Grammar schools in Preston
There are no grammar schools in Preston.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Lancashire has 4 of them, but none in Preston itself — so every state secondary in Preston admits without a selective test.
The nearest is Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, about 15.4 miles away in Lancashire. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.
Grammar schools elsewhere in Lancashire
Lancashire has 4 grammar schools, but none in Preston itself.
- Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School — Rossendale
- Clitheroe Royal Grammar School — Clitheroe
- Lancaster Girls' Grammar School — Lancaster
- Lancaster Royal Grammar School — Lancaster
Nearest grammar schools to Preston
Straight-line distance from the centre of Preston — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clitheroe Royal Grammar School | Clitheroe | 15.4 miles | Mixed | Outstanding |
| Lancaster Girls' Grammar School | Lancaster | 18.4 miles | Girls | Good |
| Lancaster Royal Grammar School | Lancaster | 18.4 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Larne Grammar School | LARNE | 19.8 miles | — | — |
| Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School | Rossendale | 20.8 miles | Mixed | Inadequate |
| Urmston Grammar Academy | Manchester | 27.5 miles | Mixed | 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.
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (published source)
- Immediate catchment area residents eligible for Pupil Premium (published source)
- Immediate catchment area residents (published source)
Lancaster Girls' Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children at/near the Pass Mark (published source)
- City of Lancaster residents eligible for Pupil Premium, at/near the Pass Mark (published source)
- City of Lancaster residents at/above the Pass Mark (published source)
Lancaster Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children at/near the minimum level (published source)
- Priority catchment area (City of Lancaster), Pupil Premium, at/near minimum level (published source)
- Priority catchment area, at/above minimum level (published source)
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (published source)
- Children attending Area 1 primary schools, ranked by entrance exam mark (siblings at BRGS get priority within this tier) (published source)
- Children attending Area 2 primary schools, ranked by entrance exam mark (siblings at BRGS get priority within this tier) (published source)
Urmston Grammar Academy — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children (published source)
- About 15 places for the highest-scoring Pupil Premium children (minimum 324), wherever they live (published source)
- About 20 places for the top scorers, wherever they live (published source)
Schools in Preston
Preston has 166 open schools. Browse all Preston schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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