Lawrence Sheriff School is Rugby's boys' grammar school, with 150 places in Year 7 and a co-educational sixth form. It is part of the Warwickshire consortium inside the wider West Midlands partnership, so one entrance test covers it.
The numbers
| What | Lawrence Sheriff School |
|---|---|
| Places in Year 7 | 150, for 2026-27 entry |
| Intake | Boys, with a co-educational sixth form |
| Town | Rugby, Warwickshire |
| Entrance test | The shared West Midlands partnership test |
| Qualifying score | Set after the test by the Committee of Reference |
| Administered by | Warwickshire School Admissions |
Confirm the current cycle's admission number with Lawrence Sheriff School or with Warwickshire School Admissions, which administers admissions for the Warwickshire schools.
Nobody can tell you the pass mark, and that is by design
Warwickshire does not publish a qualifying score in advance. A Committee of Reference sets two figures for each school, for each year of entry, after the test has been sat:
- the Automatic Qualifying Score, which puts a child in line for a place, and
- a lower Required Minimum Academic Standard, which governs the waiting list.
The Committee considers the aptitude of that year's cohort, the oversubscription categories and the number of places available, and allocates in line with the published admission number where it judges those children comparable to cohorts previously admitted.
So there is no target to prepare against. And the second figure is genuinely good news: a child below the AQS is not finished, because the lower standard governs the waiting list.
Rugby's priority circle
Warwickshire uses area priority circles rather than a radius around each school. The eastern area circle is drawn from the Rugby Water Tower, and covers the town and its surrounding villages.
Check whether a specific address falls inside it with Warwickshire Admissions rather than judging by eye, because the boundary is defined precisely and nothing about it is obvious from a map.
Honestly, from Birmingham
Rugby is roughly 35 miles from Birmingham, further than Walsall, Wolverhampton or Stratford, and the daily journey is a serious one for an eleven year old.
This school makes sense if you are already in or near Rugby, or genuinely willing to relocate. For most Birmingham families it is not a realistic daily commute, and I would rather say that plainly than pad a shortlist.
If you are looking beyond Birmingham because a score fell just short of 205, Walsall and Wolverhampton are the practical options. See our guide to Walsall.
If it is on your list
- Share your result with the school at registration, in May or June.
- Check the priority circle against your actual address.
- Ask about the waiting list, since the minimum standard sits below the AQS.
- Drive it once at eight in the morning before you commit.
See our guide to all six Warwickshire grammar schools.
See where your child stands today
Timed sections in the GL Assessment format, marked instantly, with a topic-by-topic breakdown. No sign-up to start.
Two figures, and the second one is the useful one
Most parents hear qualifying score and picture a single line you are either above or below. Warwickshire does not work like that, and the detail is in your favour if you know it.
There are two numbers. The Automatic Qualifying Score puts a child in line for a place. Below it sits a Required Minimum Academic Standard, and that lower figure governs the waiting list. So a child who misses the first number can still be in a real queue against the second.
I mention it because families write off a near miss far too quickly, and in this county a near miss is explicitly provided for. If your son is in that gap, ask the school where he sits against the minimum standard rather than assuming the answer is no.
Mushtaque Ahmed, Founder of GrammarPath and Bright Mentors
Frequently asked questions
How many places does Lawrence Sheriff School have?
150 places in Year 7 for 2026-27 entry. It is a boys' grammar school with a co-educational sixth form, and the admission number is reviewed annually, so confirm the current cycle with the school or Warwickshire Admissions.
What is the qualifying score for Lawrence Sheriff School?
It is not published in advance. A Committee of Reference sets the Automatic Qualifying Score, and a lower Required Minimum Academic Standard for the waiting list, after the test, taking account of that year's cohort and the number of places.
Is Lawrence Sheriff a boys' school?
Yes, for Year 7 entry. It is designated a boys' grammar school and operates a co-educational sixth form, which is a common arrangement among the Warwickshire and Stratford schools.
What is the catchment for Lawrence Sheriff School?
Warwickshire uses area priority circles rather than a radius around each school. The eastern area circle is drawn from the Rugby Water Tower and covers the town and surrounding villages. Check a specific address with Warwickshire Admissions rather than judging from a map.
Is Lawrence Sheriff realistic from Birmingham?
For most Birmingham families, no. Rugby is roughly 35 miles away, further than Walsall, Wolverhampton or Stratford, and it is a serious daily journey for an eleven year old. It suits families already in or near Rugby.