Lancaster Royal Grammar School
111%
Capacity
1,290
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Lancaster Royal Grammar School holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, but the detail beneath that headline tells a more nuanced story. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.59 is classified as ‘Well above average’ nationally, meaning pupils here make significantly more academic progress between age 11 and 16 than the typical student in England. That figure is particularly striking when set against the Lancashire local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.11, placing the school firmly among the highest-performing secondaries in the region. Within Lancaster itself, it ranks third out of seven schools on this metric, and across the North West it sits in the top nine per cent of all state secondaries. The Attainment 8 score of 72 is also very strong, and every single pupil achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths at GCSE, with 94.8 per cent reaching the higher grade 5 threshold.
At A-level, the school’s sixth form was rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and the data backs that up. The average points per entry is 41.26, equivalent to a B grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B as well. The value-added score of 0.03 is classed as ‘Average’, suggesting that while students arrive with high prior attainment, the sixth form maintains that standard rather than dramatically boosting it. Over a third of entries (34.7 per cent) achieved grades AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The school’s EBacc entry rate of 57 per cent is well above the national average, and 50.6 per cent of pupils entered for the EBacc achieved a strong pass in all components. In short, this is an academically selective state grammar in all but name, with results that comfortably outstrip most local comprehensives.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 305 applications for 158 places, with 203 of those as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.93. It is a mixed, Christian-faith state secondary with a boarding option, which is unusual for a grammar school in this part of the country. Facilities are extensive, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, astro turf, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The SEND register covers a broad range of needs, from dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder to hearing and visual impairments, so the school is equipped to support a wider cohort than its academic profile might suggest. Sports include rowing, rugby, and hockey, and clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to Model UN and Young Enterprise. This is a school for families who want strong academic outcomes, a structured environment, and a wide extracurricular offer, but who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | East Road, Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 3EF |
| Headteacher | Christopher Pyle |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,290 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,290 / 1,165 (111% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Boarding | Yes — Boarding school |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.59)
387th of 3,141
Nationally
38th of 445
In North West
3rd of 7
In Lancaster
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
44.3
'22/23
41.9
'23/24
41.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2392%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 151 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)92%
- FE college3%
- Sixth form college2%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 186 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
40%
Russell Group
55%
Top-third HE
4%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)54%
- Employment23%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics130
- Chemistry83
- Biology67
- Physics64
- Economics39
- Business Studies:Single29
- History25
- English Literature24
- Mathematics (Further)24
- Religious Studies22
- Design and Technology (Product Design)20
- Computer Studies / Computing16
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
14Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed158
305
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
203 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:30
Source: lrgs.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British58.3%
- Asian23.3%
- Mixed6.8%
- White (other)4.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
East Road, Lancaster
Lancaster, LA1 3EF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Lancaster Royal Grammar School!
Write a Review