Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
School summary
A large selective grammar in Rossendale, Bacup and Rawtenstall draws on its own Lancashire consortium tests to admit 180 pupils a year at age 11. With 1,056 on roll against a capacity of 1,260, it has some room to grow rather than the tightly oversubscribed feel of many grammars. The academic record is exceptional, yet parents should weigh this against a notably mixed Ofsted picture: while inspectors rated the quality of education "Good", the school was judged "Inadequate" overall, with concerns about behaviour, personal development, leadership and the sixth form.
How hard is it to get in?
Very competitive · 3 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand comfortably exceeds the 180 Year 7 places each year - a clear pass, not a borderline one, is what wins a place.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
Attainment 8
73.3
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
97%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Inadequate
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Inadequate
- Last inspected
- 14 June 2022
Teaching & academics
Results sit far above the national picture. The average Attainment 8 score of 73.3 dwarfs the national figure of 46.9, and 97% of pupils secure grade 5 or above in English and Maths, against a national average of 47%. Ofsted's "Good" rating for quality of education reflects that classroom learning is a genuine strength here, even as wider judgements were less favourable.
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 7.86%
- EHC plans
- 0.85%
- English as additional language
- 7.3%
- Free school meals
- 6.1%
Schools nearby
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Clitheroe, North West
The Crossley Heath School
Halifax, Yorkshire and the Humber
The North Halifax Grammar School
Halifax, Yorkshire and the Humber
Stretford Grammar School
Manchester, North West
Urmston Grammar Academy
Manchester, North West
Sale Grammar School
Sale, North West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
An academic powerhouse on the numbers, but the "Inadequate" Ofsted verdict on behaviour and leadership deserves a close, clear-eyed look before applying.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.