Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 11+
Sopers Lane, Poole, BH17 7EP
A selective girls grammar school in Poole, Dorset, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,248 pupils on roll.
Parkstone Grammar School
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At a glance
Parkstone Grammar School is an 11-18 selective girls' grammar school in Poole, founded in 1905 and now educating about 1,248 pupils. The school describes itself as heavily oversubscribed, warm, friendly and vibrant, with a six-form entry structure and a sizeable sixth form. Its values are concise - courage, commitment and compassion - and the official curriculum page links those values to high academic expectations and a broad, balanced education.
The school's single-sex selective environment is presented as purposeful but supportive. Parkstone's curriculum covers the full 11-18 journey, with independence, intellectual curiosity and a love of learning named as central aims. Co-curricular life is a major part of the offer: music, theatre, sport, speaking, charitable activity, STEM, clubs, societies, trips and student leadership all appear in school-published material.
Parkstone's sixth form is strengthened by collaboration with Poole Grammar School, allowing a broad A level menu. The sixth-form pages describe around 30 subject choices, EPQ and curriculum enhancement options, personal enrichment, super-curricular sessions, wellbeing work and access to a dedicated sixth-form teaching block, resource centre, computers, study spaces, cafe, library and ICT suites.
Year 7 entry has 192 places and is by entrance test, with the school welcoming applications from inside and outside the local authority area. The checked admissions material records GL Assessment verbal reasoning, mathematics and English papers, with age-standardised scores and oversubscription criteria including looked-after status, Pupil Premium and distance. Published measures include Ofsted Outstanding, +0.43 Progress 8, 97.8% grade 5+ in English and maths and 26.4% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,248 pupils; 1,242 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 72.4% | White | 903 |
| Indian | 6.6% | Asian | 82 |
| Any other White background | 6% | White | 75 |
| White and Asian | 3.8% | Mixed | 48 |
| Any other mixed background | 2.6% | Mixed | 32 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.9% | Asian | 24 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.6% | Asian | 20 |
| Chinese | 1.5% | Asian | 19 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.8% | Other | 10 |
| African | 0.7% | Black | 9 |
| White and Black African | 0.6% | Mixed | 8 |
| Unclassified | 0.5% | Unclassified | 6 |
| Pakistani | 0.4% | Asian | 5 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.3% | Mixed | 4 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 2 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.1% | White | 1 |
Priority is given to eligible girls living in the priority area, defined by the historic Borough of Poole and listed Poole postcodes. Tie-break distance is measured by the shortest safe and practicable walking route.
EHCP naming the school
Candidates with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted before oversubscription criteria are applied, provided the required standard is met.
Looked-after and previously looked-after girls
Eligible looked-after and previously looked-after candidates who reach the required standard receive priority.
Priority-area Pupil Premium
Eligible girls living in the priority area and in receipt of Pupil Premium are considered before other eligible priority-area applicants.
Priority-area applicants
Eligible girls living in the priority area are considered before eligible applicants outside the priority area.
Out-of-area Pupil Premium
Eligible girls outside the priority area and in receipt of Pupil Premium are considered before other eligible out-of-area applicants.
Other eligible applicants
Remaining eligible girls are considered after the priority-area and Pupil Premium categories, with walking-route distance used where a tie-break is needed.
The entrance test uses GL Assessment verbal reasoning, mathematics and English papers. Scores are age-standardised and no writing task paper is listed.
Shared exam route
Parkstone Grammar School uses the shared Dorset 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 Dorset practice papersPaper 1
Maths
Mathematics test
GL Assessment mathematics paper lasting 50 minutes.
Paper 2
English
English test
GL Assessment English paper lasting 45 minutes.
Paper 3
Verbal reasoning
Verbal reasoning test
GL Assessment verbal reasoning paper lasting 50 minutes.
English, Maths and Verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
GL Assessment verbal reasoning paper lasting 50 minutes.
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Registration opens
13 April 2026
PastRegistration closes
4 September 2026
Deadline is 12 noon.
Access-arrangements deadline
7 September 2026
Deadline is 12 noon.
Entrance test
26 September 2026
Catch-up test
2 October 2026
Entrance-test results
16 October 2026
Results are due by 4pm.
Common Application Form deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Register for the entrance test
Complete online registration between 13 April 2026 and 12 noon on 4 September 2026.
AdmissionsRequest access arrangements if needed
Submit access-arrangements applications and evidence by 12 noon on 7 September 2026.
Date sheetSit the entrance test
The entrance test is scheduled for 26 September 2026, with a catch-up test on 2 October 2026 where applicable.
Student guideCheck results before naming schools
Results are due by email on 16 October 2026 by 4pm.
FAQSubmit the Common Application Form
Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 31 October 2026.
AdmissionsLatest 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 | 69.5 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 67.8 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 68.5 | 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 (42.9 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B average (40.4 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (41.5 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (41.8 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 | 98% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 98% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 18 April 2024
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area and similar girls' selective route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions 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 Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
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.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Parkstone Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Register for the entrance test: Complete online registration between 13 April 2026 and 12 noon on 4 September 2026. 2. Request access arrangements if needed: Submit access-arrangements applications and evidence by 12 noon on 7 September 2026. 3. Sit the entrance test: The entrance test is scheduled for 26 September 2026, with a catch-up test on 2 October 2026 where applicable. 4. Check results before naming schools: Results are due by email on 16 October 2026 by 4pm. 5. Submit the Common Application Form: Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 31 October 2026.
Registration opens: 13 April 2026. Registration closes: 4 September 2026. Access-arrangements deadline: 7 September 2026. Entrance test: 26 September 2026. Catch-up test: 2 October 2026. Entrance-test results: 16 October 2026. Common Application Form deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Parkstone Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 18 April 2024.