Lancaster Royal Grammar School is a top day and boarding grammar school. There are 1300 pupils at the school, including 110 boarders and a thriving sixth form of 400 students. We challenge the brightest pupils in the North West of England, along with boarders from further afield, to fulfil their potential.

Our Sixth Form is coeducational, and we welcomed Sixth Form girls as boarders from September 2020.

The values central to Lancaster Royal Grammar School are those of academic and extra-curricular excellence and opportunity, within a diverse and tolerant community; these form the the best possible foundation for future life.

Our pupils achieve outstanding exam results (49% A*/A grades at A-level in 2026, and 41% 9/8 grades at GCSE in 2026) and we have a national reputation for sporting excellence. Ten pupils were offered places at Oxford and Cambridge universities in 2026. The atmosphere of the school is vibrant and inspiring - and fun!

The School was endowed in 1472 and is one of the oldest state funded schools in the country. Originally situated close to the Priory Church and Lancaster Castle, the LRGS moved to its present site in 1851 when Queen Victoria granted the Royal title.

LRGS has a long tradition of providing excellent opportunities for pupils to excel academically as well as a national reputation for sporting and extra-curricular achievement.  Students achieve consistently high academic standards and are supported by a strong and effective pastoral system.  The School became an Academy in 2011.

“Pupils flourish in a culture where expectations of academic success and character building are high and unwavering.” Ofsted 2026

A wide variety of sport and extra curricular activities play an important part in educational life at LRGS, with teams regularly appearing in regional and national competitions. All pupils are encouraged to become involved in a broad range of indoor and outdoor activities. Following their inspection in June 2026 Ofsted said: "Leaders champion pupils’ whole development, not just their academic achievement."

As a state boarding school, education at LRGS remains free. Parents only pay for the boarding element and our boarding fees are highly competitive. Families are able to choose full-time or weekly boarding to suit their needs. The boarding community at LRGS is readily recognised as the heart of the school, helping students achieve remarkable success in all areas of school life.

Lancaster Royal Grammar School's position as one of the top state grammar schools in the country was endorsed by a recent Ofsted inspection in June 2026 which stated that:

"Children in boarding thrive both academically and socially. Boarding contributes positively to their attainment."

"Children have highly positive boarding experiences, where they feel safe, well cared for and develop strong relationships with staff and peers."

"Children’s voices are valued, and they are encouraged to develop independence through life skills and work experience opportunities".

"Safeguarding is a strong feature of the provision. Children feel safe, and staff demonstrate a thorough understanding of safeguarding responsibilities."

Click here to read more about the most recent Ofsted report.

Click here to view Performance Tables and to compare our school's performance.

Click here to read the Good Schools Guide review.