Lancaster Girls 11 Plus Guide
Page Contents
It might be difficult to find your way around the 11 Plus the first time as a parent. How do you aid your kid in getting ready for the Lancaster Girls 11 Plus Exam? What kind of exam structure is it? What stores sell test papers? We’ve provided parents with a “Lancaster Girls 11 Plus Tips” in this article that seeks to address all of your concerns.
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School, Lancaster
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School is an all girls’ grammar school in Lancaster, Lancashire. It is a slightly smaller-than-average secondary school with academy status and last year it was named the top secondary school in Lancashire. It is known for its ‘exceptional’ GCSE grades and it has the second highest proportion of students going on to Russell Group universities in the county. This page has everything you need to know about Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School and can help you get started with the admissions process. You can also find helpful information about the 11 plus exam, such as exam practice resources, information about exam boards and key dates in the calendar.
School details:
Address: Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School, Regents Street, Lancaster, LA1 1SF
County: Lancashire
Type of school: All girls’ grammar school
Age range: 11-18
Ofsted rating: Outstanding
Number of pupils: 917
Admissions to Year 7: 140
Open evening (2024 entry): TBC – you can find a virtual presentation here
11+ exam date (2024 entry): September 2023
Exam board: Lancashire GL Assessment
Admissions phone number: 01524 581661
Admissions email address: info@lggs.lancs.sch.uk
A Brief Overview of Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School and its Performance
The school was originally founded in 1907. It became a Technology College in 1995 and a Language College in 2007, and it gained academy status in 2011. It is a registered International School and has links with schools in France, Germany, Spain, Japan and China. According to The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, LGGS was the highest achieving school in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria in 2017. In terms of student make up, approximately 8% of pupils speak English as a second language, 5% are on free school meals and 8% have some support for special educational needs.
The school’s results are generally very good. In 2019, 78% of A-level grades were awarded A*-B, with 54% A* and A grades. At GCSE, 75% of grades were level 7 or above (old style A*-A), and seventeen students achieved all 8s and 9s (old style A*s). You can see a full breakdown of results here, but their Progress 8 score is well above average and in the top 14% of schools in England. 97% of students achieve a grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, which is double both the local authority and national average. You can see a list of leavers’ destinations here, which shows that the vast majority of students go onto higher education, including five students being offered Oxbridge places.
In 2022 GCSEs almost two-thirds (63.2%) of all exams were graded 9 to 7, 41% were grade 8 or 9 (the old A* grades) and 22% gained the very top grade 9s. In A Levels,
Students achieved the school’s highest ever proportion of A* and A grades (62.9%), with more than three-quarters of all exams were graded B or above (76.9%). Almost one third (32.8%) of exams were awarded the very top A* grade, again exceeding previous records.
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s Admissions Process: 2024 Entry
Below you can find the key dates in the calendar for the 2024 entry. You may also want to refer to the Admissions Booklet of 2023 (2024 is not released yet) which has lots of detailed information and answers to frequently asked questions. The exact dates are yet to be confirmed.
Preparing for Lancaster Girls 11 Plus Exam
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s entrance exam is a mixture of tests based on the GL exam board. Students sit three papers: Maths (50 minutes, consisting of around 50 questions); English (45 minutes, consisting of around 50 questions); and Verbal Reasoning (50 minutes, consisting of around 80 questions).
In terms of preparing for the English and Maths papers, a good place to start is the GL Assessment page, which offers lots of free resources. The English and Maths questions will very much be based on the National Curriculum, and so it’s important that students ensure they have mastered key skills before attempting practice papers, otherwise their progress will quickly plateau. Filling in any gaps in knowledge is better than simply churning out past papers with no development.
The Verbal Reasoning paper is likely to be more unfamiliar for students, as this is not taught at school. This helpful 11 Plus Exam Guide to the Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests can help you to better understand how to prepare your child for the Verbal Reasoning paper, and you may also want to invest in some CGP resources which are specifically designed for the GL paper – they have everything from exercise books, flashcards, 10 minute tests and practice exams to choose from.
Often the key to succeeding in the Verbal Reasoning paper is having an extensive vocabulary, and so students should aim to be reading for at least 20 minutes a day and they should ensure that they continue to challenge themselves with their reading.
The Lancashire 11+ is very competitive, and so preparing early is essential. There is no set pass mark, but students should be aiming for upwards of 80% in practice tests. Discover Help your Child Become 11 Plus-Ready in the Six-Month Countdown to the exam for support in approaching exam readiness and preparation, and for parents who are unsure where to begin, you might like to check out this Top 10 Tips to Pass the 11+ Exam guide.
Lancaster Girls 11 Plus Sample Test Papers and Resources
There are past papers available online for Lancaster Girls 11 Plus, but it’s important to remember that it does vary slightly from year to year in order to make it harder for students to prepare. As their entrance exam uses the GL exam board there are lots of resources and past papers available online; you can find a selection of these below.
English
11+ English Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer 1
11+ English GL Familiarisation Paper | Answers
Maths
11+ Maths Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer Sheet 1
11+ Maths Multiple Choice Book 2 | Answer Sheet 2
11+ Maths GL Familiarisation Paper | Answers
Verbal Reasoning
11+ Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer Sheet 1
11+ Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Book 2 | Answer Sheet 2
There are lots of overlaps in question types between the CEM and GL exam boards, and so it may be worth checking out this page which offers lots more links to CEM and GL resources.
Additional Information about Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School
According to The Good Schools Guide, “the school is evidently successful at inspiring its socially diverse intake to aim high. In-school essay competitions, for example, encourage pupils to enter national events. Parents praised the UCAS coaching system (having spoken to the incredibly clued-up staff in this area, we can well understand why) and said the school support for pupils continues long after they have left.” The school also offers an extensive range of extra-curricular activities; you can see a full list here but it includes everything from Comic Art to Law and Philosophy. There is also a House System from Year 7 upwards (each of the houses is named after a town twinned with Lancaster) and there are regular Inter-House competitions, including a Performing Arts Festival, Sports Day and Music Festival. You can also see a list of educational visits and trips here, with particular highlights including a Geography trip to Iceland, and a trip to the Cyber First Computing Competition.
Lancaster Girls 11 Plus Grammar School FAQs
What is Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s Ofsted rating?
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s Ofsted rating is ‘Outstanding’. You can find all the previous reports and ratings here.
Does Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s entrance exam have a pass mark?
The pass mark varies from year to year. The pass mark for the 11+ exam in October 2020 was 295 out of a total of 423.
Does Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School have a catchment area?
Yes; you can find full details here. Pupils must live within the district of the City of Lancaster – you can see a map here.
What happens if Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School is oversubscribed?
In the event that more students pass the entrance exams than there are places, then priority will be given to looked-after or previously looked-after children, children in receipt of Pupil Premium, then children who live within the City of Lancaster, and then finally children who lie outside of this district but who have met the required standard for the 11+. You can find full details in their Admissions Booklet.
Does the school have a uniform?
Yes – you can find more details here.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes – the school will seek to fill all of its places by the start of the 2024 autumn term. When the school has filled all of its places, it will keep a waiting list of applicants who have achieved the required standard for entry to the School for the remainder of the autumn term, and will allocate places if they become available.
Can I appeal if my child is not offered a place?
Yes. A parent or guardian may appeal against the decision of the Governors to an Independent Appeal Panel appointed under the prevailing Government legislation. You can find out more information on the school’s Admissions Page.
Preparing for Lancaster Girls 11 Plus Exam
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s entrance exam is a mixture of tests based on the GL exam board. Students sit three papers: Maths (50 minutes, consisting of around 50 questions); English (45 minutes, consisting of around 50 questions); and Verbal Reasoning (50 minutes, consisting of around 80 questions).
In terms of preparing for the English and Maths papers, a good place to start is the GL Assessment page, which offers lots of free resources. The English and Maths questions will very much be based on the National Curriculum, and so it’s important that students ensure they have mastered key skills before attempting practice papers, otherwise their progress will quickly plateau. Filling in any gaps in knowledge is better than simply churning out past papers with no development.
The Verbal Reasoning paper is likely to be more unfamiliar for students, as this is not taught at school. This helpful 11 Plus Exam Guide to the Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests can help you to better understand how to prepare your child for the Verbal Reasoning paper, and you may also want to invest in some CGP resources which are specifically designed for the GL paper – they have everything from exercise books, flashcards, 10 minute tests and practice exams to choose from.
Often the key to succeeding in the Verbal Reasoning paper is having an extensive vocabulary, and so students should aim to be reading for at least 20 minutes a day and they should ensure that they continue to challenge themselves with their reading.
The Lancashire 11+ is very competitive, and so preparing early is essential. There is no set pass mark, but students should be aiming for upwards of 80% in practice tests. Discover Help your Child Become 11 Plus-Ready in the Six-Month Countdown to the exam for support in approaching exam readiness and preparation, and for parents who are unsure where to begin, you might like to check out this Top 10 Tips to Pass the 11+ Exam guide.
Lancaster Girls 11 PlusTest Papers and Resources
There are past papers available online, but it’s important to remember that it does vary slightly from year to year in order to make it harder for students to prepare. As their entrance exam uses the GL exam board there are lots of resources and past papers available online; you can find a selection of these below.
English
11+ English Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer 1
11+ English GL Familiarisation Paper | Answers
Maths
11+ Maths Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer Sheet 1
11+ Maths Multiple Choice Book 2 | Answer Sheet 2
11+ Maths GL Familiarisation Paper | Answers
Verbal Reasoning
11+ Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer Sheet 1
11+ Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Book 2 | Answer Sheet 2
There are lots of overlaps in question types between the CEM and GL exam boards, and so it may be worth checking out this page which offers lots more links to CEM and GL resources.
Additional Information about Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School
According to The Good Schools Guide, “the school is evidently successful at inspiring its socially diverse intake to aim high. In-school essay competitions, for example, encourage pupils to enter national events. Parents praised the UCAS coaching system (having spoken to the incredibly clued-up staff in this area, we can well understand why) and said the school support for pupils continues long after they have left.” The school also offers an extensive range of extra-curricular activities; you can see a full list here but it includes everything from Comic Art to Law and Philosophy. There is also a House System from Year 7 upwards (each of the houses is named after a town twinned with Lancaster) and there are regular Inter-House competitions, including a Performing Arts Festival, Sports Day and Music Festival. You can also see a list of educational visits and trips here, with particular highlights including a Geography trip to Iceland, and a trip to the Cyber First Computing Competition.
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School FAQs
What is Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s Ofsted rating?
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s Ofsted rating is ‘Outstanding’. You can find all the previous reports and ratings here.
Does Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s entrance exam have a pass mark?
The pass mark varies from year to year. The pass mark for the 11+ exam in October 2020 was 295 out of a total of 423.
Does Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School have a catchment area?
Yes; you can find full details here. Pupils must live within the district of the City of Lancaster – you can see a map here.
What happens if Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School is oversubscribed?
In the event that more students pass the entrance exams than there are places, then priority will be given to looked-after or previously looked-after children, children in receipt of Pupil Premium, then children who live within the City of Lancaster, and then finally children who lie outside of this district but who have met the required standard for the 11+. You can find full details in their Admissions Booklet.
Does the school have a uniform?
Yes – you can find more details here.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes – the school will seek to fill all of its places by the start of the 2024 autumn term. When the school has filled all of its places, it will keep a waiting list of applicants who have achieved the required standard for entry to the School for the remainder of the autumn term, and will allocate places if they become available.
Can I appeal if my child is not offered a place?
Yes. A parent or guardian may appeal against the decision of the Governors to an Independent Appeal Panel appointed under the prevailing Government legislation. You can find out more information on the school’s Admissions Page.
You can also access further 11 plus exam resources below:
A Guide to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests
Best Private Schools in the UK: Top 100 in 2022
11+ Maths Exam: Helping Your Child to Prepare and Pass in 2023
Meet the 11+ Online Tutors Delivering Results
When Should you Start to Prepare Your Child for the 11 Plus Exam
King Edward Five Ways 11 Plus Exam