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Grammar schools in Scottish Borders

There are no grammar schools in Scottish Borders.

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 — Scottish Borders is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.

The nearest is Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith, about 66.8 miles away in Westmorland and Furness. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.

Nearest grammar schools to Scottish Borders

Straight-line distance from the centre of Scottish Borders — not a travel time.

SchoolAreaDistanceIntakeOfsted
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Penrith 66.8 miles Mixed Good
Lancaster Royal Grammar School Lancaster 109.1 miles Mixed Good
Lancaster Girls' Grammar School Lancaster 109.3 miles Girls Good
Ripon Grammar School Ripon 112.6 miles Mixed Good
Skipton Girls' High School Skipton 117.9 miles Girls Good
Ermysted's Grammar School Skipton 118.0 miles Boys Good

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.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (incl. state care outside England) (published source)
  2. Current Family Association: sibling attending the school at time of admission (published source)
  3. Up to 10 places (2 per form group, PAN 160): Pupil Premium/Service Premium students (published source)

Lancaster Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children at/near the minimum level (published source)
  2. Priority catchment area (City of Lancaster), Pupil Premium, at/near minimum level (published source)
  3. Priority catchment area, at/above minimum level (published source)

Lancaster Girls' Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children at/near the Pass Mark (published source)
  2. City of Lancaster residents eligible for Pupil Premium, at/near the Pass Mark (published source)
  3. City of Lancaster residents at/above the Pass Mark (published source)

Ripon Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children who met the required standard (published source)
  2. Children with exceptional medical or social need (professional evidence required) (published source)
  3. Children of Ripon Grammar School staff (published source)

Ermysted's Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children who met the required standard (published source)
  2. Applicants within the catchment area who met the required standard (published source)
  3. Applicants outside the catchment area who met the required standard (published source)

Schools in Scottish Borders

Scottish Borders has 68 open schools. Browse all Scottish Borders schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.

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