Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School: Entry Procedure for 11 Plus/Year 7

Introduction to Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School

Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School (LGGS) is a selective state school for girls aged 11-18. Founded over 100 years ago, LGGS has a rich history and has gone from strength to strength, establishing the House system in 1925 and introducing extra-curricular activities and foreign trips during the impressive headship of Miss Gordon (1948-1972). More recently, in 2011, LGGS converted to Academy status.

The school has an impressive academic record. In 2024, 66.9% of GCSE grades were in the 9-7 range, nearly three times the national average, and 74% of A Level grades were in the A*-B range. Parents and carers are sent written reports on their child’s progress at least twice a year, helping them stay informed.

Pupils at LGGS benefit from an extensive co-curricular programme. A wide variety of activities are available, including dance, gymnastics, drama, robotics, and gardening. Additionally, day and residential trips are arranged, giving students an enriching learning experience outside of the classroom.

Exemplary pastoral care is also a key focus at LGGS. The school’s Personal Development curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge of how to look after their physical and mental health. Any pupil who does experience difficulties, though, is encouraged to speak to their tutor in the first instance. If more support is needed, the Pastoral Team will arrange it.

If you are interested in your daughter attending LGGS from Year 7 onwards, please read on.

Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School: Year 7 (11+) Entry Admissions Process

LGGS holds an Open Evening in June. The school recommends that you attend the Open Evening when your daughter is in Year 4 or 5, enabling you to learn more about the school and its ethos.

You must register your daughter for LGGS’s 11+ entrance exam during the registration window, which is from early June of Year 5 to around mid-September of Year 6.

The exam will take place on a Saturday towards the end of September of Year 6. Your daughter will sit two maths and English papers produced by FSCE. 

You will receive your daughter’s results two weeks later. This means you will know whether she has met the standard required for entry to LGGS before you must submit your local authority’s application form.


Please note, though, that reaching the required standard does not guarantee your daughter will be offered a place, as there may be more candidates who do so than there are available places.

By the end of October of Year 6, you must submit your local authority’s application form.

At the beginning of March of Year 6, you will find out from your local authority whether your daughter has secured a place at LGGS. You must accept any offer of a place by the deadline in mid-March.

Girls with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who reach the pass mark will be offered a place. Then, if more children achieved the pass mark than there are places available, the oversubscription criteria will be applied to eligible candidates in the following order:

1. Looked after or previously looked after children who achieved the pass mark or up to and including 5% below
2. Children in receipt of Pupil Premium who live in the City of Lancaster and achieved the pass mark or up to and including 5% below  
3. Children who live in the City of Lancaster
4. Children of staff working at LGGS
5. Children in receipt of Pupil Premium who live outside the City of Lancaster and achieved the pass mark or up to and including 5% below
6. Children who got the highest scores in the entrance exam
   
   

Tips to Help Your Daughter Prepare for the Year 7 FSCE Entrance Exam to Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School 

Being prepared for the FSCE 11+ entrance exam will help your daughter perform to the best of her ability. We recommend the following:

1. Reading: encouraging your daughter to read a wide variety of books will enhance her reading comprehension, expand her vocabulary and improve her spelling. 
2. Growth mindset: adopting a growth mindset (the belief that we can all improve our skills through hard work) will give your daughter a can-do attitude, knowing that she can and will improve her maths and English skills if she puts in the time and effort. 
3. Discussions: having discussions with your daughter about current affairs and controversial topics will develop her critical thinking and listening skills.
4. Mental arithmetic: your daughter can practise her mental arithmetic in real-life situations. For example, if you go to the shop together to pick up a few items, get her to see if she can work out how much you will be charged before you go to the till.
5. Revision: going over the maths and English work she has done in Year 5 will help ensure your daughter has the knowledge she needs for LGGS’s Year 7 entrance exam. Short, regular study sessions are best, as most children around the age of ten can focus effectively for no longer than 30 minutes at a time.
   

Another great way to prepare is by using practice tests. We have produced practice tests for Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School’s Year 7 entrance exam that mirror the actual test. Working through our practice tests will help your daughter in the following ways:

1. Familiarity: being familiar with the format, layout, question types, answer sheets and timings of the test will reduce any anxiety your daughter has, leading to a more polished performance on the day. 
2. Learning: your daughter can learn from any mistakes she makes in the practice tests. The answers and explanations provided will help her see where she went wrong, leading to fewer, if any, errors on the day.
3. Confidence: as your daughter works through the practice tests, she will get better at answering questions quickly and accurately. This will boost her confidence, helping her believe she can pass the Year 7 entrance exam. Self-belief is crucial for success.
   
   

Please do contact us if you have any questions about our resources. We will do our best to help you. We want to take this opportunity to wish your child all the best in their entrance exam and at senior school.

Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School: 11 Plus (11+)/Year 7 Entrance Exam Practice Materials

Full Practice Tests

Skills-Based Practice

If you would like to target specific subjects in preparation for the Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School 11+ Exam, we’ve highlighted our recommendations below. 

Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.

Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School.