Carre's Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Carre's Grammar School.
How to get into Carre's Grammar School
Carre's Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Lincolnshire. To get into Carre's Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Carre's Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2014 and 31st August 2015 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2026 (see key dates). The annual intake to Year 7 will be 120 for the 2025–26 school year [1].
Families must register for the Lincolnshire 11+ between Friday 10th January 2025 and Monday 31st March 2025 (see key dates). The school states that it accepts boys in "the top 25% of the ability range" [1].
- For entry into Year 7, prospective pupils sit the eleven-plus examination to assess aptitude
- Pupils must meet the pass score determined by the school; the test is set by GL Assessment on behalf of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools
- The exam aims to identify the top 25% of children (based on ability) living in the area
- Carre's Grammar School doesn't have a formally defined catchment area
Application Process
To apply to Carre's Grammar School, families need to name the school as one of their preferred schools on the secondary school common application form. This will be available on their home council website from early September and must be submitted by 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
Families must register their child to take the entrance test via the website of any of the participating schools. Children's test results will be sent to families by mid-October 2025 (see key dates).
- Register for the Lincolnshire 11+ between 10th January and 31st March 2025 (see key dates)
- Sit the entrance examinations on Saturday 13th September 2025 and Saturday 20th September 2025 (see key dates)
- Receive results in mid-October 2025 (see key dates)
- Complete the Common Application Form by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- Contact details for further information available in the school information section
Examination Details
Carre's Grammar School uses the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11 plus. This consists of two papers which are taken on consecutive Saturdays in September.
The Lincolnshire entrance test consists of two papers provided by GL Assessment. Both papers are multiple-choice and children will have separate pre-printed answer sheets, which they will use to mark the answer(s) they think are correct.
- Verbal Reasoning Test: Saturday 13th September 2025 (see key dates)
- Non-Verbal Reasoning Test: Saturday 20th September 2025 (see key dates)
- Both papers in the 11+ test need to be sat for a valid full score to be achieved
- In both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning papers, students should achieve a standardised score of 220 in order to be considered for a place
Oversubscription Criteria
If more than 120 applying to Carre's Grammar School achieve the qualifying score, the school applies oversubscription criteria [1]. Children are prioritised for places in the following order:
- Children who are, or have been in the past, in the care of the Local Authority (looked after or previously looked after children)
- Children who are registered for Pupil Premium or Free School Meals
- Students who, at the time of admission, have siblings at one of the schools within the Robert Carre Trust
- Students living closest to the school, by straight line distance
- If distance is not sufficient to distinguish between applicants for the last place then a lottery will be conducted
Preparation Guidance
For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes. Using a 'little and often' approach when learning is key – brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller 'chunks' of information.
Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in practice tests should be on track to pass the Carre's Grammar School 11 Plus. Families seeking preparation support should visit the practice papers section or consider using qualified 11+ tutors.
- Begin preparation early using regular study sessions of 20-30 minutes
- Focus on verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning skills
- Use familiarisation papers from GL Assessment (available free on their website)
- Practice achieving 80%+ scores consistently on practice tests
- Attend the school's familiarisation session if offered
Practical Advice
Passing the 11 plus doesn't guarantee that children will be allocated a place at their preferred school. Many grammar schools are often oversubscribed with qualified children.
Families should consider backup options including other grammar schools in Lincolnshire such as Boston Grammar School, Bourne Grammar School, and King Edward VI Grammar School. Once a student has been offered a place to join in Year 7, the school has a successful process in place to assist with the transition from primary to secondary school [1].
- Ensure children are well-rested before exam days
- Arrive early at the test venue and bring required identification
- Remember that watches are not permitted in examination rooms
- Consider multiple grammar schools on the application form as backup options
- Contact the school directly for specific enquiries - see school information section
Lincolnshire 11+ Information
In order to get into Carre's Grammar School, children need to pass the Lincolnshire 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Lincolnshire 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Lincolnshire 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-verbal Reasoning
- Spatial Reasoning
The 11 plus entrance exam for Carre's Grammar School is administered by the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools. The assessment consists of two separate papers, each focusing on different cognitive abilities. The first paper evaluates the candidate's verbal reasoning skills, while the second paper assesses their proficiency in non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
The verbal reasoning paper comprises 80 questions divided into 15 sections, with a time limit of 50 minutes. The non-verbal and spatial reasoning paper, on the other hand, contains 70 questions split across 5 sections, with each section being individually timed by the invigilator. All questions in both papers are presented in a multiple-choice format.
Candidates are provided with separate answer sheets to mark their responses, which are then electronically evaluated. The 11 plus exam for Carre's Grammar School is designed to identify students with exceptional academic potential and aptitude, ensuring a challenging and rewarding educational experience for those who gain admission.
Other Schools using Lincolnshire 11+
As well as Carre's Grammar School, several other schools also use Lincolnshire 11+. These are:
- Boston High School
- Bourne Grammar School
- Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
- Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
- King Edward VI Grammar School
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
- Skegness Grammar School
- Spalding Grammar School
- Spalding High School
- The Boston Grammar School
- The King's School, Grantham
- The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
Lincolnshire 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Carre's Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.
Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
Lincolnshire 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Lincolnshire 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).
Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Carre's Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Carre's Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Carre's Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 10/01/2025 | Lincolnshire Grammar School 11+ Registration Opens | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 31/03/2025 | Lincolnshire Grammar Schools 11+ Registration Closes | |
| 01/07/2025 | Open Morning | |
| 02/07/2025 | Open Morning | |
| 03/07/2025 | Open Morning And Open Evening | |
| 13/09/2025 | Lincolnshire Grammar Schools 11+ Verbal Reasoning Paper | |
| 20/09/2025 | Lincolnshire Grammar Schools 11+ Non-verbal Reasoning Paper | |
| Early October | Lincolnshire Grammar Schools 11+ Results Day | |
| Late October | Secondary School Common Application Deadline | |
| 02/03/2026 | National School Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Carre's Grammar School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Carre's Grammar School
As the Lincolnshire 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Carre's Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Carre's Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Carre's Grammar School
Unfortunately, Carre's Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Lincolnshire 11+ Ensure you double-check with Carre's Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Lincolnshire 11+ to get into Carre's Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Carre's Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Lincolnshire 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Carre's Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Carre's Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Carre's Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Carre's Grammar School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Carre's Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Carre's Grammar School, Northgate, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 7DD |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.carres.lincs.sch.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01529302181 |
| Email Address | julie.body@carres.uk |
| Gender | Mixed (both girls and boys) |
| Total Year 7 Places | 120 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 806 (66 Girls / 740 Boys) |
| Executive Headteache | Nick Law |
Carre's Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 806 pupils attend Carre's Grammar School and it's led by the Executive Headteache, Nick Law.
Carre's Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Carre's Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 05/12/2023 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 22/01/2024, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 05/12/2023 | 1 | 22/01/2024 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
The inspection of Carre's Grammar School on 5 December 2023 resulted in an overall outcome of Good. The school demonstrated a good quality of education, with effective teaching and learning practices in place. Pupils exhibited good behaviour and attitudes, creating a positive learning environment.
The school's personal development provision was also rated as good, indicating that pupils receive appropriate support for their well-being and growth. The leadership and management of the school were found to be good, with a clear vision and effective strategies in place to drive improvement.
Additionally, the sixth form provision at Carre's Grammar School was rated as good, demonstrating that the school provides a high-quality education for its older students, preparing them well for their future endeavours.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Carre's Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Carre's Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 12 | - | - | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Biology | 85 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 23 | 8 | 3 |
| Business Studies:Single | 55 | - | - | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 9 | 4 | - |
| Chemistry | 85 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 11 | 26 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 26 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Design & Technology | 54 | - | - | - | 2 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 5 | 2 |
| English Language | 121 | - | 1 | 1 | 11 | 32 | 33 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| English Literature | 121 | - | - | 5 | 7 | 18 | 29 | 36 | 20 | 6 | - |
| French | 40 | 1 | - | 2 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | - |
| Geography | 64 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 3 |
| German | 27 | - | - | 1 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 | - | - | 2 |
| History | 64 | - | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 2 |
| Mathematics | 121 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 39 | 29 | 19 | 21 | 7 |
| Music | 11 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Physics | 86 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 10 | 26 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
| Religious Studies | 101 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 25 | 11 | 7 | 2 |
| Spanish | 43 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 25 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Science: Double Award | 35 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Biology | 24 | - | 4 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 24 | - | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 4 | - | |||
| Chemistry | 16 | - | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 7 | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | - | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 13 | - | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | - | - | |||
| English Language | 8 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | |||
| English Literature | 9 | - | - | - | 5 | 2 | 2 | - | |||
| Geography | 28 | - | 2 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 1 | |||
| History | 33 | - | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 6 | - | |||
| Mathematics | 32 | - | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 5 | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 9 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 5 | - | |||
| Physics | 16 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Psychology | 26 | - | 1 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | |||
FAQ
Is Carre's Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Carre's Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Carre's Grammar School a private school?
No, Carre's Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Carre's Grammar School free?
Yes, Carre's Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Carre's Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Carre's Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Carre's Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
