The Lancaster Royal Grammar School (LRGS) 11 plus is a GL Assessment test with three papers (maths, English and verbal reasoning), sat at the school in late September of Year 6. LRGS is a state grammar school for boys aged 11 to 16, with a co-educational sixth form, and it offers 164 day places and 12 state boarding places in Year 7. There is no fixed pass mark: boys who reach the minimum standard are ranked by score.
This guide covers the test, the key dates for September 2027 entry, how places are offered and how to prepare. It is based on the school's 11+ Admissions Booklet 2027 and admissions page, checked on 13 October 2026.
Source: Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Admissions and 11+ Admissions Booklet 2027 (checked 13 October 2026).
Lancaster Royal Grammar School at a glance
| Type | State day and boarding grammar school (academy), with a sixth form |
| Pupils | Boys aged 11 to 16; the sixth form is co-educational |
| Location | Lancaster, Lancashire |
| Year 7 places | 164 day places and 12 state boarding places |
| Entrance test | The school's own 11+, provided by GL Assessment |
| Fees | No tuition fees; boarders' parents pay only for boarding |
| Website | lrgs.org.uk |
For the other grammar schools in the area, see our page on grammar schools in Lancashire and Cumbria.
Key dates for September 2027 entry
The school's 2027 booklet is for boys born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. You make two separate applications: one to LRGS for the test, and one to your council for the school place.
- 13 April 2026
LRGS 11+ registration opens (online form)
- 20 June 2026, 9am to 1pm
Open Day (no booking needed)
- 7 September 2026
Closing date for LRGS 11+ registration
- 26 September 2026
11+ entrance test at LRGS (day and boarding applicants)
- 6 October 2026
Results emailed to parents
- 30 October 2026
Local authority Common Application Form deadline, as given in the school's booklet
- 20 January 2027
Second test, for boarding applicants only
- 1 March 2027
National Offer Day
Source: Lancaster Royal Grammar School, 11+ Admissions Booklet 2027 (linked from the admissions page, which says to submit the form "by the end of October"). GOV.UK gives 31 October as the national deadline; check your own council's closing date.
The LRGS 11+ test: what's in it
The test is provided by GL Assessment and has three papers. There is no non-verbal reasoning paper.
- Maths
- English
- Verbal reasoning
All the papers are multiple-choice, answered on sheets that are read by machine, and age-standardised. No reference books, dictionaries or calculators are allowed, and pencils and erasers are provided. Boys can wear school uniform or casual clothes. Full details, including the room, are sent in the week before the test.
Each year the school sets a minimum standard. Reaching it doesn't guarantee a place, because places are offered in rank order and the oversubscription rules apply.
How places are offered
Boys who reach the minimum standard are ranked by their total score, then placed in these categories in order. Within each category, boys are ranked strictly by test performance.
- Looked-after children
Looked-after or previously looked-after boys, including those scoring up to and including 5% below the minimum.
- Priority catchment and Pupil Premium
Boys in the priority catchment area who are eligible for Pupil Premium, including those scoring up to and including 5% below the minimum.
- Priority catchment
Boys living within the administrative City of Lancaster.
- Residual catchment and Pupil Premium
Boys in the residual catchment area who are eligible for Pupil Premium, including those scoring up to and including 5% below the minimum.
- Residual catchment and children of staff
Children of qualifying permanent LRGS staff.
- Residual catchment
The wider area, from Arnside and Milnthorpe in the north to the River Ribble through Preston in the south.
Summary from the 11+ Admissions Booklet 2027. The full criteria are in the school's admissions policy.
Put LRGS first if you want a place. The booklet says the school cannot guarantee a place for a boy who qualifies unless LRGS is the first preference on the Common Application Form. Boarding applicants also attend an interview, and boarding places are not interchangeable with day places.
How to prepare for the Lancaster Royal Grammar School 11 plus
The school points families to GL Assessment's free familiarisation material, and its admissions page advises against using practice papers from anywhere other than GL Assessment. Beyond that, reading widely builds the vocabulary that the English and verbal reasoning papers are likely to draw on.
Our resources below are general vocabulary practice, not test papers. Our verbal reasoning guide explains the common question types. For vocabulary, print our free 11 plus vocabulary list with meanings and try the free 11+ vocabulary quiz. Our Year 5 plan and Year 6 guide cover timing.
How 11+ Vocab Master and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master can help
Whichever grammar school you aim for, our two apps help build the vocabulary and verbal reasoning skills that 11+ tests rely on, in short sessions on a phone or tablet.
- 11+ Vocab Master, our 11+ vocabulary app: 2,500+ words for CEM-style and GL Assessment tests across 100 categories, 12,000+ vocabulary questions, 6 practice modes, 7 games and unlimited mock tests.
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master: 2,000+ verbal reasoning questions covering 38+ question types, with flashcards, mock tests and 5 VR games, such as Analogy Arena and Code Cracker.
- Vocab Master has progress tracking, works offline, is ad-free and has audio pronunciation. VR Master has a Hard Questions list. 11+ Vocab Master is Educational App Store Certified.
Both apps come with a 7-day free trial. After that, 11+ Vocab Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £12.99 a year, and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £14.99 a year.
11+ Vocab Master
11+ Verbal Reasoning Master
Frequently asked questions
What is in the Lancaster Royal Grammar School 11+?
The test is provided by GL Assessment and has three papers: maths, English and verbal reasoning. There is no non-verbal reasoning paper. All the papers are multiple-choice and age-standardised.
Is Lancaster Royal Grammar School a boys' school?
LRGS takes boys at 11, and the school describes itself as a grammar school for boys aged 11 to 16 with a co-educational sixth form. The government register lists it as mixed.
How many places are there at LRGS?
For Year 7, the school offers 164 day places and 12 state boarding places. Day pupils pay no tuition fees, and boarders' parents pay only for the boarding element.
When are the Lancaster Royal Grammar School 11+ results?
For September 2027 entry, the test was on 26 September 2026 and results were due to be emailed to parents on 6 October 2026, before the council application deadline.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026. Always check the school's website for the latest dates and policy.
- Admissions and 11+ Admissions Booklet 2027, Lancaster Royal Grammar School
- Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Get Information about Schools, Department for Education
- School admissions: how to apply, GOV.UK