Caistor Grammar School vs The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
Both are grammar schools in Lincolnshire, 19.7 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Caistor Grammar School | The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed |
| Pupils on roll | 690 | 1,139 |
| Free school meals | 7% | 12.4% |
| Ofsted rating | Good | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2025/26 | 68.9 | 62 |
| 11+ test board | School's own 11+ papers (two Verbal Reasoning papers) | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | qualifying score is the minimum; places then go in score order (distance only breaks ties) | pass/fail then criteria order (score doesn't give priority after passing) |
| Places offered — 202627 | 113 | 188 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 1.26 | 1.18 |
Qualifying scores
Caistor Grammar School
220 (2026 entry)
Total standardised score ≥ 220 across two papers (VR paper + NVR/spatial paper). LCGS: Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
220 (2026 entry)
Total standardised score ≥ 220 across two papers (VR paper + NVR/spatial paper). LCGS: Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.
These schools use different tests (School's own 11+ papers (two Verbal Reasoning papers) and GL Assessment), so their pass marks are set on different scales and cannot be compared as numbers.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Caistor Grammar School
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard
- Qualified children living within 6.5 miles (straight line) — highest verbal reasoning score first
- Up to 12 places for Pupil Premium (Ever 6) children outside the catchment — highest score first
- All other qualified children — highest verbal reasoning score first
Source: school admissions policy.
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard
- Children with a brother or sister on roll
- Children of staff
- 'Local children' living 9 miles or less by road — nearest first by driving distance
- Children registered as Ever 6 free school meals
- Children living more than 9 miles away — by 11+ score
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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