Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School vs Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Both are grammar schools in Lancashire, 13.8 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School | Clitheroe Royal Grammar School | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Pupils on roll | 1,056 | 1,475 |
| Free school meals | 6.1% | 11.4% |
| Ofsted rating | Inadequate | Outstanding |
| Attainment 8 — 2024/25 | 73.3 | 74.4 |
| A-level average points — 2024/25 | 39.55 | 38.1 |
| 11+ test board | GL Assessment | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | pass/fail then criteria order | pass/fail then criteria order |
| Places offered — 202627 | 181 | 175 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 1.21 | 1.32 |
Qualifying scores
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
No fixed published pass mark. Each Lancashire grammar school runs its own entrance exam (providers differ: GL Assessment at Bacup & Rawtenstall and Lancaster Royal; FSCE at Clitheroe and Lancaster Girls') and sets its required standard annually. Contact the school for the current year's arrangements.
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
No fixed published pass mark. Each Lancashire grammar school runs its own entrance exam (providers differ: GL Assessment at Bacup & Rawtenstall and Lancaster Royal; FSCE at Clitheroe and Lancaster Girls') and sets its required standard annually. Contact the school for the current year's arrangements.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children
- Children attending Area 1 primary schools, ranked by entrance exam mark (siblings at BRGS get priority within this tier)
- Children attending Area 2 primary schools, ranked by entrance exam mark (siblings at BRGS get priority within this tier)
- Children of staff employed ≥2 years
Source: school admissions policy.
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children
- Immediate catchment area residents eligible for Pupil Premium
- Immediate catchment area residents
- Wider catchment area residents eligible for Pupil Premium
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Both schools admit mixed, so the decision usually comes down to the admission criteria above and how far each one reaches. The figures on this page are the published ones — they describe intakes and results, not what either school would be like for your child. The right choice depends on your family's own priorities and circumstances.
Other Lancashire comparisons
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