Gloucestershire / Gloucestershire 11+
Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham, GL51 0HG
Pate's Grammar School
1
A selective co-educational grammar school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,288 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective co-educational grammar school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,288 pupils on roll. Families looking at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire will usually see Pate's Grammar School as a selective option for boys and girls aged 11-18, with sixth form continuing the academic journey on the same site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,288 pupils on roll and 150 Year 7 places.
For parents thinking about the 11+, the admissions picture is one of the clearest differentiators here. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
On current official measures, the school offers a clear academic profile for parents to weigh up. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Outstanding. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 1.01 and Attainment 8 at 83.7. 98.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 71.3% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 66% moving into higher education.
The wider offer currently includes Drama, Combined Cadet Force. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. Pate's Grammar School is likely to appeal most to families who want strong academic expectations but also need the practical details, culture, and selective route to line up sensibly.
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.
Allocation is hybrid: up to 15 disadvantaged priority places use listed local postcodes, local non-priority places use Gloucestershire or listed postcodes, and at least 45 places remain available UK-wide by score.
EHCP naming the school
Candidates with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted before the oversubscription criteria are applied.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Eligible looked-after, previously looked-after and internationally adopted previously looked-after children receive priority.
Up to 15 priority places
Priority places are available for eligible disadvantaged candidates living in the listed local postcodes who reach the policy's priority threshold.
Local non-priority places up to 105 total
Non-priority candidates living in Gloucestershire or the listed local postcodes are ranked by standardised score until the local-place total is reached.
At least 45 UK-wide places
At least 45 places are reserved for non-priority candidates from outside the local area, ranked by standardised score.
Tie-breaks
Distance is used as a tie-break, followed by random allocation if candidates remain tied.
The entrance test consists of two GL multiple-choice papers. Paper 1 focuses on verbal skills and Paper 2 combines non-verbal reasoning with mathematical knowledge.
This school uses the shared Gloucestershire consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Gloucestershire guidePaper 1
English, VR
Paper 1
GL multiple-choice paper covering verbal skills, including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Maths, NVR
Paper 2
GL multiple-choice paper covering mathematical knowledge and non-verbal reasoning.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
GL multiple-choice paper covering verbal skills, including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
GL multiple-choice paper covering mathematical knowledge and non-verbal reasoning.
Science
Creative writing
Registration opens
18 May 2026
Registration closes
26 June 2026
Test-centre arrangements
7 September 2026
Entrance test
12 September 2026
Entrance-test results
Mid-October 2026
Common Application Form deadline
31 October 2026
National Allocation Day
1 March 2027
Register for the entrance test
Complete online registration between 18 May 2026 and 12 noon on 26 June 2026.
Key datesConfirm test-centre arrangements
Test-centre arrangements are due to be issued on 7 September 2026.
Key datesSit the entrance test
The entrance test is scheduled for 12 September 2026.
FAQCheck results before naming schools
Results are expected in mid-October 2026 before the CAF deadline.
Key datesSubmit 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 | 84 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 82.5 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 83.7 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 82.7 | 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 | A+ average (52.1 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | A average (48.7 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A average (49.6 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A average (50.8 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 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 6 March 2024
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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
Best Grammar Schools in Gloucestershire
Compare the best grammar schools in Gloucestershire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Gloucestershire sits within the Gloucestershire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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 you compare a realistic shortlist.
Best Grammar Schools in Gloucestershire
Compare the best grammar schools in Gloucestershire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Gloucestershire sits within the Gloucestershire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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 you compare a realistic shortlist.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Pate's Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Register for the entrance test: Complete online registration between 18 May 2026 and 12 noon on 26 June 2026. 2. Confirm test-centre arrangements: Test-centre arrangements are due to be issued on 7 September 2026. 3. Sit the entrance test: The entrance test is scheduled for 12 September 2026. 4. Check results before naming schools: Results are expected in mid-October 2026 before the CAF deadline. 5. Submit the Common Application Form: Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 31 October 2026.
Registration opens: 18 May 2026. Registration closes: 26 June 2026. Test-centre arrangements: 7 September 2026. Entrance test: 12 September 2026. Entrance-test results: Mid-October 2026. Common Application Form deadline: 31 October 2026. National Allocation Day: 1 March 2027
Pate's Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 6 March 2024.