Academy

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS), is part of the Star Academies. As an 11-18 progressive and inclusive Academy, the Local Accountability Board will consider all applications equally.

In order to help you to understand the admission process better, we have produced a number of documents listed below. Please read the documents carefully. We hope you will find them helpful and informative.

If, after reading the listed documents, you wish to discuss any aspects of the admission arrangements, please contact BRGS on admissions@brgs.staracademies.org.

BRGS is a designated grammar school primarily for children who attend primary schools in Bacup, Rawtenstall and the surrounding areas. As a grammar school, our entire intake is selected on the basis of high academic ability.

We admit up to 180 students each year, based on their performance in our entrance examination, which is held each September. Children must pass the entrance examination in order to be considered for a place. However, passing the examination is not a guarantee of a place due to our over-subscription criterion.

Our main Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 11th September 2024. Students and parents are encouraged to attend the Open Evening to visit the school to view our fantastic facilities, speak to our staff and students, and to learn more about the BRGS experience. Further information will be published on this page nearer the time.

In Year Admissions for Year 7 to Year 11

Please click here to register for an in year application place.

Admissions to Year 7 in September 2025
Thank you for considering Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School for your child’s secondary school. Entry to the school is by selection at our entrance examination.

Our entrance examination for Year 7 admission in September 2025 will take place on Saturday 28th September. The examination will consist of three papers: verbal reasoning, maths and English. Our entrance examination is provided by GL Assessment. Familiarisation materials are available to download free of charge from the GL Assessment website.

Parents who wish their child to take the entrance examination must register in advance. Online registration for the entrance examination is open and can be accessed via our application website https://brgs.applicaa.com/11plus2024.

Applications for our entrance exam will close at 12:00 noon on Friday 13th September 2024. This will be the final date to register for the entrance examination.
If your child may require access arrangements on the day of the exam, please register as early as possible to allow the school sufficient time to confirm the requirements.

Appeals to Admissions for Year 7 in September 2024

1st of March is the date that secondary schools are confirmed. Some parents may wish to appeal the decision and this can be a difficult time in both making the decision to appeal and knowing what to do. In our supporting documentation section below you will find a appeals guidance document. You will find it useful to read alongside the information which is available on the Lancashire County Council’s (LCC) website at School Appeals – Lancashire County Council. Lancashire County Council administers the appeals process on behalf of the school.

Admissions to the Sixth Form

Full details about admissions to our Sixth Form are available here. We hold our annual Sixth Form Open Evening during the autumn term.

The application deadline for September 2023 Sixth Form admissions has now passed; however, we will continue to consider late applications. For any late entries, please contact the Director of Sixth Form on 01706 233 400 or sixthform@brgs.staracademies.org

Admissions – Policies

Admissions – Supporting Documentation