Caistor Grammar School

The headteacher is Shona Buck, who took up the position in September 2022, becoming the school's 28th head. In the 2017 Times newspaper league tables it is in the top ten mixed state schools in the country. The school was named Sunday Times Parent Power State Secondary School of the Year (East Midlands) 2018 in November 2017 and was the named the top school in the East Midlands by the Sunday Times in November 2019.

• Name — Caistor Grammar School • Motto — "Ever to Excel" (Greek: αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν) • Type — Grammar school; Academy • Religious Affiliation — Christian • Head Label — Headteacher • Head — Shona Buck • Chair Label — Chair of Governors • Chair — Lucy Jackson • Founder — Francis Rawlinson • Address — Church Street • City — Caistor • County — Lincolnshire • Country — England • Postal Code — LN7 6QJ • Ofsted — yes • Urn — 136350 • Staff — ~200 • Enrolment — approx. 680 students • Lower Age — 11 • Upper Age — 18 • Gender — Mixed • Houses — Hansard, Rawlinson & Ayscough • Colours — Red & Black • Publication — Caistor Focus • Free Label1 — Former pupils • Free Text1 — Old Caistorians • Website — caistorgrammar.com

Caistor Grammar School is an endowed school dating from the reign of Charles I. The Dissolution of the Monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII had destroyed the principal sources of education of the times, and the numerous schools endowed throughout England during the following reigns are evidence that public-spirited men recognised the need created and endeavoured to meet it. Among others was Francis Rawlinson, of South Kelsey, who died in 1630, bequeathing money to endow a school at Caistor, and William Hansard of Biscathorpe, who supplemented the original gift in 1634. The monies given were invested in the purchase of land at Cumberworth, and of the rectorial tithes of Bilsby, of which the governors are still lay impropriators. The original trustees were Sir Edward Asycough of South Kelsey, Sir William Pelham of Brocklesby and Sir Christopher Wray, Lord Chief Justice, and Jonathan Beltwick. Other trustees shouldered their responsibilities from time to time until 1885 when, under the Endowed Schools Act 1869, the Foundation was placed under an elective body of governors, the Vicar of Caistor being an ex-officio member. In 1908 the school was recognised by the Board of Education. On 11 November 1931 it celebrated its tercentenary in the presence of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. Lindsey County Council, based in Lincoln, proposed to close the grammar school as it decided there were not enough numbers for three grammar schools in the area. On 18 February 1960 fifty-two boys and girls at the schools walked the twenty six miles to Lincoln. They gave a petition to the Council's Chairman, Sir Weston Cracroft Amcotts. Following national press coverage the school was saved from closure.

Pupils are taught a variety of traditional subjects and modern languages remain compulsory to GCSE level. The school began delivering the Extended Project Qualification in September 2017. From September 2019, students will study 10 GCSEs. A level Psychology was also introduced in September 2019.

As a selective school, Caistor Grammar School requires prospective pupils to pass the 11-plus. The current exam is set by the school. The first exam is a verbal reasoning paper and the second is multiple choice. The exams are held at the school approximately two weeks apart, and the results are issued up to a month after the last exam. In the event that more candidates pass the exam than there are places available, places are offered first to pupils from within the school's catchment area, which is defined as 6.5 miles in a straight line from the Head Master's Office to the applicant's residence". Candidates from outside the catchment area are awarded places depending on their score in the examinations. Candidates that pass but cannot be offered a place are organised onto a waiting list. The exams can be retaken at Year 9, but there is no guarantee that the child will get a place, and the only guarantee is that the child is moved to a higher position on the waiting list. Entry to the Sixth Form is dependent on an applicant's GCSE results.

• Joanne Clifton, professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing • Kevin Clifton, professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing • Dawn French, actress (1969–70) when her father was stationed at the former RAF Faldingworth • Anne Gibson, Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen, trade unionist • Thomas Little Heath, scholar • Aircraftman Vivian Hollowday GC, who was awarded the George Cross for rescuing airmen from burning planes at RAF Cranfield in Bedfordshire • Sir Henry Newbolt, poet best remembered for Vitaï Lampada • Charles Vernam, professional footballer for Grimsby Town

On 22 November 2006, the school was included in the top category by Ofsted, the only Lincolnshire school to be listed. Ofsted inspected the school in 2008, and in its report, awarded Caistor Grammar School "outstanding" (the highest possible grade) in each category. They have recently been inspected (2022) and the school, has been downgraded to “good”.