Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy.
How to get into Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy is a selective secondary school in Lincolnshire. To get into Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy with all the important information you need to know.
School Overview
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy is a selective girls' academy for students up to the age of sixteen, accepting the top 25% of the ability range [1]. The school admits girls for Years 7–11 and has a coeducational Sixth Form catering for girls and boys aged sixteen to eighteen.
The annual intake to Year 7 is 124 for the 2025–26 school year, and the school has approximately 760 pupils on roll in both the lower school and sixth form. Located in Sleaford, an English market town in Lincolnshire, the school belongs to the Robert Carre Trust which includes Carre's Grammar School and Sleaford Joint Sixth Form.
Admission Requirements
Children who were born between 1st September 2014 and 31st August 2015 will take the first paper on Saturday 13th September 2025 and the second paper will take place on Saturday 20th September 2025. Kesteven and Sleaford High School is a selective state school, which means children will need to take the 11 plus exam to be eligible for a place in Year 7.
Kesteven and Sleaford High School is a member of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools with 15 grammar schools in the Consortium sharing the same entrance test. This means children will only need to take the test once, even if families are applying to more than one school in the Consortium.
- Grammar schools in the Consortium usually select children working within the top 25% of their year group
- Children who achieve a total standardised score of 220 or above are likely to be working within this range based on national data
- Applicants must meet the required standard in the admissions exam to be allocated a place
- Kesteven and Sleaford High School does not have a catchment area
Application Process
Registration for the 2025 exam opens on Friday 10th January 2025 and closes on Monday 31st March 2025 (see key dates). Families can register their child for the test via the website of any of the participating schools.
If families reside in Lincolnshire, they should complete a Common Application Form (CAF) via the LA website to register their daughter for an 11 Plus place. Parents living outside of Lincolnshire must return their CAF form to their own LA, who will forward the application to Lincolnshire LA.
- Test results will be sent to families by mid-October 2025, confirming if their child has met the qualifying standard
- Families can use these results to decide which schools to name on their secondary school common application form, checking each school's admissions policy
- The application form must be submitted to the home local council by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- For contact information, direct families to school information section
11+ Examination Details
The 11 plus exam is taken over two dates with the first paper taking place on Saturday 13th September and the second paper taking place a week later on Saturday 20th September (see key dates). The Lincolnshire 11+ entrance test consists of two papers provided by GL Assessment.
The 11 Plus exam for Kesteven and Sleaford High School is completed over two multiple choice papers - a Verbal Reasoning paper which takes 50 minutes, and a Non-Verbal Reasoning paper with five timed sections which takes 40 minutes. Scores will be standardised and age-weighted.
- Verbal reasoning exam is taken first and consists of 80 questions
- Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning exam is taken one week later and consists of 70 questions
- The scores from both exams are combined and must total at least 220 to be considered eligible for entry
- All grammar schools in Lincolnshire (except Caistor Grammar School) sit the same exam and children will only be able to take it once
Oversubscription Criteria
If more than 124 applying to Kesteven and Sleaford High School achieve the qualifying score, the school applies oversubscription criteria. Children are prioritised for places in the following order - any child who is, or has been in the past, in the care of the local authority (also known as a Looked After or previously Looked After child), and any child who is registered for Pupil Premium or Free School Meals.
In cases of oversubscription, the school gives priority to students who, at the time of admission, have siblings at one of the schools within the Robert Carre Trust, and pupils living closest to the school. Straight line distance from home to the Academy is used, with priority given to the child living closest, and if distance is not sufficient to distinguish between applicants for the last place then a lottery will be conducted.
Preparation Guidance
It's important to build a good knowledge base before the 11 plus using a 'little and often' approach when learning - brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller 'chunks' of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.
Families are strongly advised to set up a study schedule which includes studying 'little and often' - the more prepared students feel before the assessment, the better they are likely to perform. Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the Kesteven & Sleaford High School 11 Plus.
- For practice papers and resources, direct families to practice papers section
- For tutoring support, direct families to 11 plus tutor section
- Mock exams are a crucial part of preparation and will take place towards the end of the course
- Applications to sit the entrance exam must be made on the school website over the summer before children begin Year 6, and families must also formally apply for a place at the school before midnight on the 31st of October (see key dates)
Practical Advice
Here are the top tips to help families and children feel confident for exam day! 11+ practice tests are used by thousands of students every year because they are practical and effective, successfully replicating the format, layout and timings of the actual test, significantly enhancing confidence ahead of the exam.
Preparation should meet the chosen school requirements and coach children in the techniques and skills to give them the best chance of success in their 11 Plus exams. Children can join 11 Plus programmes at any time - foundation courses start for children in Year 3 focusing on building concrete maths and English skills.
- Achieving a qualifying score isn't a guarantee that children will be allocated a place at their target school as every grammar school uses different admissions criteria to prioritise places
- Families can appeal via an independent panel if no places are available at preferred schools
- Information about how to appeal will be sent by the local authority along with school offers on National Offers Day
- For comprehensive contact information, direct families to school information section
[1]Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy official website
Lincolnshire 11+ Information
In order to get into Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy, 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 admissions process for Kesteven and Sleaford High School involves sitting the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11 plus exam. This assessment consists of two separate papers, each focusing on different aspects of reasoning abilities.
The first paper, Verbal Reasoning, comprises 80 questions divided into 15 sections. Students are allotted 50 minutes to complete this paper. The second paper evaluates Non-verbal and Spatial Reasoning skills through 70 questions split across 5 individually timed sections.
All questions in the Lincolnshire 11 plus exam are presented in a multiple-choice format. Students record their answers on dedicated answer sheets, which are subsequently marked electronically. This rigorous assessment aims to identify pupils with the aptitude and potential to thrive in a selective grammar school environment.
Other Schools using Lincolnshire 11+
As well as Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy, several other schools also use Lincolnshire 11+. These are:
- Boston High School
- Bourne Grammar School
- Carre's Grammar School
- Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School
- 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy) 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 | |
| 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
Unfortunately, Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy.
| 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy.
| 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy.
| 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy, Jermyn Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 7RS |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.kshs.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01529414044 |
| Email Address | Yvette.Edwards@kshs.uk |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 124 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 763 (762 Girls / 1 Boys) |
| Head of School | Mrs Josephine Smith |
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy is a girls only 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 763 pupils attend Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy and it's led by the Head of School, Mrs Josephine Smith.
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy was last inspected by Ofsted on 08/05/2013 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 04/06/2013, 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 | 08/05/2013 | 1 | 04/06/2013 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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) | 18 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Art & Design (Graphics) | 7 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Biology | 84 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 7 |
| Business Studies:Single | 49 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 2 |
| Chemistry | 84 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 3 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 18 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Design & Technology | 27 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| English Language | 125 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 19 | 40 | 29 | 23 | 9 |
| English Literature | 125 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 19 | 35 | 28 | 23 | 13 |
| D&T Food Technology | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| French | 61 | 5 | - | - | 7 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Geography | 71 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 12 |
| German | 61 | - | - | - | 2 | 15 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| History | 91 | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 21 |
| Mathematics | 125 | - | - | - | 1 | 10 | 30 | 33 | 19 | 25 | 7 |
| Music | 9 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - |
| Physics | 84 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 14 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 5 |
| Religious Studies | 120 | - | - | - | 11 | 14 | 14 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 15 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 39 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 19 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Science: Double Award | 41 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 7 | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Biology | 17 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 2 | |||
| Chemistry | 13 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Drama and Theatre Studies | 7 | - | - | - | 5 | 2 | - | - | |||
| Geography | 17 | - | 2 | - | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | |||
| History | 14 | - | - | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | - | |||
| Mathematics | 15 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | 6 | |||
| Psychology | 20 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Religious Studies | 6 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||
FAQ
Is Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy hard to get into?
Yes, Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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 Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy a private school?
No, Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy free?
Yes, Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy 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.
Is Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy a girls-only school?
Yes, Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy is a girls-only school.
