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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 11+

Poole Grammar School

Gravel Hill, Poole, BH17 9JU

A selective boys grammar school in Poole, Dorset, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,199 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Boys Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form Dorset Consortium 11+
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #102
Year 7 places
180
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
Dorset Consortium 11+
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #102
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
Dorset Consortium 11+
Places in Year 7
180
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Good

Overview

Poole Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar on Gravel Hill, educating around 1,200 pupils from 11 to 18. The school presents itself as a community where tradition, excellence, ambition and opportunity meet, with a sixth form that offers educational breadth for 16 to 18 year olds.

Its values are unusually plain and useful: compassion, integrity, motivation, respect, teamwork and wisdom. The curriculum pages point to modern foreign languages, computer science, design and technology, personal development and sixth-form study, giving pupils a route through both academic and practical subjects rather than a purely examination-shaped experience.

The enrichment offer is busy and recognisably local. Official school news and pages highlight music, drama, sport, Duke of Edinburgh, student leadership, trips, robotics, design technology entrepreneurship, an indoor climbing wall and a library. The school's Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and values work also make character education visible in day-to-day life.

Year 7 has 180 places. Entry is through mathematics, English and verbal-reasoning papers from GL Assessment, with scores age-standardised before oversubscription criteria such as looked-after status, pupil premium, staff-child priority and distance are applied. Published measures show Ofsted Good, Progress 8 around +0.55, 98.3% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 32.1% AAB or better at A level.

Key points
Assessment route
Dorset Consortium 11+: 3 papers, covering English, Maths and Verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
180 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
92.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 70.2 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 32.1% AAB or better and 54.5% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Poole Grammar School, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
70.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
92.7%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Poole Grammar School, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and England. 80 66.7 53.3 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Poole Grammar School, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mrs Katie Etheridge
Pupil roll
1,224 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Poole Grammar School
FSM ?
6%
EAL ?
16.3%
EHCP ?
0.8%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Duke of Edinburgh

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,224 pupils; 1,222 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 79.6% Asian 10.4% Mixed 7.9% Black 1.2% Other 0.8% Unclassified 0.2%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Gravel Hill, Poole, Dorset
Postcode
BH17 9JU
Area
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Exam area
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Katie Etheridge

School contact

School email
pgsoffice@poolegrammar.com
School phone
01202692132

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions Office
Admissions email
pgsoffice@poolegrammar.com
Admissions phone
01202 692132
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions

Residence and moving rules

2027 entry

For local priority

Address used for allocation
As at For first allocation; a purchase uses exchange of contracts and a rental uses tenancy commencement

Applies to: Families moving home during the normal Year 7 admissions round.

Policy wording, evidence and exceptions

Address for local priority

For normal Year 7 entry, address changes after 31 October 2026 are not accepted for categorising the application. A later move uses the old address for this allocation.

Evidence required
  • Address evidence if requested, including ownership/tenancy, GP or Child Benefit documents
Home address conditions
The address must be the child’s main or only term-time home. Where care is exactly equal, parents must nominate one address.
Official admissions policy

Checked

Year 7 places
180 places
Applications listed
400 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
243 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Published score basis
Selective standard first; no published numeric threshold (2026 entry)
Pass mark note
Candidates must reach the required standard before oversubscription criteria are applied. Scores are age-standardised; no single final offer score is recorded in the checked official material.

Priority-area categories use the historic Borough of Poole and listed Poole postcodes. Distance is used as a tie-break for the final place, measured through BCP Council GIS data.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    EHCP naming the school

    Candidates with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted before the oversubscription criteria are applied, provided the required standard is met.

  2. 2

    Looked-after and previously looked-after boys

    Eligible looked-after and previously looked-after boys who reach the required standard receive priority by rank order.

  3. 3

    Pupil Premium in the priority area

    Eligible Pupil Premium boys living in the historic Borough of Poole or listed Poole postcodes are considered before other priority-area candidates.

  4. 4

    Pupil Premium outside the priority area

    Eligible Pupil Premium boys outside the priority area are considered after priority-area Pupil Premium candidates.

  5. 5

    Staff sons

    Eligible sons of staff are considered under the policy's staff criterion.

  6. 6

    Priority-area boys without Pupil Premium

    Eligible boys living in the historic Borough of Poole or listed Poole postcodes are considered before other non-Pupil-Premium candidates.

Admissions policy

Admissions Policy 2027 Entry

2027 entry

Information booklet

Admissions to Year 7

2027 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry

Three multiple-choice papers: English, maths and verbal reasoning.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice
Scores
Age-standardised

Papers and timings

  • English Multiple choice
  • Mathematics Multiple choice
  • Verbal reasoning Multiple choice

What the test includes

  • English
  • Maths
  • Verbal reasoning
Official test guidance
Changes for 2028 entry
2028 entry · Quest Assessments

Quest Assessments replaces GL Assessment for the September 2027 tests.

Official 2028 guidance ↗

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Dorset test guide

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. On-time registration open

    Open on checked admissions page

  2. Registration closes

    4 September 2026

    Past

    Deadline is 12 noon.

  3. 11+ entrance test

    26 September 2026

    Past

  4. 11+ results emailed

    16 October 2026

    Past

  5. Common Application Form deadline

    31 October 2026

    Past

    Deadline is 12 noon.

  6. Late test

    February 2027

  7. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

  8. Address assessment date

    31 October 2026, For first allocation; a purchase uses exchange of contracts and a rental uses tenancy commencement

    Past

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register for the entrance test

    Submit the online registration form by 12 noon on 4 September 2026.

    Year 7 admissions
  2. 2

    Request access arrangements if needed

    Use the access-arrangements guidance before submitting evidence for entrance-test adjustments.

    Access guidance
  3. 3

    Sit the entrance test

    The 11+ entrance test is scheduled for 26 September 2026.

    Year 7 admissions
  4. 4

    Check results before naming schools

    Results are due by email on 16 October 2026.

    Year 7 admissions
  5. 5

    Submit the Common Application Form

    Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 12 noon on 31 October 2026.

    Year 7 admissions

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions Policy 2027 Entry

2027 entry

Information booklet

Admissions to Year 7

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 27 March 2024

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Poole Grammar was judged Good overall, with Outstanding behaviour and personal development. Pupils achieve excellent outcomes and take part widely in school life, while leaders are still strengthening consistency in teaching and checks for understanding.
  • Quality of education: Pupils study a broad, ambitious curriculum and benefit from knowledgeable staff, discussion and debate. Inspectors also found variable teaching, where activity choices or checks for understanding sometimes do not help pupils build knowledge as securely as they could.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: The behaviour culture is exemplary: pupils attend regularly and punctually, learn without disruption and show resilience. The school does not tolerate discriminatory behaviour, and Free and Equal ambassadors help promote respect for difference.
  • Personal development: Pupils develop leadership through mentoring, anti-bullying ambassador roles, prefect duties and student voice. The Life Skills programme covers modern Britain and mental health, while clubs range from climbing wall and chess to entrepreneurs, art and sport.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders and trustees have identified where education needs strengthening and are acting on it. Staff feel valued, parents support the school's focus on well-rounded pupils, and workload is considered when policies change.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth-form students achieve strongly, read beyond their courses and join activities such as photography, University Challenge and stocks and shares competitions. Careers support includes university visits, industry speakers, application sessions and talks from former pupils.

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Shortlist comparisons

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Related pages and guides

Area and ranking pages

Best Grammar Schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Compare 4 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Dorset route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.

Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK

Explore the best boys 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.

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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.

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Poole Grammar School use?

For September 2027 entry, Poole Grammar School uses Dorset Consortium 11+. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to Poole Grammar School?

1. Register for the entrance test: Submit the online registration form by 12 noon on 4 September 2026. 2. Request access arrangements if needed: Use the access-arrangements guidance before submitting evidence for entrance-test adjustments. 3. Sit the entrance test: The 11+ entrance test is scheduled for 26 September 2026. 4. Check results before naming schools: Results are due by email on 16 October 2026. 5. Submit the Common Application Form: Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 12 noon on 31 October 2026.

When are the key dates for Poole Grammar School?

On-time registration open: Open on checked admissions page. Registration closes: 4 September 2026. 11+ entrance test: 26 September 2026. 11+ results emailed: 16 October 2026. Common Application Form deadline: 31 October 2026. Late test: February 2027. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027. Address assessment date: 31 October 2026, For first allocation; a purchase uses exchange of contracts and a rental uses tenancy commencement

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Poole Grammar School?

Poole Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 27 March 2024.