Bourne Grammar School: Admissions, Exam and Catchment Guide
Bourne Grammar School is a co-educational selective academy in Bourne, Lincolnshire, offering education for pupils aged 11–18. Admission to Year 7 is based on the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ examination, with applicants required to achieve the qualifying standard and meet the school’s admissions criteria.
For parents, understanding the Bourne Grammar School pass mark is only part of the process. The number of available places, oversubscription criteria and distance from home can all affect whether a child receives an offer.
This guide explains the 11+ exam, admissions process, qualifying score, catchment arrangements and recent entry data to help families plan their application.
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Is Bourne Grammar School Selective?
Yes. Bourne Grammar School is a state-funded selective academy. Pupils normally join Year 7 at age 11 after taking the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ examination.
The school has a published admission number of 240 pupils for Year 7. Applicants must achieve the minimum qualifying score to be eligible for a place, but reaching this standard does not guarantee admission.
Places are allocated according to the school’s published oversubscription criteria. These include priority categories for eligible children, certain pupil premium applicants, higher-scoring candidates within a specified radius and, ultimately, distance from the school.
Parents should therefore consider both their child’s test preparation and the school’s admission rules when deciding whether to apply.
Bourne Grammar School 11+ Exam: What Is the Format?
Bourne Grammar School uses the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ examination. For Year 7 entry, the assessment consists of two multiple-choice reasoning papers.
| Exam paper | What it assesses |
|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | Understanding words, language relationships and logical patterns |
| Non-verbal and spatial reasoning | Recognising visual patterns, shapes and relationships |
Both papers must be completed for a valid full score. The tests are age-standardised, meaning results take account of the child’s age when the assessment is taken.
The school organises a familiarisation session to help children understand the examination environment. Attendance is not compulsory, but the school recommends it.
For the official arrangements, visit the Bourne Grammar School 11+ registration and testing page.
When Is the Bourne Grammar School 11+ Exam?
The entrance examination takes place during Year 6, in the September before children start secondary school the following September.
For September 2027 entry, the testing arrangements took place in September 2026. For September 2028 entry, the school states that registration for children currently in Year 5 will open in January 2027. The exact test dates for that entry year are to be confirmed by the school.
Parents should check the official registration page for the latest dates and instructions rather than relying on previous years’ timetables.
Bourne Grammar School Pass Mark: What Score Do You Need?
For Year 7 entry in September 2027, Bourne Grammar School’s published minimum standardised qualifying score is 220.
Children who achieve a standardised score of 220 or above meet the qualifying standard for consideration. However, the qualifying score is not an individual guarantee of a place.
The school has 240 Year 7 places, and the number of qualified applicants can exceed that total. If demand is higher than the available places, the school applies its published oversubscription criteria to determine which children receive offers.
Is 220 Enough to Get into Bourne Grammar School?
A score of 220 meets the published qualifying standard for September 2027 entry, but whether it is enough to secure a place depends on the admissions criteria and the applicant’s circumstances.
Some places are allocated through priority categories. Other places depend on higher standardised scores within a defined area or on the distance between the applicant’s home and the school.
This means two children who both achieve 220 or above could have different admissions outcomes.
Parents should use the qualifying score as a benchmark for eligibility, not as a prediction that a place will be offered. Always confirm the standard that applies to the year your child will enter.
Bourne Grammar School Catchment Area: Where Do You Need to Live?
Bourne Grammar School does not have a fixed catchment area that guarantees a place. Its admissions arrangements use a combination of priority categories, a limited number of places allocated by score within a specified radius, and home-to-school distance.
For September 2027 entry, the published policy includes 24 places for the highest-ranking qualified applicants by standardised score who live within 15 miles of the school, after the earlier priority criteria have been applied.
Remaining places are allocated using the school’s oversubscription rules, with straight-line distance from home to school used as the final criterion.
How Far Away Can You Live from Bourne Grammar School?
There is no single distance that guarantees admission every year. The furthest distance at which a child receives a place can change according to the number of applicants, the distribution of scores and how many places are allocated under higher-priority criteria.
Lincolnshire County Council’s published Year 7 admissions data provides useful historical context:
| Entry year | Furthest distance offered | Last place offered on distance alone |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16.627 miles | 7.459 miles |
| 2022 | 16.268 miles | 10.750 miles |
| 2023 | 17.186 miles | 9.188 miles |
| 2024 | 16.012 miles | 8.984 miles |
| 2025 | 19.348 miles | 6.997 miles |
Distances are measured in a straight line. The furthest distance offered can include applicants admitted under higher-priority criteria, so it should not be treated as a general catchment radius.
The figures demonstrate why parents should not rely on a single historical distance when planning an application.
For further details, consult Lincolnshire County Council’s Bourne Grammar School admissions data.
Does Living Within 15 Miles Guarantee a Place?
No. The 15-mile radius applies to a specific group of places allocated to the highest-ranking qualified applicants after earlier criteria have been applied. It is not a blanket catchment area for every applicant.
Children who live within the radius must still meet the qualifying standard and the relevant criteria. The remaining places are allocated under the rest of the school’s admissions policy.
Parents should read the full policy to understand where their child might sit within the allocation process.
Bourne Grammar School Admissions: How to Apply
Parents need to complete two separate steps: registering their child for the 11+ test and applying for a secondary school place.
Registering for the test does not automatically apply for a place at Bourne Grammar School.
Step 1: Register for the 11+ Test
Complete the school’s online registration when the registration window opens. For September 2028 entry, registration is scheduled to open in January 2027.
Check the school’s website for the deadline, assessment dates and instructions on the familiarisation session.
Step 2: Prepare for the Assessment
Use the official test guidance to understand the two reasoning papers. Practise relevant question types and review mistakes to identify areas that need improvement.
Consistent preparation is generally more useful than leaving everything until the weeks immediately before the exam.
Step 3: Apply Through Your Home Local Authority
After registering for the test, submit your secondary school application through your home local authority.
For September 2027 entry, the national application deadline is 31 October 2026, and offers are scheduled for 1 March 2027.
Families living outside Lincolnshire should apply through their own local authority and check its procedures for listing schools in other areas.
The Lincolnshire County Council secondary school application page explains the application process and key dates.
Step 4: Review the Offer and Next Steps
If your child receives an offer, follow the instructions in the offer notification.
If no place is offered, parents may have the right to appeal, provided Bourne Grammar School was included on the application. The school’s guidance explains the different considerations for children who did not reach the qualifying standard and those who qualified but were not offered a place because of oversubscription.
Read the official Bourne Grammar School admissions policy for 2027 entry for the complete criteria and appeals information.
Bourne Grammar School Results: What Do the Figures Show?
Historical admissions figures help parents understand demand, although they cannot predict an individual child’s chances of receiving a place.
Lincolnshire County Council’s published data for September 2025 entry records the following:
| Admissions measure | September 2025 entry |
|---|---|
| Total applicants | 517 |
| Year 7 places offered | 240 |
| Qualifying score | 220 |
| Furthest distance offered | 19.348 miles |
| Last place offered on distance alone | 6.997 miles |
These figures show that the school received more applications than it had places available. They also illustrate why meeting the qualifying standard and securing a place are separate stages of the admissions process.
The furthest distance offered should not be interpreted as a safe distance for future applicants. It may reflect children admitted through criteria other than distance.
For the most useful comparison, review the admissions data alongside the policy for your child’s intended entry year.
How to Prepare for Bourne Grammar School
Preparation should focus on the reasoning skills assessed in the Lincolnshire Consortium 11+ examination. Children benefit from becoming familiar with question formats, learning to manage their time and reviewing mistakes carefully.
Practise Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning questions test how children interpret and manipulate words, identify relationships and apply logic to written information.
Useful practice includes word relationships, letter and number codes, sequences and other age-appropriate reasoning questions. Encourage your child to explain why an answer is correct rather than simply memorising a method.
Develop Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning
Non-verbal and spatial reasoning focuses on visual information, shapes, patterns and relationships.
Children can practise identifying the missing shape in a sequence, spotting changes in diagrams and recognising how objects relate to one another. Begin untimed to build understanding before introducing timed exercises.
Build a Consistent Preparation Routine
A manageable weekly plan can help children improve without making preparation overwhelming.
- Start with short practice sessions and focus on accuracy.
- Review incorrect answers and identify recurring mistakes.
- Revisit difficult question types regularly.
- Introduce timed practice as confidence improves.
- Use official familiarisation information to understand the examination format.
Think Academy’s 11+ practice questions can provide additional practice in relevant skills. Select resources that match the current test format rather than assuming all grammar schools use the same examination.
Is Bourne Grammar School the Right Choice for Your Child?
Choosing a grammar school involves more than achieving the required score. Parents should also consider the school’s educational environment, the journey to school and whether the admissions arrangements make it a realistic option.
Before applying, consider:
- Academic suitability: Does your child enjoy academic challenge and feel comfortable with selective assessment?
- Travel: Would the daily journey to Bourne be practical for your family?
- Admissions criteria: Does your child meet the qualifying standard, and which oversubscription criteria may apply?
- Alternative schools: Which other suitable schools should you include on the application?
- Preparation needs: Which reasoning skills would benefit most from further practice?
Bourne Grammar School may be worth considering for families seeking a selective secondary education, but it is important to compare several options and understand the admissions process before making a final decision.
You can also explore our guide to the best grammar schools in the UK to research other selective schools and compare the options available to your child.
Bourne Grammar School Admissions: Key Takeaways
Bourne Grammar School is a selective academy in Lincolnshire with 240 Year 7 places. Admission is based on the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ examination and the school’s published oversubscription criteria.
The most important points for parents are:
- Qualifying score: The published minimum standardised score for September 2027 entry is 220.
- Exam format: The assessment consists of verbal reasoning and non-verbal and spatial reasoning papers.
- Catchment area: There is no fixed catchment area or guaranteed distance for admission.
- Allocation: A qualifying score does not guarantee a place; the school’s oversubscription criteria also apply.
- Application: Register separately for the 11+ test and apply for a school place through your home local authority.
- Preparation: Focus on relevant reasoning skills and use the school’s official guidance to plan practice.
For September 2028 entry, registration is scheduled to open in January 2027, with exact assessment dates to be confirmed by the school.
Help your child prepare for the 11+: Explore Think Academy’s 11+ practice questions to support structured practice and build confidence ahead of selective school assessments.
Admissions policies, qualifying scores and allocation criteria can change. Always check the official school and local authority information for your child’s entry year before applying.
