The Ultimate Guide to Nelson Grammar School Admissions

If you live in Nelson, or anywhere in Pendle, and want a grammar school place for your child, here is the short answer. There is no grammar school in Pendle, but Nelson is in an unusual spot. It sits between two sets of free grammar schools: Clitheroe Royal Grammar School in Lancashire, and the two Skipton grammar schools just over the Yorkshire border. Clitheroe Royal Grammar and Skipton Girls' High School can both be reached by school buses from Nelson.

There is one big catch. For September 2027 entry, the Clitheroe test and both Skipton tests were held on the same Saturday, and so was the Bacup and Rawtenstall test. So most Nelson families have to pick one test, which makes it very important to understand the priority rules before you choose.

This guide explains each option for a Nelson family in plain English: who gets priority, the buses from Nelson, the Lancashire County Council application, the key dates, and how to prepare.

🤔 Three words to know first

• Grammar school: a free state secondary school where children win a place by doing well in an entrance test, usually called the 11+.
• Pupil Premium: extra school funding for children who get, or have had, free school meals, and for some other children. Several grammar schools near Nelson give these children extra priority.
• Catchment area: the places a school puts first if more children reach the standard than it has room for.

🏫 Which selective schools can a Nelson child apply to?

From Nelson, a child can realistically aim for four free grammar schools and one independent school. Below, each school has its own short profile: its story, what it offers, the journey from Pendle, the test, and the rules that decide who gets in.

1. Clitheroe Royal Grammar School: free and selective (mixed)

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School (CRGS) is the grammar school most Pendle families think of first. It is about 12 miles from Nelson, in the Ribble Valley. Its roots go back to 1554, when it was founded as a free grammar school by Letters Patent of King Philip and Queen Mary. A separate girls' grammar school followed in the 20th century, and the two joined in 1985. The CRGS history page tells the story.

Today CRGS is a mixed school on two sites in Clitheroe: the Main School for ages 11 to 16 on Chatburn Road, and the Sixth Form on York Street. It takes 180 children into Year 7. In 2026, 99% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, according to the school's GCSE results page.

The journey is a real strength for Nelson. During term time, Transdev runs the CG1, a school bus made for CRGS pupils travelling from Nelson and Burnley. It fills quickly, and the school says existing pupils get first pick of seats, so book as soon as your child accepts a place. The CRGS transport page has the links.

The test is written by FSCE and is sat on a Saturday in late September of Year 6. There are two papers, both in English and maths, with multiple-choice and short written answers, and no reasoning paper. Registration opens in June of Year 5 and closes in early September, just after the summer holiday.

You may hear that "Pendle is in the CRGS catchment". That is true, but the CRGS admissions policy has a small immediate catchment of Ribble Valley parishes, and a wider catchment that covers every Lancashire district plus Blackburn with Darwen. So a Nelson child is in the same group as children from almost the whole county. Inside each group, children on Pupil Premium come first, and then children are ranked by score. If your child gets free school meals, tell CRGS in writing by the registration deadline.

2. Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton: free and selective (boys)

Over the Yorkshire border, about 15 miles from Nelson, is Ermysted's Grammar School, a free grammar school for boys. It began as a small chantry school by Skipton Parish Church more than 500 years ago and took its name from William Ermysted, who re-founded it in 1548. Its history page describes it as the seventh oldest state school in Britain.

Boys can stay from 11 to 18, as the school has its own sixth form. In the latest government performance tables, 86.7% of Ermysted's pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths.

The journey is long, but there is a school bus. Transdev's pre-booked SK1 from Nelson Interchange, through Colne and Earby, lists an Ermysted's stop as well as the girls' school, so check the times and book a seat early.

The FSCE test has two papers in English and maths and is sat on a Saturday in late September. For September 2027 entry this was the same day as the Clitheroe test, so a Nelson boy usually has to choose one. Registration closes at the end of August.

Nelson is outside the Ermysted's catchment. In the out-of-catchment group, boys on Pupil Premium come first, then boys with a brother at the school, then everyone else by distance, not by score. You must claim Pupil Premium on the school's own Supplementary Information Form, explained in the Ermysted's parents' guide. Without Pupil Premium, Nelson is usually too far away to win a place.

3. Skipton Girls' High School: free and selective (girls)

Skipton Girls' High School (SGHS) is a free girls' grammar school on Gargrave Road in Skipton. It first opened in 1886 as Skipton Girls' Endowed School, and the SGHS history page explains how it grew from there. It now belongs to Northern Star Academies Trust, a group of schools in the north of England.

There are 120 places in Year 7, and girls can stay on into the school's sixth form. The school's results news for 2025 reported that 94 students achieved top GCSE grades of 8 and 9.

SGHS is the easiest Skipton school to reach from Nelson. The pre-booked SK1 school bus leaves Nelson Interchange at about ten to eight and runs through Colne and Earby, arriving at SGHS at around 8:35am. Book through the SGHS transport page.

Like Ermysted's, SGHS uses an FSCE test in English and maths on a Saturday in late September, so it clashes with Clitheroe. Registration closes in mid-August, in the summer holiday after Year 5.

The priority rules are where SGHS stands out for Nelson. After looked-after girls, priority goes to girls on Pupil Premium and/or from families claiming Universal Credit, wherever they live. Only then come girls from the local Craven area, and then everyone else by distance. So a Nelson girl on Universal Credit who reaches the standard is ranked ahead of girls who live in Skipton. See the SGHS admissions policy.

4. Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: free and selective (mixed)

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) is a free, mixed grammar school in Waterfoot, Rossendale, about 12 miles south of Nelson. It dates back to 1701, when a gift left by John Kershaw paid for a school in the valley. The school moved to its present Waterfoot site in 1913, and in 2023 it joined Star Academies. Read more on the BRGS history page.

This is a mixed school for ages 11 to 18 with its own sixth form, and it is in excellent shape. In June 2026, Ofsted rated it Exceptional in all seven areas of its new report card. Its 2026 GCSE results were also very strong, with 99% of pupils achieving grades 9 to 5 in English and maths.

From Nelson, BRGS is a long daily journey. The BRGS travel page lists the school's bus services. The 743 school bus runs from Croft Street in Burnley to Waterfoot, but we did not find one starting in Nelson, so most Pendle families would need to get to Burnley first. Try the journey at school time before you apply.

The BRGS test is set by GL Assessment, not FSCE, and has three papers: verbal reasoning, maths and English. It is sat in late September of Year 6, and for 2027 entry this was the same Saturday as the Clitheroe and Skipton tests. Registration closes in mid-September.

BRGS fills places first with children from named "Area 1" and "Area 2" primary schools in Rossendale and nearby. None of these are in Pendle, so a Nelson child is ranked by score in the final "all other children" group. That group is bigger than many people think: for September 2026 entry, 96 of the 180 places went to it. See the BRGS admission arrangements for the full list.

5. Stonyhurst College: independent and selective (mixed)

Stonyhurst College is a Catholic independent school in the countryside near Hurst Green, about 15 miles from Nelson. It was founded in 1593 by the Jesuit priest Fr Robert Persons, in Saint-Omer in France, and moved to Lancashire much later. Stonyhurst says it is the oldest Jesuit school in the world that has kept running without a break. Its About us page has more.

Stonyhurst is co-educational, for day pupils and boarders aged 3 to 18, across two schools: St Mary's Hall for younger children and the College for older pupils. On its academic results page, the school says government data ranks the College 16th out of 2,540 schools and colleges for A level progress.

For Pendle families, the bus is the useful detail. Stonyhurst runs three daily routes for day pupils from Year 5 upwards, and its day pupil transport page shows stops in Barrowford, Fence and Higham, close to Nelson.

There is no single test day. Stonyhurst accepts applications at any time of year. For Year 7, children take online assessments in English, maths and cognitive ability, have an interview, and spend a taster day at the school. The school also asks for reports, a reference and a short handwritten personal statement.

Help with fees is linked to scholarships and named awards. Bursaries are only for children who have been offered a scholarship or award, and they can cover up to the full fees for families who need it most. You must register your child first. Read the Stonyhurst fee support page and the fees page before you apply.

🔍 Clitheroe, Skipton, BRGS and Stonyhurst: at a glance

Miles are approximate, by road from the middle of Nelson. Everything here was checked in October 2026; please check each school's own website before you apply.

🚌 Getting there from Nelson

• To Clitheroe: the CG1 school bus starts in Nelson and is run specially for CRGS pupils from Nelson and Burnley. Book through Transdev, and see the CRGS transport page.
• To Skipton (both schools): the SK1 leaves Nelson Interchange at about 7:50am and arrives at SGHS at about 8:35am, with an Ermysted's stop also listed. It must be booked in advance. See the SGHS transport page.
• To Stonyhurst: the school's own day buses pick up in Barrowford, Fence and Higham.
• To BRGS: there is no school bus from Nelson that we could find. The nearest is the 743 from Burnley to Waterfoot.

Will the council help with travel? Lancashire County Council does not normally pay for travel to a grammar school just because it is selective. Some lower-income families can get help, so read the Lancashire free school transport rules before you decide.

📆 Key dates for September 2027 entry (children now in Year 6)

For children in Year 6 now, test day has passed. What matters most this month is getting your Lancashire form in on time.

If your child is in Year 5: these were this year's registration windows. Expect similar timings in 2027, with tests in late September, but always check the new dates.

These dates were correct in October 2026. Before you rely on one, check it with the school or on the Lancashire County Council secondary admissions page.

✅ How places are given out

No school near Nelson publishes a pass mark in advance. The required standard is decided once all the papers are marked, and the priority rules for each school then sort out who gets the places if there are too many qualified children.

The latest Department for Education school-level admissions data (CSV file, large download) shows how this works in practice. For September 2026 entry, 451 families named CRGS somewhere on their council form and 231 named it first. CRGS offered 175 places, and 174 of them went to families who had put CRGS first.

The Lancashire rule behind this: you can name up to three schools. If your child can be offered more than one, the council offers the one you ranked highest. So if a grammar school is your real first choice, put it first, and use your other choices for good local schools as a back-up.

📚 Your 11+ preparation timeline

Year 4: reading and number confidence

Make reading a daily habit and practise times tables until they are quick. The Clitheroe and Skipton papers are built on primary school English and maths, so solid basics are the best start.

Year 5: choose one test, and check your priority

Because the tests are on the same day, decide early which school to aim for. Check whether your child gets Pupil Premium, or whether you claim Universal Credit, as this changes your chances at all three nearby grammar schools. Visit open evenings and register on time.

Summer before Year 6: practise calmly

Short, regular practice is better than long sessions. Practise reading comprehension, short written answers and maths problem-solving. For BRGS, add verbal reasoning.

Year 6: test day and the Lancashire form

Sit the test in late September, wait for the result in October, and complete your Lancashire form by the deadline. For Ermysted's, send the extra SIF form too. For the bigger picture, see our complete guide to 11+ exams.

🌟 Give your Nelson child the best chance, whatever your budget

Aiming for Clitheroe or Skipton? Our Nelson learning centre on Scotland Road, just off the high street, runs 11+ mock exams and practice in the skills these tests check: reading, written English and maths problem-solving. Find out more about our 11+ tuition support and tuition in Nelson.

We teach in small groups of no more than six, with one-to-one help where it is needed. Learning Cubs is Ofsted-registered (registration number 2597663), and many families qualify for funded or subsidised places.

Step 1: Check if your family qualifies for a funded place (it takes about two minutes).

Step 2: Book a free assessment, so we can build the right plan for your child.

Looking further afield? Our Blackburn grammar school guide and Bury grammar school guide cover other Lancashire and Greater Manchester options.

Nelson grammar school admissions FAQs

Are there grammar schools in Nelson or Pendle?

No. The nearest free grammar schools are Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, about 12 miles away, the two Skipton grammar schools, about 15 miles away, and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, about 12 miles away.

When is the 11+ exam for Nelson children?

The Clitheroe, Skipton and BRGS tests are all held in late September of Year 6. For September 2027 entry, they were all on the same Saturday, so most children can only sit one.

Is Nelson in the catchment for Clitheroe Royal Grammar School?

Yes, Nelson is in the wider catchment. But the wider catchment also covers every other Lancashire district and Blackburn with Darwen, so it does not put Nelson ahead of most other towns. Pupil Premium and a strong score matter most.

Is there a school bus from Nelson to Skipton?

Yes. The SK1 runs from Nelson Interchange through Colne and Earby to Skipton Girls' High School and Ermysted's. It must be booked in advance.

What is a good 11+ score?

There is no fixed pass mark. Each school sets a required standard every year after the test. At CRGS, children who reach it are then ranked by priority group and score. At the Skipton schools, priority groups and distance decide.

How long does 11+ preparation take?

For most children, a year of regular, short practice in Year 5 is enough, as long as reading and maths are already strong. Cramming in the last few weeks rarely helps.

Sources and useful links

• Clitheroe Royal Grammar School: Admissions
• Clitheroe Royal Grammar School: Determined Admissions Policy 2027–2028
• Clitheroe Royal Grammar School: Admissions Handbook 2027–2028
• Clitheroe Royal Grammar School: Transport
• Ermysted's Grammar School: Admission into Year 7
• Ermysted's Grammar School: Parents' Guide, September 2027 entry
• Skipton Girls' High School: Admissions
• Skipton Girls' High School: Admissions Policy 2027 entry
• Skipton Girls' High School: Transport to school
• Transdev: SK1 school bus
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Admissions
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Determined admission arrangements 2027
• Stonyhurst College: Application procedures
• Stonyhurst College: Day pupil transport
• Stonyhurst College: Fee support
• Lancashire County Council: Starting secondary school
• Lancashire County Council: Free transport to school
• Department for Education: Applications and offers 2026, school-level data (CSV)
• Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers