Schools near Nelson
26 open schools in Nelson, Lancashire · Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria · see all Lancashire schools · grammar schools in Nelson
Nelson has 26 state schools: 18 primary, 2 secondary, part of Lancashire's wider catchment. 25 have a published Ofsted rating, and 24 of those are rated Good or Outstanding.
Undersubscribed schools rated Good or Outstanding
These schools didn't fill on first preference in the latest admissions year, despite an Ofsted rating of Good or Outstanding — worth a look if you're chasing the same handful of famous names everyone else applies to.
How places are allocated in Lancashire
Primary schools: Lancashire's own term is 'Geographical Priority Area' (GPA) — a criterion for community/VC schools; academies/VA/foundation schools set their own arrangements. (source)
Most schools use the local authority's default scheme rather than a school-specific catchment map — see each school's page for its own designated/catchment area where one is published.
Lancashire entrance test format
There is no shared Lancashire 11+ — each school sets its own exam, and formats/providers differ and have changed recently, so always check the school's own admissions page for the current year. As of the 2026 test round: - Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School — GL Assessment-style multiple-choice papers (maths, English, verbal reasoning). - Clitheroe Royal Grammar School — moved to FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) papers: Paper 1 English & maths multiple-choice, Paper 2 English & maths short written answers. - Lancaster Girls' Grammar School — FSCE papers. - Lancaster Royal Grammar School — GL Assessment-style papers (maths, English, verbal reasoning). Because providers differ, practice material for one Lancashire school may not match another's format — and a child applying to schools in both Clitheroe/Lancaster and the Bacup area may face two different exam styles.
Key dates
| Entry year | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 2028 | Application deadline | 2027-10-31 |
| Sept 2028 | Primary application deadline | 2028-01-15 |
| Sept 2028 | Offer day | 2028-03-01 |
| Sept 2028 | Primary offer day | 2028-04-17 |
| Sept 2027 | Test date | 2026-09-26 |
| Sept 2027 | Results released | 2026-10-06 |
| Sept 2027 | Application deadline | 2026-10-31 |
| Sept 2027 | Primary application deadline | 2027-01-15 |
| Sept 2027 | Offer day | 2027-03-01 |
| Sept 2027 | Primary offer day | 2027-04-16 |
| Sept 2026 | Application deadline | 2025-10-31 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Primary application deadline | 2026-01-15 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Offer day | 2026-03-02 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Primary offer day | 2026-04-16 (passed) |
Out-of-area applications
Lancashire has NO county-wide 11+ — each of its four grammar schools (Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Lancaster Girls' Grammar School, Lancaster Royal Grammar School) runs its own entrance exam with its own registration process and deadline, direct with the school. Applying to more than one can mean sitting more than one test. All four schools accept registrations from children living outside Lancashire — the schools draw from wide areas (Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, Cumbria). Lancaster Royal Grammar School also has boarding places, which widens its intake further. Register with each school directly (deadlines vary by school — check each school's admissions page in Year 5), then apply via your home LA's Common Application Form by 31 October. Check each school's oversubscription criteria for distance/priority-area effects.
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