Grammar schools in North Northamptonshire
There are no grammar schools in North Northamptonshire.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any — North Northamptonshire is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Lawrence Sheriff School, about 24.6 miles away in Warwickshire.
Could a child from North Northamptonshire get a place?
Passing the test is not enough. These schools give places first to children in their priority groups, such as looked-after children, siblings and children in the school's own catchment area. Any places left go to other children who passed, nearest home first. A child from North Northamptonshire without one of those priorities competes for those last places, so what matters is how far they reached.
| School | Intake | Last place by distance, 2026 | Earlier years | North Northamptonshire postcodes within that distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Latin School | Mixed | 7.0 miles | — | none |
The furthest straight-line distance from home at which each school offered a place by distance on National Offer Day, from the council's allocation figures. The distance changes every year, and later rounds can stretch it slightly. The postcode share uses ONS postcode centres, so it counts postcodes, not households.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: deadline to apply for a secondary place, through North Northamptonshire Council even for schools in another council
Each council's test has its own registration window, months before the test itself. Children who don't attend a school in that council usually have to be registered by their parents.
Nearest grammar schools to North Northamptonshire
Straight-line distance from the centre of North Northamptonshire — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Sheriff School | Rugby | 24.6 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Rugby High School | Rugby | 26.0 miles | Girls | Good |
| Bourne Grammar School | Bourne | 28.9 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Royal Latin School | Buckingham | 30.2 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Spalding Grammar School | Spalding | 35.1 miles | Boys | Good |
| Spalding High School | Spalding | 35.3 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Lawrence Sheriff School — 2026 entry
- Looked-After/Previously Looked-After Children at/above AQS, or up to 20 marks below it (published source)
- Up to 30 places: Pupil Premium children in the Eastern Area or Priority Circle, at/above AQS or up to 20 marks below (published source)
- Up to 5 places: Service Premium children in the Eastern Area or Priority Circle, at/above AQS or up to 20 marks below (published source)
Rugby High School — 2026 entry
- Looked-After/Previously Looked-After Children at/above AQS, or up to 15 marks below it (published source)
- Up to 20 places: Pupil Premium children in the priority areas, at/above AQS or up to 15 marks below (published source)
- Up to 50 places: children in Area 1 - East Warwickshire at/above AQS (published source)
Bourne Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Children with a sibling on roll at the time of application (published source)
- Children of staff (published source)
Royal Latin School — 2027 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children (published source)
- Children living in the school's catchment area who qualify for the Pupil Premium Grant (published source)
- Up to 12 places for children scoring 115–120 in the Secondary Transfer Test who are looked after or previously looked after (living anywhere), or live in the catchment area and are eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant (published source)
Spalding Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Qualified boys living in Spalding or the feeder parishes of South Lincolnshire — if more than 150, the qualifying score is raised (published source)
- Qualified boys from outside, highest score first, until 150 (published source)
Spalding High School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Girls with a brother or sister at the school (published source)
- Nearest first (straight line) (published source)
Schools in North Northamptonshire
North Northamptonshire has 152 open schools. Browse all North Northamptonshire schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT