At a Glance
Assessment: CEM 11 Plus
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Mixed Boys and Girls
Places per year: 120
Introduction
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) is a small but growing school dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded education achieved through a balance of committed and supportive teachers, traditional values, technological advancements and engaging extra-curricular opportunities. As the only grammar school in Cumbria, competition for places is fierce and families are encouraged to attend the school’s open day, often held in July, or join a school tour in September.
Students generally perform above the local authority average, with 87% achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs in 2019. Although there has not been any recent exam data published, a high percentage of students entered English Baccalaureate (66%) and the majority stayed in education or started employment (99%) since 2021. The school remains popular and determined to follow through with their ethos statement: ‘Preparing our students to succeed in tomorrow’s world.’
QEGS uses CEM as the provider of their three exam papers in Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning. Each test builds on knowledge gained from KS2 topics but there may be question types that your child is unfamiliar with or learned differently in school. 11 Plus Hero has been created to bring all the 11 plus information and resources you need in one place, from school statistics and key dates to practice papers and frequently asked questions. Our aim is to share our knowledge of 11 plus schools and CEM question styles and formats so that you know all the essential information and can make the right choices when preparing for the QEGS 11 plus exam.
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Key Information
11 Plus Hero provides up-to-date information on contacts, data and developments at QEGS to ensure that you are aware of all the important details during your 11 plus preparation.
School Address
Full Address:
Queen Elizabeth Grammar SchoolUllswater Road
Penrith
CA11 7EG
Contact Information
Parking in the school
Information on school and nearby parking is limited.
Additional parking off site
111 spaces are available at Penrith Station, Ullswater Road, Eden, CA11 7JQ, 8-minute walk to the school, £6.00 for long stay on Saturdays.
Additional parking off site
111 spaces are available at Penrith Station, Ullswater Road, Eden, CA11 7JQ, 8-minute walk to the school, £6.00 for long stay on Saturdays.
Key Information for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith
PAN* for Year 7 intake (2023)
Total Student Capacity Years 7 to 13 (2022)
Total Students Years 7 to 13 (2022)
Percentage Capacity (2022)
Latest Ofsted Rating (2009)
Selection Test
Key Events for Admission to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith
Preparation is key for the 11 plus and knowing what and when key events are happening across the year is an important part of the process. In the table below, you will find important dates and deadlines you need to know for admission to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith.
School Tours
Entrance Test Registration Opens
Year 5 Open Evening
Online Registration Form Deadline
Entrance Test Familiarisation Materials Released (posted to candidates)
Entrance Test Invitations Released (emailed to parents/carers)
Exam Date
Test Results Date
Local Authority Secondary Application Form (SA3) Deadline
National Offer Day
Application Documents for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith
We encourage you to read through school-specific documents for QEGS so you are informed of the admissions process and any changes. Here, you can also find a link to the local authority website.
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Exam Format
QEGS uses the CEM exam board for their admissions. The exam consists of three papers containing multiple-choice questions.
Test Overview
The QEGs 11 plus test assesses Verbal, Non-Verbal and Numerical Reasoning Skills. The content is in the CEM format which covers and expands on KS2 topic areas. Although there is not an English paper for this test, the Verbal Reasoning paper does include elements often associated with English, notably Comprehension and Close questions.
Queen Elizabeth School Penrith - 11 Plus Assessment Criteria
| English | Numerical Reasoning | Verbal Reasoning | Non-Verbal Reasoning | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pass Mark
For previous cohorts, QEGS has not used a cut-off score; successful entrants are selected from a ranked list of candidates sitting the exam. Therefore, the pass mark is determined by the strength of that year’s cohort.
Pass Mark
For previous cohorts, QEGS has not used a cut-off score; successful entrants are selected from a ranked list of candidates sitting the exam. Therefore, the pass mark is determined by the strength of that year’s cohort.
Catchment Area
The following state schools are within the catchment area:
Beaconside CE Primary School, Calthwaite CE School, Clifton Primary School, Culgaith CE School, Kirkoswald CE School, Langwathby CE School, Lazonby CE School, Lowther Endowed School, North Lakes School, Patterdale CE School, Penruddock Primary School, Plumpton School, Shap Endowed CE School, Skelton School, St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, Stainton CE Primary School, Yanwath Primary School.
Additional Eligibility
Generally, in the event of oversubscription, the school will use the following criteria:
- Children who are currently, or have previously been, in looked-after care
- Children who are eligible for the Pupil Premium and/or Service Premium
- Children whose primary home address, or state school, is within the catchment area
- The Verbal Reasoning score in the entrance exam
- The Non-Verbal reasoning score in the entrance exam
- Distance from the home address to the school as measured by postcode
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith FAQs
The QEGS 11 Plus exam is set by CEM and contains three test papers with questions in Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Contact the Admissions Secretary as soon as possible before 4pm of the Monday following the test at the latest.
Visit a GP and obtain a medical note for medical issues which you will need to send to the school by 4pm on the Wednesday following the test
QEGS may be able to offer your child a late test which can be arranged within a couple of weeks of the main test.
QEGS will provide a familiarisation booklet on their website and available on request following the test application closing date.
Please note that these materials are not definitive and there is no guarantee that these question types will be found in the actual exam.
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