A selective co-educational grammar school in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,093 pupils on roll.
The Crypt School
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At a glance
The Crypt School is one of Gloucester's oldest educational names, now a co-educational selective grammar for ages 11 to 18 on Podsmead Road. The school's own language is built around pupils flourishing, underpinned by the values of integrity, kindness, pride, respect and responsibility.
Academically, The Crypt combines a traditional grammar curriculum with a strong sixth-form identity. Students join Year 12 from The Crypt and from other local schools, with published entry requirements, specialist subject teaching, personal tutoring and careers guidance. Ofsted judged the school Outstanding in March 2024, including its sixth-form provision.
Life beyond lessons is busy and varied: chess, drama, Duke of Edinburgh, sport, music, clubs and societies all appear in the school's own materials. The result is a Gloucester grammar that presents itself as scholarly, but also interested in character, confidence and service.
For Year 7, The Crypt publishes 155 places. Applicants sit the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test, made up of two papers taken on the same day and marked independently. Children must reach the qualifying standard before oversubscription criteria are applied, with priority for looked-after children, pupil-premium candidates, qualifying staff children and then other qualifying candidates by test rank.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Gloucestershire and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Gloucestershire and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Gloucestershire and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,093 pupils; 1,084 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 57.1% | White | 624 |
| Indian | 11.6% | Asian | 127 |
| Any other White background | 8.8% | White | 96 |
| African | 5.4% | Black | 59 |
| Any other mixed background | 4% | Mixed | 44 |
| Any other Asian background | 3.1% | Asian | 34 |
| White and Asian | 2.4% | Mixed | 26 |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | Asian | 15 |
| Chinese | 1.3% | Asian | 14 |
| White and Black African | 1.1% | Mixed | 12 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.1% | Mixed | 12 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.9% | Other | 10 |
| Unclassified | 0.8% | Unclassified | 9 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.5% | Asian | 5 |
| Any other Black background | 0.3% | Black | 3 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
For 2027 entry, there are 155 Year 7 places. Applicants must reach the qualifying standard in the Grammar School Test, but meeting that standard does not guarantee an offer.
There is no fixed catchment area for 2027 entry. Most places are offered in test rank order once applicants meet the qualifying standard, with distance used within the looked-after, pupil-premium, and staff categories and as a tie-break when scores are tied.
Looked after and previously looked after children who meet the qualifying standard
Priority is given to looked after and previously looked after children who have met the qualifying standard.
Pupil premium candidates who meet the qualifying standard
Applicants in receipt of pupil premium are next in priority once they have met the qualifying standard.
Children of qualifying school staff
Applicants who meet the qualifying standard and have a parent employed by the school for at least two years, or recruited to a demonstrable skills-shortage post, are next in priority.
All other qualifying candidates by test rank
Remaining applicants who meet the qualifying standard are ranked by Grammar School Test score, with distance used as the tie-break if scores are tied.
The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test has two papers of about 45 to 50 minutes each, sat on the same day with a short break. Answer sheets are electronically marked by an independent company appointed by the Gloucestershire grammar schools.
Shared exam route
Crypt School uses the shared Gloucestershire route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Gloucestershire practice papersPaper 1
English, Verbal reasoning
Paper 1
Verbal skills paper covering comprehension, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Non-verbal reasoning, Maths
Paper 2
Non-verbal reasoning and mathematics paper.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Verbal skills paper covering comprehension, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning and mathematics paper.
Science
Grammar School Test registration opens
Monday 18 May 2026 at noon
PastGrammar School Test registration closes
Friday 26 June 2026 at noon
Grammar School Test
Saturday 12 September 2026
Test results emailed
Mid October 2026
The school gives a mid-October results window rather than an exact date.
Common Application Form deadline
Saturday 31 October 2026
National Offer Day
Monday 1 March 2027
Appeals process opens
From April 2027
The school gives an April 2027 appeals window rather than an exact date.
Read the 2027 admissions policy
Check the determined 2027 policy for the qualifying standard, oversubscription order, and appeal arrangements.
Open 2027 entryRegister for the Grammar School Test
Complete the online registration form between noon on Monday 18 May 2026 and noon on Friday 26 June 2026.
Register and check datesSit the Grammar School Test
The test takes place on Saturday 12 September 2026.
Check test day detailsSubmit your local authority school application
List The Crypt School on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026.
Review the admissions routeLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 71.3 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 70.3 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 71.1 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 72.7 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B average (40.2 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B average (40.8 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (38.9 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (40.2 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 98% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 96% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 3% |
Latest inspection: 13 March 2024
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Gloucestershire area and similar co-ed selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Grammar Schools in Gloucestershire
Compare 7 Gloucestershire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Gloucestershire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
Explore grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the UK and narrow them by GCSE strength, county, and school type before comparing schools by route and journey.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Crypt School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Check the determined 2027 policy for the qualifying standard, oversubscription order, and appeal arrangements. 2. Register for the Grammar School Test: Complete the online registration form between noon on Monday 18 May 2026 and noon on Friday 26 June 2026. 3. Sit the Grammar School Test: The test takes place on Saturday 12 September 2026. 4. Submit your local authority school application: List The Crypt School on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026.
Grammar School Test registration opens: Monday 18 May 2026 at noon. Grammar School Test registration closes: Friday 26 June 2026 at noon. Grammar School Test: Saturday 12 September 2026. Test results emailed: Mid October 2026. Common Application Form deadline: Saturday 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: Monday 1 March 2027. Appeals process opens: From April 2027
Crypt School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 13 March 2024.