Admissions
Skegness Grammar School - 2028/29 Admissions Policy Consultation
Skegness Grammar School is consulting on its admission arrangements for pupils who will start at the Academy in September 2028.
The consultation will run from 9 November 2026 to 31 December 2026.
Why are we consulting?
The Trust is required to determine its admission arrangements each year. Where changes are proposed, the Trust must consult publicly before the arrangements are determined. If no changes are made, the arrangements must still be consulted on at least once every seven years.
Skegness Grammar School is proposing the following changes:
- Addition of a local review of 11+ scores for admission: ‘Where a child has not achieved the published qualifying score, the admission authority may undertake a local review for scores within 5% of the qualifying scores (for usual and Pupil Premium applicants), in line with the School Admissions Appeals Code, to consider whether there is sufficient evidence that the child is of the required academic standard for admission to a selective grammar school.’
- Clarification of sixth form capacity and oversubscription : SGS has capacity for 179 students in the sixth form, with 90 places in Year 12. 25 places will be made available for external applicants. The remaining 65 places will be made available for SGS students progressing from year 11 if they meet the academic entry requirements, and the academy will not admit additional external applicants to its sixth form unless undersubscribed by its own students.
In the case of oversubscription from students from other schools who have achieved the required GCSE grades, students will be ranked according to their GCSE points score. In the event of a number of students having exactly the same score then the academy will apply a tie-breaker based on the straight line distance (measured electronically by the LA between the post office address point of the home and the post office address point of the academy), with the student living closest to the academy being given priority. If two or more applications cannot otherwise be separated and there is only one place available, random allocation will be used to determine who should be allocated the place. This process will be supervised by someone independent of the academy and Trust.
The school will admit eligible students who have an education, health and care plan that names the academy. Consideration of suitability, including meeting the minimum entry requirements, occurs prior to the LA’s decision
- Clarification of sixth form entry requirements:
Sixth Form Entry Requirements
The entry requirements are five GCSEs at Grades 9-5 (or equivalent) including Maths and English. Students must also pass the relevant entrance criteria for each subject being studied for Sixth Form. Please see the Sixth Form prospectus for individual subject requirements. This is updated and published each year and also advertised at the annual Sixth Form Open Evening in November.
The entry requirements are applicable to both students joining the academy from another school and those who are currently on our roll.
The prospectus, application process timetable and application form for Sixth Form entry can be found at: https://www.skegnessgrammar.co.uk/Sixth-Form/
- Clarification of appeals for sixth form applications:
Unsuccessful Sixth Form Applications (Appeals)
If a student fails to meet the entrance criteria for entry into the Sixth Form, they are eligible to submit an internal review appeal against the decision by 3:30pm on GCSE results day. This appeal is sent directly to the Headteacher. Further details are provided to the relevant student on results day.
If a student meets the overall entrance criteria for Sixth Form but not for the subjects chosen for study, then a revised offer will be made. If a revised offer is made, there is no right of appeal as a place has been offered within the Sixth Form.
If, following the outcome of the internal review, admission to the Sixth Form is still refused, parents and carers have the right to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. This right also applies to applicants refused admission to any other year group. Parents and carers will be informed of the reason why admission was refused. Sixth form applicants, and applicants over the statutory school leaving age, can exercise this right of appeal themselves. The appeal panel is set up under the School Admission Appeals Code (2022). The decision of the independent panel is binding on all parties. Details of how to appeal to the independent panel will be provided when a parent or student is informed that their application for a place at Sixth Form has been unsuccessful.
We invite you to review the proposed admission arrangements and consider the following questions:
- Are the arrangements reasonable?
- Are the arrangements clear?
- Are the arrangements objective?
- Do the arrangements comply with the School Admissions Code 2021, the School Admission Appeals Code 2022, and the relevant legislation?
- Could the arrangements disadvantage or discriminate against anyone?
- Could any changes improve the arrangements?
Please send your response to DRETadmissions@dret.co.uk by 31 December 2026.
After the consultation closes, all responses will be collated and presented to the Trust Board in February 2027 for consideration before the admission arrangements are determined.
Skegness Grammar School will admit pupils at 11+ who are in the top 25% of the ability range in all the areas of Lincolnshire which serve grammar schools.
The school is a member of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools (LCGS), this consortium was created to coordinate testing arrangements across the County.
There are 14 schools within this consortium and all apply their selection tests and procedures (and appeals procedures) in order to ascertain those pupils whose ability places them in the top 25% of the ability range described above. Any change to this procedure or to the means by which the school assesses the level of applicants’ ability will be published in the prospectus prior to the next invitation for applications. Where a parent chooses to apply to the school under the county preference scheme, that choice will be considered as an equal preference.
As an academy within the David Ross Education Trust, we still operate under the Local Authority's admissions scheme.
Transfer from Primary Schools to Year 7 are managed by Lincolnshire County Council. The County Council website also provides options for completing on-line admissions forms for both normal and mid-year admissions. For more information visit: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/school-admissions
Are you looking for your child to gain entry to Skegness Grammar School?
We are happy to answer any queries you may have and to help you with the appeals process. We can also help you register for the 12+.
How do I appeal?
Information about how to appeal is underneath, together with the appeal form which can be obtained from the school office.
Should you wish to appeal, please complete the form and return by email to: dclarke1@skegnessgrammar.co.uk
If you would like any help with completion of your appeal you are welcome to contact us. We can help advise you on what information you should consider including.
How else can my child gain admission?
Should your child be unsuccessful at appeal, there is also the opportunity to take our 12+ Entrance Test on Tuesday 1st September 2026.
Every child can sit a grammar school entrance exam once every academic year. We have put one of these at the very start of our academic year to enable successful pupils to join us at the beginning of the school year with their peers and not have to make the difficult transition between two secondary schools.
The Skegness Grammar School 12+ Entrance Exam is a computer-based assessment that cannot be practiced. All offers are at the decision of the Headmaster.
If you would like to register for this entrance test please phone our school reception and we will help register you.
Entrance Tests
Mid-Year Entry Examinations
For students wishing to join our school part-way through their secondary school education, they will be required to sit an entrance examination to assess the academic potential of that student.
Entrance exams are held on a monthly basis for students wishing to join the school later in Year 7 through to Year 10.
Please email enquiries@skegnessgrammar.co.uk to find out more.
School Transport
If your child is starting primary school or transferring to secondary school they may be eligible for school transport. If you think your child is eligible please apply for transport as soon as you have your offer of a school place. Applications can be made online at the website below or a telephone application can be made by contacting the Customer Service Centre on 01522 782020.
For more information about the home to school transport policy and online applications please go to www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/school-college-transport. Queries can be emailed to schooltransportapplications@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
