Education in Lincolnshire - Grammar Schools

Grammar Schools

Grammar schools in the county include:

• Caistor Grammar School is an endowned Foundation School, founded in 1630 by Francis Rawlinson. Caistor Grammar School is a Sports and Humanities College in the market town of Caistor. The Ofsted report in 2008 ranked Caistor Grammar School as "Outstanding" in all areas. The school has consistently been the highest at A-Level in Lincolnshire and is 34th in national Grammar School league tables.

• Skegness Grammar School was originally founded in 1483 by the notable Lord High Chancellor of England William de Waynflete. Skegness Grammar School was the very first British secondary school to be awarded Grant Maintained status by the government in 1988. The school has been classed as a High Performing Specialist School, due to the progress the students have made over the five years of compulsory education in years seven to eleven. Formal evaluation of the recent Sixth Form results has shown that they have established and maintained excellent teaching standards that have led to equally high levels of progress. The school is proud that most of its students have chosen to stay at the school for the on site Sixth Form to complete their studies.

• King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth also uses the Eleven plus to select pupils. The school recently celebrated its 450th Charter Day in 2001 to mark the day, on 21 September 1551, when King Edward VI signed the charter to maintain the school's existence following the dissolution of the religious guilds and the monastery in the town. Former pupils of 'KEVIGS' include Captain John Smith founder of Virginia, Sir John Franklin and Alfred Lord Tennyson.

• Boston Grammar School is another ancient educational institution, having been founded by charter of William and Mary in 1555. It was used as the model for Boston Latin School which was the first school of the new colony in what became the United States of America. Boston Grammar School's current library, built in 1567, is believed to be the oldest academic building in continuous use in England.

• The King's School, Grantham traces its history back to 1329 when the first teacher was appointed. In 1528 the school was re-endowed by Bishop Richard Foxe of Winchester who also founded Corpus Christi College, Oxford. The school library, a grade I listed building, was the original School House. Among its many old boys are Lord Burghley, Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I, and Sir Isaac Newton.

• Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School with specialist science status, opened in 1910 on the present extensive and attractive site overlooking the town of Grantham. The original, fine buildings have been refurbished and, together with new buildings, additions and modifications made over the years, provide excellent accommodation and facilities for today's students. Its most famous old girl is Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first woman prime minister.

• Queen Elizabeth's High School in Gainsborough was founded in 1589 and has been a co-ed school since 1983. It performs excellently in all academic areas as well as having strong sports, public speaking and general knowledge teams. The school also hosts successful music concerts and drama productions throughout the year. The school has maintained the handsome original buildings which add a sense of class when seen from the road. Among its most famous old boys are Sir Halford Mackinder, founder of the School of Geography at Oxford University, and John Robinson, chaplain to the Pilgrim Fathers and Reformed theologian.

• Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle, was royally chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571 but there had been a formal school in Horncastle already for 250 years. The original Charter document, with its Royal Seal, remains in the safe custody of the school's governors. It is a selective, co-educational, foundation status Grammar School and Sixth Form College. The school also attained a dual specialist status as both a Science College and as a Mathematics and Computing College on a joint basis with Banovallum School, which is also in Horncastle. Exam results have remained constantly in the top 5% in the country since results tables have been published.