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in their future pursuits. From modern foreign languages and the sciences to psychology, business studies, design technology, and the arts, the school's offerings are designed to cater to diverse interests and aptitudes. Engaging, interactive lessons delivered by a dedicated faculty kindle a genuine love for learning, ensuring that students remain motivated and inspired throughout their academic journey.

Beyond the classroom, BGS's extensive clubs programme provides ample opportunities for students to explore their passions and develop crucial non-academic skills. Whether it's honing their artistic abilities in the Sketching Club, challenging themselves through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, delving into the intricacies of music theory, exploring the exciting world of robotics, or engaging in thrilling sports like basketball and badminton, students are encouraged to embrace a well-rounded education that extends far beyond the confines of traditional academia.

The school's steadfast commitment to academic excellence is evidenced by its impressive GCSE results, with a significant proportion of pupils consistently achieving top grades in English and Mathematics. Moreover, BGS takes immense pride in the fact that all of its leavers successfully transition to further education or secure employment, a testament to the school's ability to prepare its students for the challenges and opportunities that await them in the world beyond its hallowed halls.

School Information

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

The Boston Grammar 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 848 pupils attend The Boston Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr John McHenry.

The Boston 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 The Boston Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Lincolnshire 11+ Information

In order to get into The Boston 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

The Boston Grammar School utilizes the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11 plus exam for its admission process. This assessment comprises two distinct papers that evaluate the candidate's aptitude in various cognitive domains.

The first paper focuses on Verbal Reasoning and includes 80 questions distributed across 15 sections. Students are allotted 50 minutes to complete this portion of the exam. The second paper assesses the candidate's Non-verbal and Spatial Reasoning skills through 70 questions divided into 5 sections. Each section in this paper is individually timed by the exam invigilator.

All questions in the Lincolnshire 11 plus exam are presented in a multiple-choice format. Candidates are provided with separate answer sheets to mark their responses, which are then electronically evaluated to determine the student's eligibility for admission to the Boston Grammar School.

Other Schools using Lincolnshire 11+

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

• Boston High School
• Bourne Grammar 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 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 The Boston 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 The Boston 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 The Boston 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 The Boston Grammar School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

The Boston Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 05/10/2021 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 10/11/2021, 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

The overall outcome of the inspection of The Boston Grammar School on 5 October 2021 was Good. The school received a Good rating in all areas assessed, including Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, and Sixth form provision.

This indicates that The Boston Grammar School provides a high-quality educational experience for its students, with effective teaching, positive student behavior and attitudes, strong personal development opportunities, and well-managed leadership. The sixth form provision also received a Good rating, suggesting that the school adequately prepares students for higher education or future careers.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for The Boston 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, The Boston 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 The Boston Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.