Carre's Grammar School (11+) 11 Plus Exam - 2026 Key Information

Carre's Grammar School is a historic selective grammar school for boys situated in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. Established in 1604, it provides a supportive education to over 800 students aged 11 to 18, covering Key Stage 3 (KS3) and sixth form (6th Form).

Often listed among the best grammar schools in UK, Carre's is dedicated to both academic excellence and student well-being. Its current Ofsted Rating is "Good", highlighting the quality of care provided to young learners.

A member of the Community Inclusive Trust (CIT), Carre’s Grammar School combines academic rigour with exceptional enrichment.

The school operates as a lead Science Learning Partnership, providing high-level STEM opportunities, and offers elite athletic facilities including a dedicated fitness suite and community gym, ensuring a holistic education for students.

In this guide, I apply 6+ years of education consultancy to help parents navigate Carre's Grammar School 2026 11 plus (11+) Exam admissions with confidence.

School Details

• Type of School: Grammar / Academy (Boys)
• Boarding Type: No Boarding
• Gender Type: Boys (11-16), Co-educational (16-18)
• Religion: None
• Age Range: 11-18
• Number of Pupils (Total): 800+
• Carre's Grammar School GCSE Results (2024): 27.6% achieved Grades 9-7
• Carre's Grammar School A-Level Results (2024): 20.7% achieved A*-A

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Year 7 Admissions Details

• Year 7 Admissions Policy: Selective
• Number of Places in Year 7 (PAN): 120
• Exam Board: GL Assessment
• Number of Stages: 1 (Two Papers)
• School Catchment Area: No. (See Below for more details)
• Sibling Policy: Yes. (See Below for more details)
• Pass Mark: Aim for 90% (Standardised Score 220)

Planning for the Carre's Grammar School open day and the academic year ahead is vital for success. I have compiled the confirmed Carre's Grammar School 11 plus exam dates to help you navigate the timeline. This schedule covers every essential 11+ Exam date, ensuring you meet the early registration deadline and are ready for the 11 plus exam dates in September.

Carre's Grammar School follows the admissions protocol set by the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools. Parents must adhere to specific deadlines to secure a place at one of the top grammar schools in Lincolnshire.

How to Register for 11+ Exam

The application journey involves two distinct registration steps which parents must complete separately. The 11 plus exam process begins quite early in the year.

• Register for the Test: You must register your son for the 11+ Exam through the Lincolnshire Consortium website.
• Registration Window: As stated in the LCGS Key Dates, registration opens on 7^th January 2026.
• Strict Deadline: The closing date for 11 plus exam registration is typically 31^st March 2026.
• Local Authority Application: You must also submit the Common Application Form (CAF) via the Lincolnshire County Council website.
• CAF Deadline: The national deadline for submitting school preferences is 31^st October 2026.
• Offer Day: Local authorities will post offer letters to parents on 1^st March 2027.

As stated in the Carre's Grammar School Admissions Policy, the school does not define a traditional, geographic school catchment area. Admission is primarily based on performance in the 11 plus test.

Allocation Criteria

Since there is no fixed 11+ exam catchment, the school uses specific criteria to allocate places if they are oversubscribed:

• Places are first offered to "looked after" or "previously looked after" children who meet the qualifying standard.
• Priority is then given to students based on the proximity of their home to the school.
• This distance is calculated electronically to three figures after the decimal point by the Lincolnshire Council School Admissions Team.

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Distance Calculation

The school uses a straight-line distance for its ranking to ensure a fair process for all applicants. This measurement is strictly governed by the following official parameters:

• The calculation is taken from the Post Office Address Point of the home.
• It is measured directly to the Post Office Address Point of the school.
• The home address is considered the one where the child lives for the majority of the school week.

The school admission process requires parents to adhere strictly to School catchment area residency rules. Providing accurate permanent residence data is essential for the local authority to verify eligibility and calculate distance correctly.

As stated in the Carre's Grammar School Admissions Policy, the school coordinates its testing arrangements with the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools. The Carre's Grammar School 11 Plus Test is designed to assess a boy’s potential through logic-based assessments rather than curriculum content like 11+ English or 11+ Mathematics.

The assessment is administered as a single stage comprising two distinct papers. These GL assessment tests are taken in September 2026 for entry in September 2027. The final rank is determined by the combined age-standardised score of both papers.

Exam Details

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Parent’s Top 4 Queries

Which subjects are tested?

The exam consists of Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning).

What is the qualifying score? 

Historically, a total standardised score of 220 is required to be considered for a place.

What exam board does Carre's follow?

GL Assessment Lincolnshire Grammar Schools.

How long is the 11+ Exam for Carre's?

Paper One is 50 minutes and Paper Two is 50 minutes.

Important Note for Parents - OMR Sheet Guidance

As per the exam regulations, answers must be marked on a separate Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet. Parents must ensure their son understands how to mark the boxes clearly with a horizontal line using an HB pencil, as stray marks or incomplete erasures can affect the machine reading.

To secure a place at Carre's, students must meet the qualifying standard set by the Lincolnshire Consortium. The required aggregate score is typically 220.

This total is derived from two standardized tests:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning

Meeting the 11+ GL assessment pass mark does not guarantee admission due to oversubscription. The school does not select candidates based on the highest scores.

Carre's Grammar School is widely considered the premier choice for boys' education in the Sleaford and wider Lincolnshire area. However, relying solely on one option is a risky strategy for even the brightest students.

I have advised families for years to maintain a balanced portfolio of schools to ensure their son secures a place in an elite learning environment.

Top 5 Alternative Grammar and Independent Schools

A robust 11+ strategy typically includes applying to Carre's alongside other local grammar schools and independent backups.

The Lincolnshire Grammar Schools Consortium allows students to sit one test for multiple schools, simplifying the process. Below are the top alternatives that offer comparable academic rigour and peer groups.

Why these schools are the top alternatives to Carre's Grammar School

• The King's School, Grantham: This is the closest boys-only alternative to Carre's Grammar School. It shares the same GL Assessment format, meaning your son’s preparation for Carre's applies directly here without extra workload.
  
• Bourne Grammar School: A high-performing mixed grammar school that is popular for families willing to travel slightly further south. Its co-educational environment offers a different social dynamic while maintaining exceptional academic standards.
  
• Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (Horncastle): Known as QEGS, this school is another strong Consortium option. It consistently achieves solid results and serves as a reliable parallel choice for families in the north-eastern catchment.
  
• Stamford School: For parents seeking the "Gold Standard" in the private sector, Stamford offers world-class facilities. Their entrance process looks beyond just raw scores, focusing on potential and character through interviews.

Advisory Note: While Carre's Grammar School remains the target, competition is driven by catchment and score. A strategy of applying to three grammar schools and two independent schools mitigates the risk of displacement due to distance criteria.

According to the National School Census, competition remains consistently high with approximately two applicants competing for every single place. For Carre's Grammar School, this 2:1 ratio highlights the intense demand for the limited places available.

This competitive landscape confirms that early, focused preparation for the eleven plus exam is crucial for your son's success.

Carre's remains oversubscribed, with an 11% oversubscription rate in 2025 against its Pupil Admissions Number (PAN). As stated in the Carre's Grammar School Admissions Policy, securing a spot requires meeting the required standard.

How hard is it to get into Carre's Grammar School?

Parents often ask me, "Is Carre's Grammar School hard to get into?" given the competitive statistics. Drawing from my experience, I assure you that success is a manageable goal with a solid, targeted strategy.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Verbal Reasoning topics

Our analysis of Carre's Grammar School past papers indicates a strong reliance on GL Assessment patterns. The 11 plus verbal reasoning test heavily favours logic-based codes, vocabulary proficiency, and letter sequences.

This breakdown clearly shows that Code Breaking and Word Meaning account for nearly half of the expected questions. Mastery of these areas is essential for achieving a high score.

Elevate your child's score with our comprehensive verbal reasoning 11+ past papers and topic-wise resources. Trusted by thousands of parents, these packs include detailed answer hints and structured exam planners.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Non-Verbal Reasoning topics

The 11 plus non verbal reasoning paper for the Lincolnshire Consortium focuses on spatial awareness and pattern recognition. Our data suggests that Matrices and Analogies are the most dominant question types in this exam.

These topics collectively account for a significant portion of the marks, requiring students to identify complex visual relationships quickly. Spatial Reasoning involving 2D and 3D shapes is also a critical component.

Prepare effectively for success with our targeted 11+ non verbal reasoning questions and expert-designed practice papers. Our resources provide instant access to essential guides for mastering 3D shapes and logical sequences.

Which are the Best 11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School?

Parents often search for the most accurate GL assessment practice papers to match the school's specific testing format. We strongly recommend using the following resources to ensure your child is exam-ready.

These packs cover the exact style of questions found in the actual GL assessment papers. Regular practice with these materials will build both speed and confidence for the entrance exam.

Carre's Grammar School is highly sought-after, so familiarising your son with the format is crucial. Sitting a Carre's Grammar School 11 plus mock exam helps identify weak areas and improve speed under timed conditions. Regular 11 plus mock tests are vital for building confidence.

As Carre's uses GL Assessment, we recommend these resources to mirror the challenge:

You can evaluate your son’s potential with our 11 plus mock test papers pdf free. Booking an 11 plus mock test Lincolnshire ensures he is ready for the local selection process.

• Autumn Half Term 1: Thursday 3^rd September 2026 to Thursday 22^nd October 2026
• Autumn Half Term 2: Tuesday 3^rd November 2026 to Friday 18^th December 2026
• Spring Half Term 1: Tuesday 5^th January 2027 to Friday 12^th February 2027
• Spring Half Term 2: Monday 22^nd February 2027 to Thursday 25^th March 2027
• Summer Half Term 1: Monday 12 April 2027 to Friday 28^th May 2027
• Summer Half Term 2: Monday 7^th June 2027 to Wednesday 21^st July 2027

This information has been sourced from Get Information about Schools and Carre's Grammar School Official Website.

Navigating the 11+ grammar school entry requires coordinating with your local authority and understanding specific exam formats. Here are the essential, official resources to help you prepare your application for Carre's Grammar School.

• GL Assessment Familiarisation Materials
• UK Govt. - Get Information on Carre's Grammar School Page
• Carre's Grammar School Ofsted Report
• Gov.UK Find your Local Council Page
• Carre's Grammar School Admissions Policy
• UK Govt. - Schools, pupils and their characteristics data