Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information
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Table of Contents
Introduction
In the southwest of England, the Devon region is home to high-achieving grammar schools. Several are based in Plymouth, a vibrant port city located on the south coast of the county. These schools are:
⦿ Plymouth High School for Girls
⦿ Devonport High School for Boys
⦿ Devonport High School for Girls
A peaceful village, Colyford is home to one of the top-performing schools in Devon. With its scenic landscapes and tight-knit community, the setting provides an ideal environment for academic excellence. This Colyford-based school is called:
Together, these schools maintain a legacy of scholarly distinction in the area. Their pupils regularly excel in examinations, building a strong academic foundation that expands students’ higher education opportunities and future career choices.
⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exams and admissions process.
You can learn about the schools based in Torbay and their admissions process by following this link.
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Devon (Plymouth & Colyford)
The 11+ exams at these grammar schools test students’ language skills, mathematical problem-solving and arithmetic abilities. The goal of the admissions process is to select students who will excel in the competitive environment the schools offer.
Overall, the selection procedure aims to make sure that the students who get in are able to meet the schools’ academic standards and have the potential to make the most out of their broad non-academic offerings. More information on their admission criteria is outlined below:
Registration closing date: September (Colyton Grammar) and August (Plymouth)
Common Application Form (CAF) closing date: October
Exam date: September
Exam board: Colyton Grammar uses FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) | The Plymouth girls’ schools use GL Assessment | DHSB uses GL Assessment and their own paper
Pass mark: Aim for 75-85%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: Devon LA, 0345 155 1019 | Plymouth LA, 01752 668000
Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Applications for Year 7 places at any of the Devon grammar schools are completed through the relevant school websites:
⦿ Devonport High School for Boys
⦿ Devonport High School for Girls
⦿ Plymouth High School for Girls
As part of the admissions process, all prospective Year 7 pupils must sit the 11+ exam in September before the year of entry.
Prior to applying for a place, you and your child are encouraged to attend Open Day/Open Evening at your preferred school/s. These events offer valuable insights into the schools’ educational approaches and give you an opportunity to gather more detailed information about the admissions process.
How to Register for the Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
The eleven plus journey in Devon also involves registering with your local authority, which is likely to be Devon County Council or Plymouth City Council. They have their preference forms available on the following pages:
The deadline for submitting the preference form is in October of the year preceding entry.
Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The 11+ exam at Colyton Grammar School is administered by Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE), and pupils are expected to demonstrate a proficiency in English and mathematics appropriate for Key Stage 2. All applicants who perform well in the English and mathematics tests will have their creative writing element assessed, which will help determine their ranking.
In Plymouth, the 11+ exam comprises two tests: English and mathematics, both of which are in a multiple-choice format.
⦿ English – The paper assesses comprehension, vocabulary and technical English skills.
⦿ Mathematics – The paper assesses problem-solving and arithmetic skills, with a focus on numerical reasoning and foundational mathematical concepts.
Devonport High School For Boys also administers a creative writing paper.
Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Colyton Grammar offers 155 places on the basis of an age-standardised score. If more than 155 pupils meet the required standard, places are allocated on the basis of their scores by rank order.
Grammars in Plymouth allocate places to the top-performing candidates as follows:
- at Devonport High School for Girls, the top 158 applicants will be admitted
- at Plymouth High School for Girls, the PAN is 120
- at Devonport High School for Boys, that number is 180
Pupils who are able to score 75-85%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass their 11+ test.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in their 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 Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) 11 Plus (11+) Exam
The following 11+ material is fully up to date, providing comprehensive preparation for the actual exams. Created by assessment experts, it includes specialised sections for mathematics and English, each developed to align closely with the relevant examination syllabus.
đź“š Colyton Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
đź“š Devonport High School for Boys 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
đź“š Devonport High School for Girls 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
đź“š Plymouth High School for Girls 11 Plus (11+) Practice Papers
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Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) Grammar Schools: Results & Leavers’ Destinations
Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) Grammar Schools: Progress 8 Scores
The Progress 8 score measures a student’s academic development from the end of primary education (Key Stage 2) to the conclusion of secondary education (Key Stage 4). This metric is used to evaluate how effective a school’s educational programme is in fostering academic improvement over time.
The score is calculated by comparing students’ actual performance in eight key subjects, such as English, mathematics, sciences, humanities and languages, against their predicted performance, based on prior academic achievement in primary school. This score then offers an insight into how well students are progressing academically compared to their peers in other schools.
đź“Š Please refer to the chart below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Devon (Plymouth & Colyford):
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.
Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) Grammar Schools: Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refers to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at grammar schools in Devon (Plymouth & Colyford).
Russell Group universities are globally recognised for their impactful work across multiple disciplines. These institutions are celebrated for pioneering research and transformative breakthroughs.
Its notable members, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, maintain a worldwide reputation for academic distinction. Their legacy of scholarly excellence, along with innovative courses taught by renowned faculties, contributes to their esteemed status internationally.
đź“Š The chart below shows the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Devon (Plymouth & Colyford):
Source: Gov.uk
As the chart above shows, a significant number of students from the Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) grammar schools are offered places at top universities in the UK.
NOTE: Plymouth High School for Girls recently converted to academy status and the data for student destinations is currently unavailable for this school.
Frequently Asked Questions About 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Grammar Schools in Devon (Plymouth & Colyford)
How many grammar schools operate in Devon?
Devon is one of the largest counties in England and is home to a number of distinguished grammar schools. In Plymouth, pupils attend Devonport High School for Boys, Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls. The picturesque village of Colyford is home to Colyton Grammar School, one of the county’s top-performing grammar schools. To learn about the schools based in Torbay, please visit this page.
When is the deadline for submitting a preference form in Devon?
The deadline for submitting a preference form to your local authority is in October.
How are the Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) 11+ exams scored?
For Plymouth, a standardised score is provided which takes into account the child’s age. For Colyton Grammar School and Devonport High School for Boys, there is also a creative writing paper. Pupils who are able to score 75-85%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) 11+ tests. Click here to learn more.
Is it possible to prepare for the Devon (Plymouth & Colyford) 11+ exams on your own?
Yes, many families choose to prepare on their own. Our company, Exam Papers Plus, provides top-notch, up-to-date resources to help your child prepare for every section of the competitive Devon (Plymouth and Colyford) exams. Click here to access our specific recommendations for each of the relevant grammar schools.
The information provided about the Devon (Plymouth and Colyford) grammar schools was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of possible future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.
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