Dorset (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Dorset, a picturesque county in the South West of England, boasts four esteemed grammar schools. Part of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Consortium, these institutions have garnered significant respect and admiration from local parents, largely due to their consistent commitment to academic excellence. Beyond just providing quality education, these schools foster a nurturing environment that emphasises intellectual growth and holistic development.
Complete list of grammar schools in the Dorset BCP Consortium
⦿ Bournemouth School for Girls
Students from these schools regularly achieve impressive exam outcomes, paving the way for advanced educational opportunities and a wide range of prospective careers.
⬇️ Read on to learn more about these schools’ exam and admissions processes.
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
The 11+ Exam at these grammar schools evaluates students’ linguistic abilities, problem-solving skills and logical thinking, showcasing the high educational standards the schools maintain.
Their comprehensive admissions processes are crafted to guarantee that each selected student aligns well with the schools’ offerings. Further information about their admissions criteria can be found below:
Registration closing date: September
Common Application Form (CAF) closing date: October
Exam date: September
Exam board type: GL Assessment
Pass mark: Aim for 80%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: BCP Council, 01202 123 222
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (Dorset) Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
All Year 7 places at grammar schools in the BCP Consortium are determined by pupil performance in the 11 Plus Exam. Before applying for a place, parents and prospective pupils should attend their preferred school’s open event, typically held in July. At these events, you will have the opportunity to meet members of staff and current pupils and acquire more information about the admissions process.
How to Register for the Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
Parents who wish to register their child to sit the Dorset 11+ Entrance Test must register with one of the four schools before the September deadline. Registration forms can be completed online via each school’s website:
⦿ Bournemouth School for Girls
As all four grammar schools in Dorset share the same Eleven Plus (11+) Test, children only need to sit one test and results will be shared with the other schools.
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (Dorset) Grammar Schools’ 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The 11 Plus Exam for Dorset grammar schools consists of three multiple-choice tests that cover:
⦿ 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.
⦿ Verbal Reasoning
The paper assesses the ability to understand and process language, evaluate textual information and draw logical conclusions from written passages.
Each test paper contains questions suitable for pupils in their last year of the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum and lasts around 50 minutes. You will be notified of the results in October. If the admissions procedure is a success, your child will be allocated a place in March.
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (Dorset) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Grammars in Dorset don’t have a specific pass mark. Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ Practice Tests should be on track to pass the 11+ Test in Dorset.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Dorset 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 Dorset Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
For pupils currently preparing for the Dorset Entrance Exam, we highly recommend the following resources, all of which are suitable for those taking the 11+ Exam set by GL Assessment. These papers cover every element and question type that you can expect to come up in the Dorset Grammar Schools’ 11 Plus Exam.
Full Practice Tests
The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the Dorset 11+ Exam. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:
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English
The following resources provide full preparation for the English section of the Dorset 11+ Exam, maximising your child’s skills in this subject area:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
Masterclasses
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Mathematics
The following resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Dorset 11+ Exam, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for assessment day:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Masterclasses
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Verbal Reasoning
To help your child master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Dorset 11+ Exam, we recommend the following resources:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
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11+ Dorset Verbal Reasoning Bundle
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Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (Dorset) 11+ Consortium: Results & Leavers’ Destinations
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (Dorset) – Progress 8 Scores
Progress 8 scores serve as a measure to track students’ academic development from the end of Key Stage 2 in primary school to the end of Key Stage 4 in secondary school. This metric offers insight into a school’s educational impact by monitoring the academic advancement of its students.
To calculate the Progress 8 score, students’ actual outcomes in eight core subjects (including English, mathematics, sciences, humanities and languages) are contrasted with their anticipated outcomes, predicted on the basis of their prior academic achievements in primary school. This score represents the cohort’s progress relative to other schools across these disciplines.
đź“Š Please refer to the chart below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole:
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.
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (Dorset) – Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refers to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at grammar schools in Dorset.
Russell Group universities are globally recognised for their notable achievements. They are renowned for pioneering research projects and revolutionary breakthroughs.
Prominent members of the Russell Group, such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, hold a distinguished standing in the international arena. With an impressive history of academic distinction, their forward-looking academic courses, delivered by esteemed faculties, further solidify their prestigious reputations around the globe.
đź“Š The chart below shows the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole:
Source: Gov.uk
As the chart above shows, a significant number of students from the Dorset grammar schools are offered places at top universities in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Grammar Schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Dorset
How many grammar schools operate in Dorset?
There are currently four grammar schools in the region of Dorset, with two based in Bournemouth and two in Poole. Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School and Poole Grammar School all use the same 11+ Exam. Click here to access our articles for these schools and learn more about their educational philosophies.
Which are the best grammar schools in Dorset?
The four grammar schools in Dorset consistently produce strong examination results and top-performing students, who often advance to prestigious universities. Click here to view Dorset’s Progress 8 scores, leavers’ destinations and schools with the highest Oxbridge acceptance rates.
What’s the 11+ registration process like in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole?
In the first instance, you should register your child for the 11+ Test by the September deadline using the registration form that’s available on the relevant grammar school website. By the October closing date, you should register your child for a grammar school place using a CAF form, on which you should indicate your child’s preferred schools.
What’s the format of the Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole 11+ Exam?
The exam is produced by GL Assessment and covers three broad subject areas: English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. Each paper lasts around 50 minutes.
The information provided about the Dorset (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) grammar schools 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.
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