Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith, Penrith

From the headteacher's welcome: "Founded in 1564 by Royal Charter, our school has been helping young people to secure outstanding academic results and providing a well-rounded experience for over 450 years. The school encourages students to take responsibility for their learning from the moment they join, ensuring they are well prepared for the challenges they face on their journey at QEGS."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, basketball, badminton, cross-country and dance.

In 2026, pupils at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith averaged an Attainment 8 score of 65.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Westmorland and Furness and 47 across England.

85% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Westmorland and Furness and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 64.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.35: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 51.3, against 66.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Chemistry and Biology.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith is a grammar school: places go to children who reach the required standard in its entrance test, and only then are the oversubscription criteria applied.

For September 2026 entry, 175 families put Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith as their first choice and 227 named it as one of their preferences, for 158 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith admits pupils through an entrance test, usually called the 11-plus. Children have to be registered for it in advance, normally in the spring or summer of Year 5; the test itself is usually sat in September of Year 6, and results come out in October, before the 31 October deadline for naming secondary schools.

Passing the test makes a child eligible rather than guaranteeing a place: when more children pass than there are places, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith ranks them by the criteria in its admissions policy, which can include test score and distance. Check Westmorland and Furness's admissions pages and the school's own policy for this year's registration deadline - a child who is not registered in time cannot sit the test.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith is one of 9 schools run by Changing Lives Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 161 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 12% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 113 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 27% into work. 40% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

4.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 50 pupils (4.9%) received SEN support and 9 (0.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Penrith North Lakes Rail Station, about 300 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (outside), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 115 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith issued 25 suspensions, 2.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith are North Lakes School (0.3 miles); Brunswick School (0.4 miles); St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Penrith (0.6 miles); and Beaconside CofE Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.