The Spalding Grammar School 11 plus is the Lincolnshire grammar schools' shared test: a verbal reasoning paper and a non-verbal reasoning paper, sat in September of Year 6. Boys need an aggregate score of 220, the "county standard". Spalding Grammar School is a boys' grammar school with an admission limit of 150, and if more than 150 boys qualify, those who live in Spalding and its feeder parishes are considered first.
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 admissions pages and Admissions Policy for 2027 entry, plus the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools' 11+ pages, checked on 13 October 2026.
Sources: Spalding Grammar School, Admissions and Admissions Policy 2027 entry; Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools, testing arrangements (checked 13 October 2026).
Spalding Grammar School at a glance
| Type | State grammar school (academy and its own admissions authority), ages 11 to 18, with a sixth form |
| Pupils | Boys; only boys are admitted below the sixth form |
| Location | Spalding, Lincolnshire |
| Admission limit | 150 |
| Entrance test | Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11+ (verbal and non-verbal reasoning) |
| Qualifying score | 220 aggregate across both tests (the county standard) |
| Website | spaldinggrammar.lincs.sch.uk |
Age range and sixth form are from the Department for Education's register of schools. For the other grammar schools in the county, see our page on grammar schools in Lincolnshire.
Key dates for September 2027 entry
Registration for the test closes at the end of March in Year 5, about six months before the test. Sitting the test is not an application: you also name the school on your council's form.
- 7 January 2026
Registration for the 11+ opens
- 31 March 2026
Registration deadline (forms go to the individual grammar school)
- 11 or 12 September 2026
First test: verbal reasoning (Friday 11 for pupils of non-Lincolnshire primary schools, Saturday 12 for Lincolnshire primaries)
- 18 or 19 September 2026
Second test: non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness (Friday 18 for non-Lincolnshire primary schools, Saturday 19 for Lincolnshire primaries)
- 9 October 2026
Results emailed to parents at midday
- 31 October 2026
Closing date for secondary school applications (apply through your own council if you live outside Lincolnshire)
- 1 March 2027
Councils send offers
Sources: Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools, 11+ key dates 2026; Spalding Grammar School, registration for 11+ tests for entry September 2027.
The Lincolnshire 11+ test: what's in it
Boys take two tests: verbal reasoning, then non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness. The consortium says it currently uses GL Assessment to provide the tests. Answers are shaded on a machine-read (OMR) answer sheet.
- Test 1: verbal reasoning
- Test 2: non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness
- Where: in the child's own primary school or at the grammar school where they registered, depending on area
- Format: multiple choice, recorded on an OMR answer sheet
The qualifying score of 220 is set to identify the most able 25% of pupils in the age group in the primary schools of Lincolnshire's selective areas. Reaching it doesn't on its own guarantee a place at any particular school. The school's policy says a qualifying score stays valid for the rest of a boy's secondary education. Boys who don't qualify can sit a late entry test for Year 8 onwards.
How places are offered
Places go to boys who reach the county standard, and the policy for 2027 entry sets the order if more than 150 qualify.
- Education, Health and Care Plans
Qualified boys whose plan names the school are admitted first.
- Looked-after children
Qualified looked-after and previously looked-after children have first priority for the remaining places.
- Spalding and the feeder parishes
Boys living in Lincolnshire County Council's designated transport area for the school (Spalding and the feeder parishes listed in the policy). If these alone exceed 150, the qualifying score is raised.
- Other qualified boys, by score
If places remain, boys from outside the area in score order, highest first.
Summary of the oversubscription section of the Admissions Policy 2027 entry. Equal scores are separated by straight-line distance from home to the school, then by an independent lottery.
How to prepare for the Spalding Grammar School 11 plus
Familiarisation papers in verbal and non-verbal reasoning are provided to Lincolnshire feeder primary schools. For children at out-of-county primaries, the consortium suggests GL Assessment's own practice packs in the multiple-choice format.
Many verbal reasoning questions draw on vocabulary. Our verbal reasoning guide and non-verbal reasoning guide explain 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 covers the year before the test.
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 score do you need for Spalding Grammar School?
Boys need an aggregate score of 220 across the two Lincolnshire 11+ tests, known as the county standard. It is set to identify the most able 25% of Year 6 pupils in Lincolnshire's grammar school areas. Reaching it doesn't guarantee a place at a particular school.
What is in the Lincolnshire 11+?
Two tests: verbal reasoning, then non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness. The consortium says it currently uses GL Assessment, and answers are recorded on a multiple-choice OMR answer sheet.
When do I register for the Spalding Grammar School 11+?
For September 2027 entry, registration opened on 7 January 2026 and the deadline was 31 March 2026, in Year 5. Forms go to the individual grammar school, and registering for the test is not an application for a place.
Does Spalding Grammar School have a catchment area?
If more than 150 boys qualify, those living in Spalding and the feeder parishes listed in the school's policy are considered first. If they alone exceed 150, the qualifying score is raised; otherwise remaining places go to other qualified boys in score order.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026. Always check the school's website for the latest dates and policy.
- Admissions (including the Admissions Policy for 2027 entry) and registration for 11+ tests for entry September 2027, Spalding Grammar School
- 11+ key dates 2026 and testing arrangements, Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools
- Spalding Grammar School, Get Information about Schools, Department for Education
- School admissions: how to apply, GOV.UK