Bourne Grammar School vs Carre's Grammar School
Both are grammar schools in Lincolnshire, 16.7 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Bourne Grammar School | Carre's Grammar School | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Pupils on roll | 1,718 | 810 |
| Free school meals | 7.3% | 8.9% |
| Ofsted rating | Good | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2025/26 | 67.2 | 60 |
| 11+ test board | GL Assessment | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | pass/fail then criteria order (score doesn't give priority after passing) | pass/fail then criteria order (score doesn't give priority after passing) |
| Places offered — 202627 | 238 | 113 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 1.26 | 0.84 |
Qualifying scores
Bourne Grammar School
220 (2026 entry)
Total standardised score ≥ 220 across two papers (VR paper + NVR/spatial paper). LCGS: Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.
Carre's Grammar School
220 (2026 entry)
Total standardised score ≥ 220 across two papers (VR paper + NVR/spatial paper). LCGS: Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Bourne Grammar School
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard
- Children with a sibling on roll at the time of application
- Children of staff
- 35 places for Pupil Premium or forces children — nearest first if more apply
- The next 24 places to the highest scorers living within 15 miles of the school
- All remaining places — nearest first
Source: school admissions policy.
Carre's Grammar School
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard
- Children registered for free school meals in the last six years (Pupil Premium)
- Children with a sibling at a Community Inclusive Trust secondary school
- Children living closest to the school
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 Lincolnshire comparisons
- Boston High School vs Bourne Grammar School
- Boston High School vs Carre's Grammar School
- Boston High School vs Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy
- Boston High School vs Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy
- Boston High School vs Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle
- Boston High School vs Skegness Grammar School
- Boston High School vs Spalding Grammar School
- Boston High School vs Spalding High School
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