New to the 11+?
All parents and carers are welcome to come along to any of our free Parent/Carer Information Evenings. The online meetings aim to support you with learning more about the test, how the grammar school process works and trips and tricks on how you can help your child. They usually take place roughly every six weeks.
Grammar Schools in Gloucestershire
There are seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire. There is no set "pass mark" for the 11+ test and places are awarded based on the school's admission criteria and overall rankings. Each school has their own admissions criteria and we recommend visiting the school's website and attending open days to find out more information about this. GL test results are also adjusted by age to ensure that younger children are not disadvantaged.
Pates Grammar School
Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham GL51 0HG
Type: Mixed Grammar School
(Mixed 6th Form)
Denmark Road High School
Denmark Road, Gloucester GL1 3JN
Type: Girls Grammar School
(Mixed 6th Form)
Marling School
Cainscross Road, Stroud GL5 4HE
Type: Boys Grammar School
(Mixed 6th Form)
The Crypt School
Podsmead, Gloucester GL2 5AE
Type: Mixed Grammar School
(Mixed 6th Form)
Stroud High School
Beards Lane, Cainscross Road, Stroud GL5 4HF
Type: Girls Grammar School
(Mixed 6th Form)
Ribston Hall High School
Stroud Road, Gloucester GL1 5LE
Type: Girls Grammar School
(Mixed 6th Form)
Sir Thomas Rich's School
Oakleaze, Gloucester GL2 0LF
Type: Boys Grammar School
(Mixed 6th Form)
Applying for Grammar School
Applying for a grammar school in Gloucestershire is a two-stage process. You first register to take the 11+ test and then, after the results are released, apply for your preferred schools in Gloucestershire. It is essential that you send all the information by the relevant deadlines to make the process as stress free as possible.
Registering to Sit the Grammar School Entrance Test (Your Child will be in Year 5)
If there is any chance at all that you would like your child to go to grammar school in Gloucestershire, you must register them to sit the test. This ensures they will be able to take the 11+ in September with all other children that want to be considered. You can go to the website of any of the Gloucestershire grammar schools to complete the form, either online or in paper format. You do not need to live in Gloucestershire to do this.
Registration for the test is online and usually opens at the start of May and closes at the end of June.
Taking the Test and Results Day (Your Child will be in Year 6)
You will receive a letter explaining how to apply for school places in the September your child starts Year 6. They will also sit the 11+ entrance test (generally mid September). The results from the entrance test are generally released around three weeks after the test on a Friday. The test results will come directly from the school where your child sat the test.
Completing the Common Application Form
If you submitted the grammar school entrance test on time you will have the test results from the grammar schools before you fill out the Common Application Form (CAF). The deadline for completing this is by the end of October. We run a parent/carer information evening on how to complete the Common Application Form so if you have any questions about the above, keep an eye out on results day.
Allocation Day
Allocation Day is usually on 1st March (unless it falls on a weekend) and is the day when you hear which school your child has been allocated. If it is the school you had put first on your preference list you just need to accept this place, reject the others and make sure you do this by the deadline, which is generally only a week later.
Your final(ish) school place will be given to you at the end of March after some movement of students between schools based on the responses to Allocation Day. You may have been allocated a comprehensive school and chosen to go on the waiting list for a grammar school. It is possible some children will be removed from the grammar school list as they could move out of the area or choose another school and in this case, you could lose your comprehensive place but be offered your preferred grammar school.
Even if you still have not been allocated your first-choice school you can remain on the waiting list throughout the summer right up until school starts in September. We know of someone who gave up hoping for a grammar school place and bought uniform for their allocated comprehensive school. They were very pleased to later be allocated their grammar school place but were left with a set of school uniform to try and dispose of!
May - June (Year 5) | Online registration window to register your child for the 11+ exam. |
September (Year 6) | Letters go out explaining how to apply for secondary schools. Entrance Test is sat (usually mid-September) |
October (Year 6) | Results and Common Application Form |
March (Year 6) | National Allocation Day. Confirm acceptance of school place or apply for waiting list. Outcomes of waiting list applications are sent by the end of the month. |
May - July (Year 6) | Appeals. |
The 11+ test is an exam that some schools require children to take in order to gain admission to the school. Each county has its own version of the 11+ Test and uses different test publishers. As of 2023, Gloucestershire uses exams published by GL. You may see this referred to as “GL Style” or the “GL 11+ Test”. Although some publishers use similar content, it’s important to use practice papers and books that relate to GL exam in Gloucestershire.
Children are tested in the following areas. Click to find out more about each area.
The exam includes two test papers containing a mixture of questions, one of verbal reasoning and comprehension and the other on non-verbal reasoning and maths. Each paper is approximately 50 minutes long and is divided into sections, each of which is timed. Instructions in the actual test will be given on an audio soundtrack. Some mock test providers don’t use a soundtrack so if you want the most realistic experience, check that the company uses one (we do!).
Questions are presented as multiple choice. Your child will have a question book and answers are written on a separate answer sheet. Answers are noted by clearly marking the corresponding box to the answer your child wants to give. The test papers are marked by a machine so if the answer isn’t clear, your child won’t get a mark for that question.
Most of the knowledge tested is taught in the national curriculum, however some aspects (such as non-verbal and verbal reasoning) may look different to what your child may have seen before.
How can you tell whether your child will be accepted into grammar school?
The short and flippant answer is that you can't! The more helpful answer is that with a little effort you can get a broad idea on whether there is a reasonable chance of acceptance.
Some parents make the decision that the best way of applying for grammar school is not to do any particular preparation. They fear that if the children are pushed too hard to pass, they might then struggle at grammar school because their test result did not truly reflect their ability. Whilst I have some sympathy with this argument, I would argue that by being completely unprepared on what to expect they will not be playing on a level playing field and are likely to perform below their 'natural ability'.
Do-It-Yourself or Tutoring?
Families are all different, with varying commitments and living in environments which may or may not be conducive to productive learning. The decision of whether to work with your own child, or rely upon a tutor to teach and guide, should be assessed with your particular circumstances in mind.
Some of the reasons that many people choose to pay for tuition include busy schedules, noise from siblings, feelings of being unqualified to offer the help required, potential friction arising between parent and child in regard to academic work, and learning that ‘everyone else’ has a tutor. Being able to objectively judge your own child’s academic level and progress can be particularly challenging.
Reasons to ‘do it yourself ‘ are equally valid; often you can save over £1000 by going it alone – a parent knows their child’s strengths and weaknesses best, some tutors know little more than parents about the test, and the child may feel less anxiety when not a lot of money is being spent on a tutor. An aspect often overlooked is that by taking the ‘Do it Yourself’ route, parents can spend valuable time with their children that might otherwise be swallowed up in the everyday minutiae of busy lives.
Choosing Resources
When buying any 11+ specific resources always be sure that they clearly state they are intended for the GL 11+ exam. There are many publications on the market, and we recommend that you buy them incrementally as needed. Publishers are constantly changing titles and designs of their materials, and a visit either to a local bookstore or online can be baffling. You can find out more about our recommended resources below.
Taking the Test
You may have spent many months preparing your child (and yourself!) for the 11+ test, but it’s also good to prepare for the whole test day from the time you wake up to the time they walk out of the test school. Even then the day is not over as you may need to deal with their reaction to the test. Being prepared for the day means you can minimise the stress and make it as positive as possible.
Tiredness may be a fear your child has, particularly as the worry of taking the test might make them find it difficult to sleep the night before. If you make sure your child has good nights’ sleep over the week before the test, and they struggle to sleep the night before, you can assure them that they are reasonably well rested. They are likely to be reasonably alert in the morning and fatigue may not catch up with them until after the test.
Exam Technique for your Child
It’s useful to have a quick refresher just before the test to remember the basics of how to maximise your marks by using a few simple techniques.
Leave no answer blank on multiple choice questions. Firstly, try to eliminate wrong answers, and then pick from those you believe most likely. If you feel you haven’t got a clue, pick one letter (lots of people choose ‘C’) and use it consistently for unknown questions.
Circle all the answers you are unsure of or have guessed completely. You may have the opportunity to revisit them when you have completed others. You can put a line through this circle if you suspect that amongst other circled questions, you believe it to be especially difficult, and least likely to be successfully worked out.
Keep working until the last second.
Be certain to only give one answer for each question unless otherwise stated, and to mark the answer sheet exactly as required
For any corrections rub out previous answers completely and then fill in the new one. Remember that a computer will mark this exam and will mark anything wrong that it detects with multiple answers for one question where there should be just one.
Be realistic regarding which sums/spellings to do mentally and which need a pencil a paper
If your last five answers have been ‘A’, and you believe your next answer is also ‘A’, do not be influenced by your previous answers. Go ahead and put A; do not change the others either.
Use your finger to check the place that you are writing an answer and be sure not to accidentally miss an answer box.
Do not spend long on any question. Short easy questions score just as many points as more difficult ones.
Use either the scrap paper or booklet space provided, effectively.
It is not unlikely that there will be some disturbance during your exam. Perhaps someone can’t stop coughing, scrape their chair regularly, may whisper, or are sick. We have even heard rumours of someone snoring! Whoever is making this noise could be your friend. You must try to ignore all distractions and set aside your feelings. If the distraction is too much, the adult (invigilator), will probably notice it too and make arrangements, if not, you may raise your hand and tell them. For any less serious distraction, where you can keep working but it is an annoyance, you may mention it to this adult at the end of the section or test (whichever is appropriate).
Always remind yourself that you are competing against other candidates, not against the test paper. However easy or difficult you find it, others will find it easy or difficult too. Just do the best that you can do.
Test Day Advice for Children
You are likely to be nervous, and although this doesn’t feel nice, it is just your body preparing you to be ready; and is likely to subside once the testing starts.
Eat a sensible breakfast, not substantially different from what you would normally have
Wear layers of clothes in order to be prepared whatever the temperature in the test room.
Never Give Up! This test is designed to be difficult. It is a chance for you to show what you can do.
Make sure to:
Go to the loo before the exam and during the break. You will not be given extra time at the end of the test to complete parts missed because you had to go!
Use all of the exam techniques that you have learnt.
During the break, do not be influenced by what others might say about what they thought of Paper 1
Know that this is just one of many opportunities that you will have in life, and that acceptance or not into a grammar school is not an indication of how successful you will be in life.
Test Day Advice for Parents!
Ensure that you bring all the necessary paper work for the exam. The exact requirements will be stipulated closer to the test but are likely to include a candidate number and colour (you will have been sent these) and photo ID.
Pack a snack with a drink that is not too large
Perhaps suggest a banana on the journey to the test centre
Check the route to the centre and parking before hand
Arrive in plenty of time
Discourage your child from bringing a mascot or charm - imagine if it went missing!
Reassure your child and offer them a show of confidence. Let your child know how proud you are of them; they have already achieved, and all their hard work will give them a great start to Year 6!
After the exam show your appreciation of the fact that your child will have worked extremely hard all morning. They are likely to be quite tired, but most will appreciate doing something that they really enjoy in the afternoon.
Try not to bombard your child with questions are the test. What is done is done. The only question that could be of consequence now, is whether there were any disturbances or any other reason that they may not have been able to perform to the best of their ability. If anything has arisen, now would be the time to mention it to the school.
Helpful Links:
YoungMinds has a page around exam stress. It is aimed at older students but there may be some information you can use to help your child
There are lots of helpful apps that can help with nerves, worry or anxiety. Take a look at Finch, Think Ninja and Clear Fear. Let us know if you have other favourite ones! Remember to check all apps before you download them onto any devices that your child owns to ensure the ages and materials are appropriate for your child.
Appeals
An appeal is a way of gaining a place at your preferred school by indicating that this is a more suitable or appropriate school than the one you have been allocated. You would generally only appeal if you are dissatisfied with the school that you have been allocated by the County Council.
The appeals process is structured in a particular way and it is important you follow the due process for appealing against your school allocation in order for it to have any chance of succeeding. It is not enough to say you are not happy with the school you have been given, there has to be a stronger argument to support your case.
Starting a new school
Regardless of whether your child got into their preferred school, took the test, or didn’t in the end, secondary school transition can be both a difficult and exciting time! It is very normal that they (or yourself!) may be feeling a mixture of emotions about leaving their primary school and friends to go to a new school. Secondary schools can feel a bit scary – and there are lots of myths around them!
There is lots of support for managing the transition. Often, secondary school teachers will visit pupils in their primary schools and they may also have a visit before the end of year 6. The first few weeks in September are usually around helping new Year 7s learn their way around school and who their new teachers are. Ask your primary schools what they do in Year 6 to help pupils transition.
There are also lots of useful online resources to help:
Whether you came to all of our events, some of our events or you’re visiting us for the first time, we hope that your child has an enjoyable start to secondary school. Good luck!