UK Rank #83 In-site school
The Crypt School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
Consortium guide
Gloucestershire 11 Plus
The Gloucestershire 11 Plus is the shared selective test route for grammar schools across Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud and nearby towns. It uses GL-style papers across English, maths and reasoning, but individual schools still set their own admissions policies and local competition can vary. The route explains which schools share the test, what the exam covers, when the key dates fall, and why daily travel can turn a county-wide list into a much smaller set of realistic options.
7 schools GL Assessment 17 downloads
7 key dates
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Gloucestershire 11 Plus route links a small but varied set of grammar schools across the county, including schools in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud. The shared route helps families understand the common testing picture, but the county itself does not behave like one single school market. A Cheltenham-focused list, a Gloucester-focused list and a Stroud-focused list can involve different journeys, different school types and different admissions pressures.
The test is a GL-style selective assessment, with reasoning and core academic skills used to compare pupils across the cohort. That shared paper is the starting point for the route. It gives the schools a common academic signal, but it does not make the schools identical after results are released. Each school still publishes and applies its own admissions policy.
Gloucestershire is also a route where school character matters because the list includes boys’ schools, girls’ schools and co-educational options. The Crypt, Pate’s, Sir Thomas Rich’s, Denmark Road, Ribston Hall, Marling and Stroud High do not answer the same family question just because they sit under the same selective route. Some families are deciding between Gloucester schools; others are weighing Stroud against Cheltenham, or asking whether a county-crossing journey is sensible every day.
The route overview is useful because it keeps those layers separate: the shared test, the grammar-school list, the local towns, and the admissions rules that still belong to individual schools. Gloucestershire is not hard to understand because the exam is especially obscure. It is hard because the county map can make the route look broader than a child’s real school day would be.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Gloucestershire route.
UK Rank #88 In-site school
Denmark Road High School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Good Girls only
UK Rank #74 In-site school
Marling School
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
UK Rank #11 In-site school
Pate's Grammar School
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
UK Rank #123 In-site school
Ribston Hall High School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Good Girls only
UK Rank #39 In-site school
Sir Thomas Rich's School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Good Boys only
UK Rank #41 In-site school
Stroud High School
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Gloucestershire 11 Plus includes multiple choice papers assessing competence in maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. They are designed to assess your child’s academic ability and reasoning skills, and compare their results against their cohort of applicants. At the beginning of each session there is time built in for the sharing of instructions and, for the non-verbal reasoning element, some worked examples. Students are allocated a total of 45 minutes to complete the tests themselves.
Paper structure
Paper 1: Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
In this paper, students will be tested on their verbal skills (including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning). The test lasts around an hour in total.
This paper assesses non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding. The test lasts around an hour in total.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
Your child’s score will be age-standardised to ensure no one has an unfair advantage due to their age. This score is then used to determine whether they qualify for a place. The qualifying standard for the Gloucestershire 11 Plus exam is not pre-determined but instead calculated after the test is taken and places are then allocated to students based on a school’s specific admissions criteria.
The qualifying standard is calculated based off a predetermined proportion of applicants getting places in the schools.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for the Gloucestershire 11 Plus exam, complete the online application on the council website. This is required whether you live in Gloucestershire or are applying from outside the area.
Key dates
Registration opens
19 May 2025
Registration closes
27 June 2025
Online application facility opens
3 September 2025
Grammar School Entrance Test Day
13 September 2025
Grammar School Test results sent out
Prior 31 October 2025
Closing date for applications
Midnight, 31 October 2025
National offer day
2nd March 2026
Application steps
Register online with Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium
– Complete the registration form during the registration window available from the school’s website. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend.
Test centre for non-Gloucestershire schools
You will be assigned a test centre where your child can sit the Gloucestershire 11 Plus in September if they do not attend a Gloucestershire 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
Non-Verbal Reasoning
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Practice Paper 1
Mark schemeNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Practice Paper 1
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Test Booklet
Mark schemeNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Test Booklet
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Booklet 1
Mark schemeNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Booklet 1
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Booklet 2
PaperNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Booklet 3
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 Gloucestershire 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.
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UK Rank #11
Pate's Grammar School
Cheltenham / Gloucestershire
Ofsted: OutstandingMixed
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 82.7
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 99.3%
UK Rank #39
Sir Thomas Rich's School
Gloucester / Gloucestershire
Ofsted: GoodBoys only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 77.2
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 99.4%
UK Rank #41
Stroud High School
Stroud / Gloucestershire
Ofsted: OutstandingGirls only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 76.9
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 99.4%
UK Rank #88
Denmark Road High School
Gloucester / Gloucestershire
Ofsted: GoodGirls only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- Moderate
- Attainment 8
- 72.9
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 97.4%
UK Rank #74
Marling School
Stroud / Gloucestershire
Ofsted: OutstandingBoys only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 73.9
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 100.0%
UK Rank #83
The Crypt School
Gloucester / Gloucestershire
Ofsted: OutstandingMixed
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- High
- Attainment 8
- 72.7
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 99.3%
UK Rank #123
Ribston Hall High School
Gloucester / Gloucestershire
Ofsted: GoodGirls only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Competition
- Moderate
- Attainment 8
- 67.7
- Grade 5+ Eng & maths
- 95.9%
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.
Gloucestershire rewards parents who narrow by place as soon as the test itself is understood. The shared paper keeps the entry point simple, but the realistic shortlist usually comes from deciding which part of the county and which style of school still make sense every day.
Check these before you rank schools
- Whether your shortlist is really centred on Cheltenham, Gloucester, or Stroud
- How far daily travel across the county would feel in Year 7, not just on occasional visits
- Single-sex and co-ed mixes across the route, and which environment suits your child
- How local admissions rules and competition differ once you move beyond the shared paper
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation for the Gloucestershire 11 Plus makes a huge difference. Here are some practical steps you can take to help them succeed:
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to give them ample time to confidently build the skills they need.
Use Practice Papers
Work through Gloucestershire 11 Plus style test papers in simulated test conditions. This helps your child get accustomed to the format and practices exam technique.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track your child’s progress to identify the areas and topics they find the most difficult to succeed in.
Encourage Daily Reading
Reading regularly strengthens their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which help out with the the English and reasoning papers.
Try Online Tools
Use online platforms that offer Gloucestershire 11 Plus test papers, specific practice questions and personal feedback to help make revision more engaging and effective.
Keeping preparation consistent, structured, and positive can help your child feel confident and ready for the test on the day.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which Gloucestershire schools are tied together by the shared route?
The route brings together the Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud grammar schools on this page, including boys', girls' and co-educational options. That shared test picture still leaves each school to apply its own admissions arrangements.
Can Gloucestershire qualification lead to different school outcomes?
Yes. A qualifying Gloucestershire result is only part of the route; school type, rank position, available places and whether Cheltenham, Gloucester or Stroud is realistic can all change the final outcome.
Why is Gloucestershire not one simple county-wide shortlist?
The test route is shared, but the schools sit across Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud and nearby towns, with boys', girls' and co-educational options. Local admissions policies and daily travel often narrow the route into a smaller town-based decision.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Gloucestershire?
The live process usually sits with the participating schools and Gloucestershire 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.