UK Rank #67 In-site school
Bournemouth School
Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
Consortium guide
Dorset 11 Plus
The Dorset 11 Plus route covers the Bournemouth and Poole grammar schools using shared GL-style selection papers. It brings together the test structure, participating schools, key dates and the admissions rules that still differ by school after the shared exam. The practical questions are which schools are covered, what the papers test, and how travel across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole changes the final school list.
4 schools GL Assessment 12 downloads
6 key dates
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Dorset route is a compact Bournemouth and Poole grammar-school route rather than a sprawling county system. The main schools in scope are Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School and Poole Grammar School. The shared route matters because families often look at the four schools together, but the actual decision is usually shaped by school type, travel around the BCP area and the admissions policy of the individual school.
The test is a GL-style selection route with English, maths and reasoning content. Compared with routes that use a single broad paper label, Dorset is easier to understand when the papers are treated as separate parts of the same assessment: curriculum knowledge, reading and language confidence, and the reasoning skills that selective tests use to compare a large group of applicants.
The part that is less obvious from the route name is the geography. Bournemouth and Poole can look close on a regional map, but the daily school journey may feel very different once morning traffic, coast-side routes, bus options and after-school commitments are included. The grammar route keeps several schools in play academically, while the local map often decides which options remain realistic.
Dorset is also a route where the boys’ and girls’ schools make the school list feel clear quite quickly. The shared exam answers one question, but it does not answer whether Bournemouth, Poole or Parkstone is the right setting, how competitive a particular school is in that year, or how each school will apply its own admissions rules after results are known.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Dorset route.
UK Rank #90 In-site school
Bournemouth School for Girls
Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
UK Rank #116 In-site school
Parkstone Grammar School
Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
UK Rank #104 In-site school
Poole Grammar School
Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: Good Boys only
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Dorset 11 Plus includes multiple-choice papers in English, maths and verbal reasoning. These papers are designed to assess your child’s academic abilities and reasoning skills and compare their results to the cohort of applicants.
Paper structure
Paper 1: Mathematics (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: English (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 3: Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
This multiple choice paper, lasting 50 minutes, is designed to assess a pupil’s competency across a multitude of mathematics skills. The content is usually reflective of year 5 content which the applicant is expected to have learned prior to the test date.
The English paper is 45 minutes long and assesses language skills in a multiple choice format. Questions vary in their content and test reading comprehension and English language understanding.
The verbal reasoning paper lasts 50 minutes and is also multiple choice. Covering areas such as vocabulary, verbal analogies and logical reasoning, the test aims to assess critical and logical thinking as well as just English skills.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
There is no fixed Dorset 11 Plus pass mark but scores are age-standardised and then compared to select a set proportion of students. Typically, a score of 120 or more is a very strong score which puts a student in around the top 10% of their cohort. This would put them into contention for a place at one of the schools. The standardisation process is done by a separate agency to the school and is used to offset any potential age-based advantage some students will have over others.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for the Dorset 11 Plus, complete the online application on the school’s website. This is required whether you live in Dorset or are applying from outside the area.
Key dates
Registration opens
Tuesday 22nd April 2025
Registration closes
Friday 5th September 2025
Test date
Saturday 20th September 2025
Results
October 2025
Secondary school application deadline
Friday 31st October 2025
National allocation day: March
March 2nd 2025
Application steps
Register online with the school
Visit the website of the school you wish to sit the test at during the registration window and complete the Dorset 11 Plus application form. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend. The school in which they sit the test has no bearing on which school they want to apply to.
Test centre for non-Dorset schools
You will be assigned a test centre where your child can sit the Dorset 11 Plus in September if they do not attend a Dorset primary school.
Keep your confirmation email
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email which you should keep to refer to it later.
05 / Resources
Practice papers and familiarisation materials
These local PDF copies are useful for format practice and timing; dates, paper formats, and registration details can change, so the current admissions page remains the source to trust.
Maths
English
Verbal Reasoning
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
Mark schemeVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 2
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 3
PaperVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Skills Paper
Mark schemeVerbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Verbal Skills Paper
06 / Linked schools
Schools on this route
These are the schools currently mapped to the Dorset route in Grammar School Hub.
Search workspace
Search and filter schools
Search by school or area, then narrow the shortlist by school type, Ofsted, or test pattern where it helps.
Compare up to 4 schools
4 schools
No schools selected to compare yet.
UK Rank #67
Bournemouth School
Bournemouth / Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: OutstandingBoys only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- 1.9 candidates/place
- Attainment 8
- 74.2
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 98.9%
UK Rank #90
Bournemouth School for Girls
Bournemouth / Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: OutstandingGirls only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- 1.9 candidates/place
- Attainment 8
- 72.2
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 98.9%
UK Rank #104
Poole Grammar School
Poole / Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: GoodBoys only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 70.2
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 98.3%
UK Rank #116
Parkstone Grammar School
Poole / Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Ofsted: OutstandingGirls only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- Moderate
- Attainment 8
- 68.5
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 97.8%
07 / Shortlisting
Admissions points to compare school by school
Once the route itself is clear, treat the linked schools as separate choices. This is usually where travel, oversubscription rules, and school fit start to matter most.
Dorset is a route where the shortlist often sharpens quickly once you match the papers to the places. A school can look strong on paper and still be the wrong fit if the journey or local admissions position makes it a stretch every day.
Check these before you rank schools
- Whether your realistic route is Bournemouth, Poole, or a wider BCP commute
- How the three-paper format affects preparation pace and confidence
- Which schools feel right once you compare school culture, travel, and daily routine together
- How local admissions rules shape the final order after test results arrive
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation can make a significant difference. Some tips to help your child succeed include:
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5.
Use Practice Papers
Practice Dorset-test-style 11 Plus papers in simulated test conditions.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track your child’s progress and focus on areas that need improvement.
Encourage Daily Reading
Help your child improve their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking.
Use Online Tools
Online practice platforms can provide feedback and improve learning efficiency.
Consistent, structured, and positive preparation will help your child feel confident and ready for the test day.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which Bournemouth and Poole schools sit on the Dorset route?
The Dorset page groups the Bournemouth and Poole grammar schools that families commonly compare: Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar and Poole Grammar.
Can one Dorset test result behave differently at Bournemouth and Poole schools?
Yes. The shared route reduces duplicate testing, but boys' and girls' schools, Bournemouth versus Poole travel, and each school's published admissions policy still shape the final choice.
Why does the Dorset route still come down to Bournemouth and Poole geography?
The shared Dorset route keeps Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar and Poole Grammar in the same conversation, but the final school list is usually shaped by the BCP journey, school type and each school's admissions rules.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Dorset?
The live process usually sits with the participating schools and local authority admissions processes. The official pages remain the source of truth for registration windows, test venues, access arrangements and final admissions instructions for the relevant year.