Advice 11 Plus Year 6 Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information

Written by Louise Lang

Introduction

Since its inception, the Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium has played a vital role in the selective education system for pupils in Gloucestershire, ensuring a fair and standardised admissions process based on academic ability.

The Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium uses a common entrance test across all member schools. In this way, it ensures fairness in the admissions process, as students are only required to take the test once, even if they are applying to multiple schools within the consortium.

The primary objective of the Gloucestershire Consortium is to streamline admissions and maintain consistency in the selection process among its grammar schools. By sharing resources, expertise and administrative efforts, the consortium strives to provide equal educational opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds.

Complete List of Grammar Schools in Gloucestershire


There are currently seven grammar schools in the Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium:

Marling School

The Crypt School

Stroud High School

Pate’s Grammar School

Ribston Hall High School

Sir Thomas Rich’s School

Denmark Road High School

⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exam and admissions process!

11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for the Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium

The results of the Gloucestershire Consortium entrance exam serve as a shared criterion for admission decisions at the grammar schools in the consortium. Students who excel in the exam have the opportunity to be considered for admission to multiple schools within the consortium, enhancing their prospects of securing a place at a grammar school. Here are a few important details about the Gloucestershire 11+ exam:

Registration closing date: June

Common Application Form (CAF) closing date: October

Exam date: 14th September 2024

Exam board type: GL Assessment

Pass mark: Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.

Results date: October

Allocations date: March

Admissions info: Gloucestershire County Council, 01452 425000


Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

All Year 7 places across the grammar schools in Gloucestershire are determined by pupil performance in the 11+ exam. Each school hosts various open events throughout the academic year, which are open to both parents and prospective pupils.

During Open Days/Evenings, you and your child will have the opportunity to tour the school’s facilities and speak to members of staff, who will be happy to provide additional information about the admissions process and overall provision.

All admissions to Gloucestershire grammar schools in Year 7 are coordinated by Gloucestershire County Council. In order for your child to be considered for a grammar school place, you must register them well ahead of their 11+ exam date.

How to Register for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam

To apply for a Year 7 place at a Gloucestershire grammar school on behalf of your child, you should register them with the Local Authority, Gloucestershire County Council, by the deadline in June of the year preceding entry. Next, you will be asked to complete a Common Application Form (CAF) before October, which can also be done online via the Council’s website.

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format

All grammar schools in the region use the same 11+ exam from GL Assessment. The test consists of two multiple-choice papers covering:

  • English Comprehension, Vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning
  • Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning)

Each session takes around an hour to complete, which includes reading the instructions and completing some worked examples at the beginning. Results will be communicated in October, with notification of final Year 7 place allocations published in March.


Gloucestershire 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

Gloucestershire grammar schools formally assess pupils for entry via the 11 plus exam in the GL format. The qualifying standardised score ranges from year to year. If there are more pupils with qualifying scores than there are places available, pupils’ results will be valued in descending order and places will be allocated accordingly. 

Pupils who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ GL-style practice tests should be on track to pass the 11+ test, except for Pate’s Grammar, for which we advise a score of 85%+. Whilst there are no guarantees, this is a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Gloucestershire 11+ exam.

Passing the test does not guarantee that your child will be offered a place. It simply means they have surpassed the required threshold. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.

Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!

Practice Papers for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam

The Gloucestershire Pre-11+ Practice Tests are designed for Year 4 and 5 students to introduce the exam format and boost their confidence. These tests are less challenging than the Gloucestershire 11+ Exam. They offer an accurate yet more straightforward representation of the actual exam, allowing students to familiarise themselves with exam specifics. This approach provides a solid foundation for students to progress to more challenging 11+ Practice Tests.

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Pre-11+ Full Practice Tests Bundle

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our Gloucestershire Pre-11+ Practice Tests at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

The following 11+ resources will provide your child with effective practice in the lead-up to the Gloucestershire English exam, thoroughly familiarising them with its requirements:

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11+ English Comprehension & Vocabulary Bundle

English Comprehension & Vocabulary exercises for the Gloucestershire 11 plus

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Gloucestershire 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

English Comprehension & Vocabulary exercises for the Gloucestershire 11 plus

In order for your child to master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Gloucestershire Test, we recommend the following resources:

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11+ Verbal Reasoning Bundle

Verbal Reasoning exercises for the Gloucestershire 11 plus

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section of the Gloucestershire 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

Verbal Reasoning exercises for the Gloucestershire 11 plus

The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Gloucestershire Test, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day:

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11+ Mathematics Bundle

Mathematics exercises for the Gloucestershire 11 plus

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Maths section of the Gloucestershire 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

Mathematics exercises for the Gloucestershire 11 plus

The following Non-Verbal (NVR) and Spatial Reasoning (SR) resources will provide your child with focused preparation for the Gloucestershire 11+ exam:

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11+ Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning Bundle

Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning practice for Gloucestershire 11+ exams

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning section of the Gloucestershire 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning practice for Gloucestershire 11+ exams


If you don’t buy a Bundle, don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250.

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools: Results & Leavers’ Destinations

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools – Progress 8 Scores

Progress 8 is a metric used to evaluate the advancement of students from (the end of) Key Stage 2 in primary school to (the end of) Key Stage 4 in secondary school. It gauges the contribution that schools make to their students’ education by assessing their academic progress.

The Progress 8 score is calculated by comparing students’ actual achievements in eight core subjects (including English, mathematics, sciences, humanities and languages) with their expected achievements, which are based on their prior performance at the end of primary school. The score reflects the average progress students make across these subjects.


📊 Please refer to the chart below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Gloucestershire:

Progress 8 Scores in Gloucestershire

Source: Gov.uk




A positive Progress 8 score indicates that students, on average, have made more progress than expected, while a negative score suggests that they have made less progress than expected. A score of zero means that students have progressed as expected.

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools – Leavers’ Destinations

Leavers’ destinations here refer to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at Gloucestershire grammar schools. 

Russell Group universities are highly sought-after educational institutions across the country, recognised for their exceptional performance across various benchmark indicators. These universities consistently excel in research output, boasting world-leading scholars and cutting-edge discoveries. Their academic reputation is stellar, attracting talented students from around the globe.

The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are members of the distinguished Russell Group. They are two of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, with a long history of academic excellence supported by rigorous academic programmes and distinguished faculty.


📊 The chart below shows the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Gloucestershire:

best performing grammar schools in Gloucestershire

Source: Gov.uk


Frequently Asked Questions About The 11 Plus (11+) Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium

Yes, Gloucestershire has seven selective grammar schools. Click here to access the articles we have for each of these schools, addressing their history and ethos, as well as all the details about their 11+ entry procedure.

The registration deadline for the 11+ exam in Gloucestershire is in June of the year preceding entry. The closing date for submitting Common Application Forms is in October.

Grammar schools in the Gloucestershire Consortium hold their 11+ exam in September.

The test consists of two multiple-choice papers covering:

 

– English Comprehension, Vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning

– Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning).

 

Each session takes around an hour to complete.

The qualifying standardised score ranges from year to year. If there are more pupils with qualifying scores than there are places available, pupils’ results will be valued in descending order and places will be allocated accordingly. Pupils who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ GL-style practice tests should be on track to pass the Gloucestershire 11+ test.

Grammar schools in Gloucestershire use GL Assessment as their exam provider.



The information provided about the Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium.

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